Knowing the Sheep
If I would be effective as a servant of God – an instrument used by Christ to build His church, then I must give attention to my skills as a shepherd.
In John chapter 10, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (v. 14). In the context this refers to our Lord knowing which of the Israelites were true believers, but it also speaks of a relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep – He knows them, and they know Him.
Our omniscient Lord did not have to study or spend time with His sheep to know them and understand their needs. But you and I, as pastors, will need to invest significant time and effort in knowing the flock and learning their needs in order to fulfill the role God has given us. As humans, pastors know the basic needs of sheep (Heb 5:2-3). But to really understand the flock and be able to minister to the needs of individuals, the church planter must live among and walk with his flock.
While visiting my father-in-law’s farm, I went with him one day to check on the cattle. Arriving at the pasture, he stood for a few moments looking at the cows. Finally he said, “There’s one missing!” After another moment of studying the animals, he said, “I know which one it is and I know where to look for her – there’s a place in the fence where she likes to jump over.” We drove around to the field on the other side of the pasture, and sure enough, there was the cow. To me all the cows looked alike. But because he had spent time with them, he could not only identify the one that was missing but he knew what her habits were and where he could likely find her. The shepherd who spends time with his sheep will be quick to detect danger and ready to respond to every need.
In Acts 20, Paul spoke of teaching the people “Publicly and from house to house”. This means more than simply doing “Door-to-door evangelism”. The pastor who visits his people in their homes will see how they live and observe some of their needs first hand. He will have the opportunity to help them personally apply the truths of God’s Word to the needs of their lives.
Our interest in people needs to be sincere. Nothing turns people off like a salesman who acts like your best friend only until he sees you are not really a prospect. We will never touch the heart of people if our interest is only on a “Professional” level. Some churches are very organized for friendliness, but it doesn’t seem to go beyond the one assigned to be at the door. Even in a culture that is increasingly impersonal, and people want to protect their personal space, people will still respond to the love of Christ genuinely flowing through God’s servant. Christian love and personal attention transcend all generational and cultural barriers.
Christ also said, “The sheep follow him: for they know his voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (vs 4-5). As the shepherd was with the sheep day after day, they became accustomed to his voice calling to them and leading the way. Hearing the shepherd’s voice meant the promise of green pastures ahead and a feeling of security along the way.
The flock of God will know the voice of the shepherd not only from his public teaching but also from daily, caring communication. Today’s technology brings us many creative options. Whatever our ministry setting, we must find a way to stay close to people. In rural areas, this may mean stopping in and spending an hour drinking tea and chatting. In the city it may mean leaving a message on someone’s cell phone and making arrangements to meet for coffee. Many pastors communicate with their people by electronic updates. But the faithful shepherd will find a way to connect with the sheep.
With the Good Shepherd, it was not simply a matter of knowing the sheep and their needs. The Savior spent time with His disciples so that they could get to know Him. The church planter needs to spend time with the people so that they can know him. If the only thing people know of the pastor is what they see and hear from the pulpit, they may never have the confidence to call out to him when they are in trouble. The sheep trust the shepherd because they know he is real. A good shepherd will learn to be transparent and open with his people. Only when the sheep see that the pastor’s heart is wide open to them, will they be willing to open their hearts to him (see 2 Corinthians 6:11-12; 7:2-3).
Want to be effective in ministry? Get to know the sheep!