The Good Shepherd’s Call: Christ's Wisdom for Pastoral Ministry

Pastors are shepherds of Jesus's flock, the Church

Imagine the scene: Jesus, after His resurrection, poses a piercing question to Peter not once, but three times. "Peter, do you love me?" With each affirmative answer, Jesus responds not with a request for personal service, but with a profound command: "Feed my sheep."

This exchange gets to the very heart of a pastor's ministry. It's an act rooted entirely in a love for Christ, a love that translates into selfless care for His flock. Jesus Himself is the model for this care. He declared that He is both the gate for the sheep and the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for them. This dual role provides the ultimate example for anyone called to lead His people.

This isn’t some new idea about being a pastor—it’s the ancient wisdom of Augustine, one of the most respected men in church history. Augustine points us back to the heart of Christ’s calling for shepherds, writing, "Preach God because you love God, for God's sake, and feed the sheep, not as a hired hand." (Sermon 137, p. 7). His words direct us to what truly matters in ministry: love for Christ and faithful care for His people.

Are you a good shepherd?

Later in the passage, Jesus identifies the characteristics of a good shepherd: he sacrifices himself for the sheep. He stands guard against the wolves (v. 11). Take a minute to reflect on your heart and mind, to think through whether you are one of the good shepherds.

1. What motivates your preaching? Are you preaching out of a deep love for God, as Augustine exhorts, or has your preaching become just one more item on an endless task list? Is study for sermon preparation a spiritual discipline in which you encounter the Lord, or has it become like an assembly line job?
   

2. How are you cultivating humility and Christ-centeredness in your spiritual life? Are you entering through the gate—Christ Himself—or are you relying on your own abilities, charisma, or strategies to lead the flock?
   

3. In your ministry an act of sacrifice? How are you demonstrating this love through selfless care for His people, and are you prepared to lay down your life, comforts, and ambitions for the sake of the sheep entrusted to you? Have the subtle desires for recognition, influence, or personal gain crept into your heart?
   

What insights has the Holy Spirit provided to you during your meditation on these three questions? We will each find ourselves in different positions when contemplating these questions, yet we all have the opportunity to improve in serving the church in the way Jesus does.

Embody Christ as a pastor.

1. Imitate Christ's Passion and Humility: The path of the shepherd is one of humility. Christ, the King of all, lowered Himself, becoming the gate through which we must enter. Pastoral ministry requires this same spirit. It means setting aside personal ambition and embracing a servant's heart, understanding that true leadership is found in passion for the flock and humility in service, not in the pursuit of power or recognition.
   

2. Enter by the Gate: Jesus made it clear that anyone who tries to enter the sheepfold by climbing over the wall is a thief and a robber. The only legitimate entrance is through the gate—through Him. Augustine reinforces this, urging, "Enter by the gate (Christ), not climbing over at another part." (Sermon 137, p. 3). Your whole ministry must be centered on Christ Himself.
   

3. Lay Down Your Life for the Sheep: The ultimate mark of the Good Shepherd is His willingness to sacrifice everything for His sheep. This is a stark contrast to the hired hand, who flees at the first sign of danger. Augustine says, "The shepherd lays down his life for his sheep and enters by the gate." (Sermon 137, p. 4). Ministry means radical commitment and sacrificial love.

So, what should you be doing in your ministry? Remember, you are following wisdom that has stood for centuries: Preach God because you love God, care for His sheep not as a hireling but as a true shepherd, and let Augustine’s words guide you into faithful service.