Shepherding Between Sundays

Shepherding between Sundays

Just a touch…

A shepherd need only touch the sheep with his staff. Just a touch is sufficient to lead, to discipline or to comfort. The same is true in the Church. Those who are new attendees have come for different reasons, but all are looking for relationships, both with God and with His people. As shepherds, we are responsible for the touch that will lead them further down that road. The first touch might be a smile, a cordial welcome, helpful instructions about the facility or the service. Subsequent “touches” require some knowledge of their background, family situation, interests and abilities. This usually doesn’t happen on Sunday mornings, but it must happen.

A culture of caring…

Unfortunately we have been conditioned to take a Sunday morning approach to church life. The Sabbath should be the high point of the week for Christians: the celebration of the Supper, the teaching of God’s Word and the corporate worship of the local Body. But Sunday morning is no substitute for the other six days that comprise the challenges of work and family, the temptations of the devil and the opportunities for spiritual growth. Life is lived Monday through Saturday and if we are to create the culture of caring that Jesus intended, we must model a concern for our people that extends beyond Sunday. Plurality demands that all of us see our shepherding role as the single most important responsibility we have. Of course that role begins with our personal walk with Christ and ministry to our families. After these our focus should be on caring for people and teaching others to do the same.

Paul’s example…

All of our excuses for neglecting the flock seem hollow when we consider the Apostle Paul’s care for the church in Rome (Romans 16). Although he was responsible for all of the Gentile churches, he concludes his letter to the Romans with a personal touch that demonstrates his care for individuals— twenty-eight by name! Others by relation or by church affiliation were well known to Paul and were not “lost through the cracks.” Shame on us when we learn of someone’s suffering weeks after it has occurred or of someone’s struggle only after the victory or defeat is past! We missed an opportunity to shepherd and, perhaps, to lead them further down the road of spiritual growth and church involvement.