Blog: Six Things Shepherds Don’t Say
Dustan Bell is the youth pastor at Calvary Christian Church on the Sunshine Coast.
Six Things Shepherds Don’t Say
The simple story of a lost lamb and a selfless shepherd has been lodged in my mind for the last month. Recorded in Luke 15, the story is told by Jesus to help us see the type of shepherd (or leader) that Jesus is to us, so that we in turn can replicate this in our dealings with people.
There are six things that this shepherd DOES NOT say, which I’m often tempted to say as a youth pastor.
1. “It’s Only One”
How easy it would have been for the shepherd to shrug his shoulders and conclude that it’s not worth going to all that effort for just one sheep. Perhaps if there were 10 or 15 sheep missing it would be worth it; but one?
This shepherd is exemplary because of his passion for one sheep. Jesus was like this. He willingly stopped a crowd to connect with one crooked tax collector, or one sick woman. I’m only one, but Jesus went out of His way for me.
Let’s realize that the youth ministry of thousands which we dream of is counted like this… one + one + one + one + one + one + one + one + one + one + one… Every one matters.
2. “I’ve Still Got 99”
If I can’t be bothered going after the one, the easiest way to appease my conscious is by saying, “Look, I’ve still got 99!”
As great as it is that I have 99 sheep, I need to be reminded that God entrusted me with 100. I can’t allow what I do have to quench my passion for what I should and could have. Thank God for who He’s given you, but seek God for who He’s giving you.
3. “It’s Their Fault”
Let’s be honest. This sheep was stupid. Seriously. He deserved to be separated from the flock; after all, he chose to wander in the first place.
True.
But so did I… yet my Shepherd chased me down at great cost to Himself.
Let’s never become resentful, bitter or angry toward people who wander from God and separate themselves from our church or ministry. Instead, let’s lovingly pursue the ill deserving just as Jesus did for us.
4. “It’s Out of My Way”
It’s 10:33pm on a Friday night. You’ve almost finished your pack down and all you’re thinking about is food and watching the late telecast of the AFL. Then that teenager approaches looking for a lift home… which is no problem, until you discover that ‘home’ is a 30 minute drive in the opposite direction to where you’re headed. Decision time.
Great youth ministries are built by teams of people who are willing to go out of their way for others; it’s one of the most Christ-like things that we can do.
5. “I tried once”
Notice that this shepherd looked until he found it. Surely this shepherd would have been tempted to say “I yelled out once, but there was no answer, so I came home.”
How easy it is for us to say “I tried calling that new person but there was no answer”, then we cross off a task from the ‘to do’ list and move on. Jesus never told us to knock once, he commanded us to knock until…
6. “It’s no big deal”
Finally, we see that this shepherd wasn’t nonchalant about the saving of a sheep. He knew that some things were a BIG DEAL and were worth celebrating.
What are the things that your team have decided are a BIG DEAL? What do you celebrate? What is a ‘win’ for your team? If you know it, you can aim at it & celebrate it.
