A Soul Shepherding Moment
By Bill Gaultiere © 2012
As pastors and ministry leaders, we’re prone to give too much of ourselves, to do too much and try too hard. Its the same for parents and others who care for people in Jesus’ name. We’re called to be shepherds to the sheep God has entrusted to us. But what does this mean? How do we provide what our sheep need?
Often I’m afraid that what we do is we lie down and say, “Here sheep, come nibble off of me.” This is why we’re exhausted. This is why we burn out. Our ministry is eating us alive!
No! We’re to lead the sheep to the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Jesus is the One the people we care for are to feed off of. But we can’t help people to find their joy and strength in Christ unless we’re doing that ourselves, even as we’re helping someone. We have to be experiencing intimacy with Jesus and to be relying on his love and power as we do what we’re doing or we can’t minister effectively to the souls of others.
Our own abiding in Christ is the most important thing we do to prepare for teaching a class, leading a group, caring for the hurting, or passing out food to the homeless. “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit,” Jesus said (John 15:5).
Jesus Christ is our resource. His kingdom is what we need — that’s where we and those we minister to can say, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want…”
More Soul Shepherding
“Ministry Begins with Rest.” Many leaders and caregivers don’t believe this — until they burn out in exhaustion or blow out with a moral failing. Soul Shepherding invests in pastors and leaders to prevent ministry collapse, as well as to rehabilitate those who have fallen or become depleted.
Audio Messages includes a number of Soul Shepherding seminars and sermons for you to listen to online or download for free.
“Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry”
Bill Gaultiere, PhD & Kristi Gaultiere, PsyD ~ Soul Shepherding ~ Irvine, CA
