Win with People: Returning to the Call of a Shepherd

Jesus said if you love Him, you'll feed His sheep. What did He mean, and how does it work? The Bible is filled with shepherds. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David all took care of sheep. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. Peter and Paul both said pastors are called to care for God's sheep. More than creating and communicating spiritual content, more than putting on services, God expects ministry leaders to take care of His people. This is more than huddling over a few sheep. It requires a broad set of skills -- strategic vision, healthy systems, the courage to fight off predators, and wisdom necessary for expansion. And yet, all these skills are part of the calling to love and serve people in a way that reflects the heart of God. What happens when we have God's heart for people? We understand people aren't an obstacle -- they're what He cares about. We steward our hearts before we steward our tasks. We increase the effectiveness of every team in our organization. We clarify how we think about calling. We improve the health of every relationship in our lives.