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The Priestly Work of Elders (Shepherd's Purpose (Work at knowing and…
The Priestly Work of Elders
Shepherd's Purpose
Work at knowing and shepherding God's flock
To not only be theological but relational
To be biblically minded but also tender hearted
To not only love God's word but also to love God's people
Called to not only read their bibles, but also to read God's people
Called to knowing, caring and shepherding the flock
Shepherd's Work
A good priest knows your name and your story
A good priest listens to you, counsels you, cares for you, and prays with you and for you
A good priest is to know, listen and care
How Shepherds accomplish their work
Because elders love Jesus, they are compelled to care for the sheep that Jesus loves and bled for
He is to look at the sheep with the eyes of Jesus
The sheep are flawed and sinful, they are difficult and hard, they can resist and they can even bite, but they still belong to Jesus and Jesus still loves them
He loves us when we are at our best and when we are at our worst
He is to treat the sheep the way Jesus would care for the sheep, tenderly and carefully
If one of the church elders visits you in the hospital, it's just as if the senior pastor visited you
An Example of How to Accomplish the Work
Membership
Be present with the flock
Shepherds live with the sheep
Shepherds smell like sheep
Shepherds need to be with the people
Shepherds need to listen to people
When I speak with you, you make me feel like I'm the only person in the world
Flock System
Divide the church into flocks, and elder will be assigned to a flock
Utilizes the existing community groups
Several community groups will belong to a flock
The task of caring for the sheep will become more managable
Not only for the elders to know their sheep, but the sheep to know their elders personally
Being present with the people
Because the shepherd spends so much time with the sheep, they smell like sheep
Do life amongst the people, building relationships
Listen to the people
Learn their joys, their sorrows
We're going to do everything that we can to make sure you feel listened to
Praying with and for the people
It's about loving people and carrying people to Christ in prayer
Sometimes praying the gospel with someone is more powerful than preaching the gospel to someone
Weeping and rejoicing with the people
Valleys and the mountaintops
Elders are called to go through both with the people
By David Hundert