6 Basic Aspects of the Pastor as Shepherd

Written by Ray Gilder

There is a tremendous difference between preaching for a church and serving as their pastor. When a church calls a pastor, the people expect to do much more than preach. He is to shepherd the flock. Peter deals with this in 1 Peter 5:2-4. “Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (KJV)

Toolbox for Busy Pastors

As a pastor shepherds the flock God has given him, he must pay attention to six basic functions:

1. Feed the Flock

The primary function of a pastor is to feed the flock the Word of God. A pastor can give himself to many different ministry activities throughout the week but if he does not have a message from God when he stands to speak, he has failed in his most important responsibility.

There is a big difference between having to say something and having something to say. Studying the Word of God is demanding work but it is essential to feeding the flock. Just any sermon will not do. It must be a message from God’s Word that is needed by that congregation at that time.

Most pastors preach between 100 to 150 sermons each year at their church. To stay fresh, current and biblical is a major challenge. However, God gifts those he calls. It is the job of the pastor to exercise those gifts to the best of his ability.

2. Love the Flock

No congregation will follow a pastor very far until they are convinced that he loves them and that they can trust him. It is one thing to be given the title of pastor but it is quite another thing to be given the trust of the people. Jesus warned against the hireling who did not really care about the sheep. He said the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

Jesus loves the church and so must the pastor. You cannot fake real love for the congregation. Either you do or you don’t.

Some churches have been hurt and disappointed with the actions of former pastors. The first step to lead is to love.

3. Lead the Flock

A congregation that is not being led will wander and scatter. It is the responsibility of the pastor to seek and share the plan or vision of God for that church. The writer of Proverbs tells us that “where there is no vision the people perish”. Poor pastoral leadership will cause a church to demonstrate a modern day version of wilderness wanderings. A church that has good leadership will be excited about where it is going. The pastor is to take the oversight and lead by example.

4. Keep the Flock Together

One of the most challenging functions of a pastor is to the keep the flock together. Resolving conflicts and uniting various personalities under one goal consumes a vast amount of energy and time. Facing multiple forms of conflict causes many pastors to want to flee instead of staying and solving the problems. To be a part of a significant work of God one will have to weather many storms and trials.

5. Tend the Flock

The Lord is our Shepherd. His work in our lives as pictured in Psalms 23 is a good example of tending the flock. God is very concerned about the flocks that have been neglected. Notice Jeremiah 23:1-4 and Ezekiel 34:1-6.

Tend the flock includes providing general oversight, visiting the sick, counseling those with special needs and performing weddings and funerals. This is where a mentor can prove very helpful.

6. Protect the Flock

A pastor not only deals with sheep, he must deal with wolves. Paul warned the leaders at Ephesus about the wolves that would seek to destroy the flock. A pastor must not only preach the truth, he must expose error. This is why we must reprove and rebuke. One day, pastors will give and account to God for how they cared for His sheep.

Only those who observe from a distance make jokes about the easy role of a pastor. After reviewing all the responsibilities of a pastor, one is prone to ask, “who is sufficient for such things?” The answer must be one of faith “our sufficiency is of God.”

Ray Gilder is the Bivocational Ministries Specialist at the Tennesee Baptist Convention and is also a bivocational pastor. He has graciously shared the training he does for bivocational pastors in the following free articles:

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