I'm at Central Bible College for Alumni Board Meetings this week. It was nostalgic to be back in chapel yesterday. John Lindell from James River shared a rich exposition from Saul's anointing for ministry in 1 Samuel 10. I think I'll still be re-reading my notes several months from now.
One insight really stood out to me. When he met Samuel he was looking for his father's donkeys. They were lost. And he spent 3 days trying to find them. He didn't actually find them until Samuel finally told him where to look.
Saul was inept as a shepherd.
Perhaps that's why he ended up trying to kill one of his leading warriors.
Some of the greatest leaders in the Bible were experienced shepherds.
Moses
David
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. In fact, one of the primary distinctions between Him and the religious leaders was that while they functioned selfishly like a hired hand Jesus had the heart of a shepherd.
The first small church I've ever been in was the church I started. Before starting Church of the King I was in mega-churches all my life. I've always expected Church of the King to grow large. I still do. But I've grown to appreciate the various seasons in our church's growth.
25 people
50 people
100 people
150 people
200 people
I don't know that I'm a shepherd by nature. And if our church had started as a mega-church right out of the shoot I doubt that I may never have caught the heart of a shepherd. But at distinct points in this five year journey Jesus has shared his heart with me. It's a heart to care for people, protect them and feed their spirits.
His is the heart of a shepherd.
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