The Shepherd Leader

Now at ReformedResources.org: a companion packet to The Shepherd Leader ! In this packet, you will find three sample tools to consider as you implement your shepherding plan. Click here to download your free resources .

When you set up your shepherding plan you could not have imagined that your entire congregation would be hunkered-down attempting to stay clear of Covid-19. These are times in which the flock needs to hear from their shepherds for comfort and assurance. I have urged our elders to put a priority on...

They came from California, Arizona, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, New York City, St. Louis, Pennsylvania, and, of course, Georgia. Why did they come? They came because they are all leaders of large churches and wanted to consider best practices for shepherding large numbers...

When you come right down to it, the heart of shepherding and success in shepherding for that matter, boils down to the importance of relationships. This is quite clear in the dynamic that Jesus established in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me.” This remarkable...

Most of us who have been in church leadership for some time understand the frustration of failed efforts in church discipline. Here’s how it goes. We learn that a member has left his wife. We reach out to him to see what the circumstances are. We are rebuffed. Then we send him a letter asking him...

Lots of ink has been spilled trying to outline the elements of an effective sermon. This is a very important matter to the shepherd who is called to feed the flock. I remember a conversation at a faculty meeting at Westminster Seminary early in my tenure there. The elements of an effective sermon...

Who cares about church membership? If you are a shepherd, you do, of course! I know that it is in vogue these days of “no commitment” to say that membership doesn’t matter. While I could multiply this blog into several points I’m going to boil it down to two perspectives; the leader’s perspective...

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on God’s faithfulness. It has been a wonderful year for The Shepherd Leader ministry. Here are the developments for which I am most thankful (in no particular order): After many years of planning and praying, the Chinese translation of The Shepherd...

Occasionally in this blog I am going to address things that bug me. Here is the first one: church planters are shepherds, too! It is the first in this category that I write about not because it is the thing that bugs me most but because it came to mind first. What bugs me is that I have heard folks...

I recently had the opportunity to consult with elders who are striving to develop a shepherding ministry though they are in the search for a new senior minister. Some might think that they should wait until the new pastor arrives. Don’t wait! This is exactly the right time to begin a shepherding...