Serving His Sheep

How do you see the “great crowd” that is your congregation, pastor? Are you in a place where it’s hard to muster any compassion for them because it feels like they’re waiting for you on every conceivable shore of your life? In those moments, let’s remember not to forget a few things.

The first is that Jesus has not given you a crowd; He’s given you sheep, and by nature, sheep are some of the neediest creatures on earth. They need constant shepherding of all kinds. They need to be tenderly loved, bountifully fed, graciously cared for, ferociously protected against wolves, faithfully taught gospel truth, and patiently listened to in the shadowy valleys of their lives.

Secondly, not only does Jesus give you sheep, but He gives you sheep in need of a shepherd. That’s not as obvious as it sounds when you read it, either. He places men, women, and children–all image bearers–under the high calling but imperfect covering of your leadership and authority. Out of all the shepherds that Jesus could have provided for your people, He provided them with you, with all your woeful inadequacies, to point them to the chief shepherd of their souls.

Thirdly, Jesus gave you sheep for the joy of showing compassion for people who need to be discipled and taught the words of Christ. Sometimes, we forget that the ways we disciple others are the ways Jesus is discipling us. We forget that the words we teach others are the words Christ is using to teach us in those very moments. It’s not always pretty, but it’s always a privilege.

One of the benefits of small-town ministry is that pastors can be known by the people they don’t pastor. Unlike suburban or city centers that experience a constant flux of transient growth and population, small towns are quite the opposite. People tend to stay rooted in the neighborhoods of their youth, and if they ever do move away for reasons of education or career advancement, they often return once they have families. Because of this anchored sense of belonging, a pastor can be known deeply and profoundly by people, and with little fear that the relationships being cultivated are going to move on any time soon. Trust can be built because time provides the means that makes trust possible.

You may encounter the people of your community as you go about daily tasks. Keep in mind that they may be shepherdless sheep that God puts on your path (literally) to finally open a door of conversation that may lead to a gospel encounter with Jesus. Small towns provide such providential spaces and seasons to know and be known, to show and receive compassion, and to teach and learn.