Tag: Shepherding

by John Piper

Those who sow spiritual things are allowed to reap material things; making one’s living “by the gospel” is biblical (1 Cor. 9:14). A paycheck for one’s vocation means one isn’t an amateur, doing the work just for the love of it. That sounds like being a “professional.”

And there are specific and significant qualifications for being an elder/pastor. A man must not be shoddy in his ability to teach, let alone shady in his character, faithfulness, dependability. There’s a way in which you want a “professional.”

Piper isn’t arguing against money or skillfulness, but he is arguing against being a suit, against trying to accomplish supernatural things through manual effort. That is tough in pastoral ministry.

When Brothers came out in 2002 it didn’t just scratch an itch for me, it scratched a full body rash. That’s sort of disgusting, but so is being the wrong kind of professional pastor. Since then I’ve read through the book a few times, and recently read it again on Sunday mornings while on the elliptical (a time spent trying to wake up my aching body and soul before assembling with the saints to worship). It’s not novel now, of course, and if I was assigning it to younger shepherds I might not assign all the chapters (and so I’m taking back a star this time around). But this book has much solid food for a minister to become more mature.

4 of 5 stars

by James Rebanks

I share a job title with James Rebanks and yet we do very different work. He’s a shepherd, but the sheep he tends have four legs, and he did not intend this book for metaphoric application. 

Nevertheless, I read it a second time. I’m maybe just a bit less smitten with it than eight years ago, but the earthy, seasonal, relentless, and generational work parts continue to have good effect on my affections. I read it only on Sunday mornings while I got my body and blood moving to be ready for ministry to our assembled flock. 

Here are his three rules of shepherding:

“First rule of shepherding: it’s not about you, it’s about the sheep and the land. Second rule: you can’t win sometimes. Third rule: shut up, and go and do the work.”

He wouldn’t say it this way, but, that’ll preach.

5 of 5 stars

by Phillip Keller

If I’ve read this book before, I can’t remember when. I can remember thinking I should have read it before. Psalm 23 has to be one of the all-time top five songs of God’s people. And as a metaphorical shepherd, why wouldn’t I have wanted to see how the Lord shepherds His sheep?

The ladies at our church are in process of reading this for a couple upcoming discussions. So it was a good time for me to go through it, too.

As one who tries to be on the easy side of being edify-able, I was edified by the book. As one who is not a literal shepherd, I learned some things about the process and the dangers. As one who cares about exegesis, I was less satisfied; sometimes two things refer to the same thing, sometimes the same thing refers to multiple and even opposite things. And yet, the overall effect was one of increasing my thankfulness for the Lord as my Shepherd, and that’s what I want.

3 of 5 stars

I am glad I read this. I did also get tired of reading it numerous times. Some of the fatigue was due to repetition, some of it was all the Lutherany lingo. The author is Lutheran, so, it wasn’t unexpected, and there are ways in which hearing from different than usual perspective can be beneficial, sure. I appreciated the habitus emphasis, certainly over more technique and tips. I appreciated the concept of “baptismal therapy,” as in, a way of referring to our identity in Christ as crucial for our sanctification and consciences and comfort. And yet, I probably wouldn’t include this high on a list for new or old pastors to read. I’m thankful for it, and thankful I’m done.

3 of 5 stars