Biblical Eldership: Training, Affirming, Implementing,pt3

Warren Wiersbe had said that out of a dozen books he sought to re-read each year, Charles Jefferson's THE MINISTER AS SHEPHERD was among them, for "It reminds me of my privileges and responsibilities as one of God's shepherds and it makes me want to do a better job of preaching the Word and pastoring my flock. And it always convicts me!...We are being told these days that the church is dying, that we must get a 'new look' or a 'new message' or we will disappear completely. Without closing his eyes to the changes around him, Jefferson goes straight to the Bible for the answer: let the preacher be a pastor and the flock will strengthen itself and increase. No gimmicks, nothing spectacular: simply a dedicated man of God going in and out among his people with the refreshing Word of life. These lectures were given in 1912, but there is a freshness and relevance about them because they are based on the unchanging Word of God. Human nature has not changed! Now as then, our cities are teeming with people who are as 'sheep not having a shepherd.' The growing isolation and loneliness of modern society presents a great opportunity for the pastor who has a shepherd's heart. May the Great Shepherd of the sheep give us grace to be faithful under-shepherds, to seek the lost sheep, to lead and feed the flock, to nurture the precious lambs, to protect them from the wolves, and to help them mature to the glory of God." The beloved apostle Paul exhorted those first elders of Ephesus with words just as crucial for our day, 'Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood' (Acts 20:28). Join us for our continued study on how God leads His Church. This will be part 3 of "Biblical Eldership: Training, Affirming, & Implementing" (Acts 20:17-38).