There is a great need for shepherds for the people of God today. The Bible tells us that God has given some shepherds and teachers to the church. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we need spiritual food to sustain us, encourage us and build us up ready to serve. Why does the church need shepherds? What are the qualities of a shepherd? In this address, you will hear from God’s words about the needed features of a shepherd to sustain believers in Christ. It may sound a challenging task but remember we have a model we can follow in the Lord Jesus Christ the good shepherd who gave his life for the sheep.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
1 Samuel 17:37-40 “37 And David said, Jehovah who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and Jehovah be with thee.38 And Saul clothed David with his dress, and put a helmet of bronze upon his head, and clothed him with a corselet.39 And David girded his sword upon his dress, and endeavoured to go; for he had not yet tried [it]. And David said to Saul, I cannot go in these; for I have never tried [them]. And David put them off him.40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag that he had, into the pocket; and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17:48-51 “48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and advanced to meet David, that David hasted, and ran towards the ranks to meet the Philistine.49 And David put his hand into the bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and the stone sank into his forehead; and he fell on his face to the earth.
50 So David overcame the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and smote the Philistine and killed him; and there was no sword in the hand of David.51 And David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him completely, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.”
Ecclesiastes 12:11 “11 The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections [of them] as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.”
Acts 9:10-19 “10 And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, [here am] I, Lord.11 And the Lord [said] to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, [he is] of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying,12 and has seen [in a vision] a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see.13 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem;14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.
15 And the Lord said to him, Go, for this [man] is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and [the] sons of Israel:16 for *I* will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name.
17 And Ananias went and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou camest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with [the] Holy Spirit.18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised;19 and, having received food, got strength.”
Acts 20:7-12 “7 And the first day of the week, we being assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the morrow. And he prolonged the discourse till midnight.8 And there were many lights in the upper room where we were assembled.9 And a certain youth, by name Eutychus, sitting at the window-opening, overpowered by deep sleep, while Paul discoursed very much at length, having been overpowered by the sleep, fell from the third story down to the bottom, and was taken up dead.
10 But Paul descending fell upon him, and enfolding [him] [in his arms], said, Be not troubled, for his life is in him.11 And having gone up, and having broken the bread, and eaten, and having long spoken until daybreak, so he went away.12 And they brought [away] the boy alive, and were no little comforted.”