Those who raise livestock want better ways to deal with animals. Our local Farm Agency offers seminars on Harvesting Better Hay, Livestock Reproduction, and Getting Rid of Noxious Weeds.
Someone managing livestock using approaches from 1968 will be less effective than a person who has kept learning.
Similarly, over the long term, little affects a local church more than the effectiveness of the pastor/shepherd. The care of His flock matters to the Lord. Several prophets pronounced judgment on shepherds who did a poor job caring for God’s people. Jesus is still: The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), The Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), and The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20).
Interestingly, Jesus never called himself a priest, preacher, clergyman, bishop or elder. He repeatedly spoke of Himself as a shepherd. How Jesus dealt with people was not domineering. He was a pastor/shepherd! From Jesus, a pastor learns the “science of shepherding.”
A better quality of shepherding will increase the health of any church. Any shepherd can improve. Improvement requires asking questions, reading, studying, and attending workshops and seminars.
My latest book, The Science of Shepherding, has insight on being more effective. The book explores:
- The Priority – Sheep!
- God’s Job Description of a Shepherd
- A Lamb’s Benefit Package
- The Shepherd’s Tools
- A Theology of Pastoring
Visit CarltonCoonsr.com for more information.
Carlton L. Coon Sr. pastors SpringfieldCalvary.church (Springfield, Missouri). Past Director of North American Missions for the UPCI and author of 23 books. For a conversation about revival e-mail carltoncoonsr@gmail.com. Blog posts and resources are at carltoncoonsr.com. On the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 CST join a Facebook Live Webinar at Carlton Coon Sr.