Sending Path · Introduction to Serving · Lesson 2: Shepherds and the Flock · Shepherds and the Flock
This lesson in one sentence: The true shepherd is God; those who want to serve should first learn to be a good sheep, and pray for their shepherds.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Discussion30 min
- This Week10 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Has anyone ever looked after you? (Not necessarily a pastor.)
Read Together
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:28 · WEB
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3 · WEB
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Psalm 23:1 · WEB
Discussion
- “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1)—have you known times when God himself shepherded you?
- “not under compulsion, but voluntarily” (1 Peter 5:2-3) “making yourselves examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3)—what does good shepherding look like? Where have you seen it?
- What does being a ‘good sheep’ look like in practice?
- How can we pray specifically for our pastors?
This Week
Pray specifically once for your pastor (or the person who led you to faith or leads your group), then write them a sentence of thanks.
Each person names which pastor or leader they will pray for this week and write a sentence of thanks to.
Closing
Pray together for your pastors, one sentence each.
Tips for the leader
- Don’t criticize particular pastors or churches in the group; if someone has suffered spiritual harm, stay with them privately afterward.
- Who can be a pastor and how they are appointed differs from church to church; don’t debate it in the group; if someone asks, encourage them to ask their own church.
- If someone reveals that they have been harmed or controlled by someone in church office, this is not for group discussion: stay with them privately afterward, and help them find someone who can take responsibility, or outside help.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.