The passage discusses the biblical model of Christian leadership through the analogy of a shepherd and his flock. It describes how Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of a shepherd as he laid down his life for his sheep. A Christian leader should emulate Christ by leading, feeding, nurturing, comforting, correcting, and protecting those under their care just as a shepherd does for their flock. They are to guide people to spiritual nourishment through God's word, show compassion, gently correct any who stray, and defend the flock from false teachings. The key duty is humble service to others exemplified by Jesus washing his disciples' feet.

1. “Christianleadership" –3rd
December2016
“I amthe goodshepherd. The goodshepherd laysdown hislife for the sheep”(John10:11).
What isChristianleadership?WhatshouldaChristianleaderbe like?There isnofinerexample for
ChristianleadershipthanourLordJesusChrist.He declared, “Iamthe goodshepherd. The good
shepherd laysdownhis lifefor the sheep” (John 10:11).Itis withinthisverse thatwe see the perfect
descriptionof aChristianleader.He isone whoacts as a shepherdto us – whoare “sheep”inhiscare.
WhenJesusreferredtousas “sheep,”He was notspeakinginaffectionateterms.Intruth,sheeprank
amongthe dumbestanimalsincreation.A straysheep,stillwithinearshotof the herd,becomes
disoriented,confused,frightened,andincapable of findingitswaybackto the flock.Unable toward off
hungrypredators,the stray sheepisperhapsthe mosthelplessof all creatures.Entire herdsof sheepare
knownto have drownedduringtimesof flashfloodingeveninsightof easilyaccessible higherground.
Like itor not,whenJesuscalled usHissheep,He wassayingthatwithout Him,we are helpless.
The shepherdisone whohas several rolesinregardtohissheep.He leads,feeds,nurtures,comforts,
corrects andprotects.The shepherdof the Lord’sflockleadsbymodelinggodlinessandrighteousnessin
hisownlife andencouragingotherstofollow hisexample.Of course,ourultimate example—andthe
One we shouldfollow—isChristHimself.The Apostle Paul understoodthis: “Followmyexample,asI
followthe exampleof Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).The Christianleaderisone whofollowsChristand
inspiresotherstofollow Himaswell.
The Christianleaderisalsoa feederandanourisherof the sheep,andthe ultimate “food”forusHis
sheep isthe Word of God.Just as the shepherdleadshisflocktothe lushestpasture sotheywillgrow
and flourish,sothe Christianleadernourisheshisflockwiththe onlyfoodwhichwill produce strong,
vibrantChristians.The Bible—notpsychologyorthe world’swisdom—isthe onlydietthatcanproduce
healthyChristians. Because we canlearnthatour ‘food’is everywordthatcomesfrom the mouthof the
LORD. Referringtothe lengthy time span where Jewswere wonderinginsearchof theirGodgiven
country,we can learnfrom Deuteronomy 8:3,“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you
with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread
alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
The Christianleaderalsocomfortsthe sheep,bindinguptheirwoundsandapplyingthe balmof
compassionandlove.Asthe greatShepherd,the LordHimself promisedto“bindupthe injuredand
strengthenthe weak”aswe can learnfrom Ezekiel 34:16,“I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.
I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the
flock with justice.” AsChristiansinthe worldtoday,we suffermanyinjuriestoourspirits,andwe need
compassionate leaderswhowillbearourburdenswithus,sympathizewithourcircumstances,exhibit
patience towardus,encourage usinthe Word, and bringour concernsbefore the Father’sthrone.
Justas the shepherdusedhiscrooktopull a wanderingsheepbackintothe fold,sothe Christianleader
corrects anddisciplinesthose inhiscare whentheygoastray.Withoutrancor or an overbearingspirit,
but witha “spiritof gentleness”aswe can readfrom Galatians 6:2,“Carryeach other’s burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Therefore, those inleadershipmustcorrect themselves accordingto
scriptural principles.Correctionordiscipline isneverapleasantexperience foreitherparty,butthe
Christianleaderwhofailsinthisareaisnotexhibitinglove forthose inhiscare. We can read that the
LORD disciplinesthose he loves as a father the son he delights in andthe ChristianleadermustfollowHis

2. example. We canlearnthisfrom Proverbs 3:12,“…because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the
son he delights in…”
Anotherrole of the Christianleaderisthatof protector.The shepherdwhowaslax inthisarea soon
foundthat he regularlylostsheeptothe predatorswhoprowledaround—andsometimesamong—his
flock.The predatorstodayare those whotry to lure the sheepawaywithfalse doctrine,dismissingthe
Bible asquaintand oldfashioned,insufficient,unclear,orunknowable. Theseare drivenbythe evil one
whose mainmandate is to confuse anddraw us awayfrom Gods presence.Therefore we are advisedby
Peterwhere he states: “Bealert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). They fill anyonewith lies to achieve this end.
These lies arespread by those againstwhom Jesus warned us: We can learn where Jesus said as wecan read in
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for falseprophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing,but inwardly they areferocious
wolves”. Therefore our leaders must protect us from the falseteachings of those who would lead us astray from
the truth of the Scriptureand the factthat Christaloneis the way of salvation: Wecan learn this from John 14:6,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We
can learn from a wonderful advertisement that appeared in a publication thatwas put in by a Church seeking
leaders:“Wanted: A Few Good Shepherds (Must Know How to Wash Feet)” (John MacArthur).
“Under the plan God has ordained for the church,leadership is a position of humble, lovingservice…But as
Christians weoften come across many so called ‘shepherd s’who themselves act as falseprophets to the extent of
even misrepresenting God’s word and misleadingthe community. Church leadership is ministry,notmanagement.
Some ‘pastors’even to the extent of playingGod. But we must know that those whom God designates as leaders
are called notto be governing monarchs,but humble slaves;not slick celebrities,butlaboringservants. Weget an
understandingwhen we learn where Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as stayed in John 13:12 -15 “When he
had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have
done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 Ihave set you
an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
This is examplethat Jesus set showed us that those who would lead God's people must above all exemplify
sacrifice,devotion,submission, and lowliness.Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His
disciples' feet, a task that was customarily doneby the lowest of slaves atthe time. If the Lord of the universe
would do that, no church leader who is in ministry, has a rightto think of himself differently!