Sketch 1 God as Shepherd

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SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
od as Shepherd
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green
pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right
paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no
evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me. 5 You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my
cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
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John 10
What are the benefits of the LORD
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but
as Shepherd?
climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate
is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the
sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When
he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run
from him because they do not know the voice of strangers . . ."
10 The thief comes only to steal, kil and destroy. I came that they may have life, and
have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own
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Jesus uses three images to contrast the good
the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf
shepherd. What does each teach us about
snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand
being a shepherd?
does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my
> Stranger:
own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down
my life for the sheep."
> Thief:
> Hired Hand:
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Sketches of Leadership #1

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G @
SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
od shepherds his shepherds
Good shepherding begins with
as our .
Benefits of the LORD as our shepherd:
Benefit
Contrast Image


Psalm 23 : green pastures, still waters,
They use the sheep to meet their own needs. They cannot say, "I
"I shall not want," oil, overflowing cup
lack nothing." They act as wolves or thieves, seeking to use, eat,
John 10 : "I came that they might have life abundantly."
take and destroy. They pursue shepherding for improper gain,
seeking approval or status or power.


Psalm 23 : darkest valley, rod and staff provide comfort, table They flee in the face of danger. They exhibit "hired hand"
in the presence of enemies
mentality. Their own survival their focus, they are unwilling to lay
John 10 : "I lay down my life for the sheep."
their life down, and hence they allow the sheep to scatter.


Psalm 23 : restores soul, guides me in right paths for his
They treat the sheep "with force and harshness". They really
name's sake, comfort of the rod and staff; prepares a table
are strangers to the sheep, with no real knowledge of the

John 10 : "sheep fol ow him because they know his voice," "I
sheep, no foresight or insight, and so give no warnings or
know my own and my own know me"
encouragements.
C @
@
ase Studies
Discussion Guide
b Over time you have noticed that Ken, your partner in the children's program at church, has a
> What is the issue?
problem keeping commitments he has made. This is more obvious to you than to others,
> What could be done?
because it has affected you consistently. More than once you have thought about mentioning
it to Ken, but each time you have held back.
c James, a pastor who began his ministry at a small church of 80, had cared deeply for his elderly flock. But over time he realized that
caring wearied him and he tired of hearing only complaints. He left the pastorate to sell insurance.
d Ellen, an enthusiastic leader of her small group when things were going well, suddenly experienced a loss of motivation when conflict
began to crop up within the group. Eventually she decided she wasn't a good fit for small group leader.
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #1
©2007 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895
tel 608.274.9001 email info@intervarsity.org web www.intervarsity.org

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G @
SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
od as Shepherd
This Psalm is like a commercial for God: "Do you lack? You
need the Lord as your shepherd!"
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green
pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right
paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no
evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me. 5 You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my
cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
literally: "hunt me down"
We tend to think of ourselves chasing happiness.
Yet the picture here is of a God who chases us for our good.
@
John 10
What are the benefits of the LORD
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but
as Shepherd?
climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate
> needs met
is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the
> green pastures = refreshment
> rest, restoration
sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When
> protection and guidance
he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him
> comfort, abundance
> goodness & mercy
because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run
> relationship, presence
from him because they do not know the voice of strangers . . ."
10 The thief comes only to steal, kil and destroy. I came that they may have life, and
have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own
@
Jesus uses three images to contrast the good
the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf
shepherd. What does each teach us about
snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand
being a shepherd?
does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my
>
Stranger:
sheep don't know his voice but
own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down
recognize the good shepherd's voice,
my life for the sheep."
will follow
>
Thief: comes to kill and destroy vs. good
Note: Many shepherds begin as good shepherds but end up as hired hands.
Pain and disappointment in ministry leads to professionalization.
shepherd who offers life abundantly
>
Hired Hand:
looks like a shepherd but
flees in the face of danger - good shepherd
lays down life
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #1

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G @
SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
od shepherds his shepherds
We cannot be a shepherd if we
Good shepherding begins with
as our .
GOD
SHEPHERD
do not have a shepherd.
Benefits of the LORD as our shepherd:
Benefit
Contrast Image
ABUNDANCE
THIEF


Psalm 23 : green pastures, still waters,
They use the sheep to meet their own needs. They cannot say, "I
"I shall not want," oil, overflowing cup
lack nothing." They act as wolves or thieves, seeking to use, eat,
John 10 : "I came that they might have life abundantly."
take and destroy. They pursue shepherding for improper gain,
seeking approval or status or power.
PROTECTION
HIRED HAND


Psalm 23 : darkest valley, rod and staff provide comfort, table They flee in the face of danger. They exhibit "hired hand"
in the presence of enemies
mentality. Their own survival their focus, they are unwilling to lay
John 10 : "I lay down my life for the sheep."
their life down, and hence they allow the sheep to scatter.
INTIMACY
STRANGER

Psalm 23 : restores soul, guides me in right paths for his
They treat the sheep "with force and harsheness". They really
name's sake, comfort of the rod and staff; prepares a table
are strangers to the sheep, with no real knowledge of the

John 10 : "sheep fol ow him because they know his voice," "I
sheep, no foresight or insight, and so give no warnings or
know my own and my own know me"
encouragments.
C @
@
ase Studies
Discussion Guide
b Over time you have noticed that Ken, your partner in the children's program at church, has a
> What is the issue?
problem keeping commitments he has made. This is more obvious to you than to others,
> What could be done?
because it has affected you consistently. More than once you have thought about mentioning
it to Ken, but each time you have hel d back. You have fled the "danger" of a confrontation with Ken. You haven't cared enough for him to risk
your relationship. (security, intimacy)
c James, a pastor who began his ministry at a small church of 80, had cared deeply for his elderly flock. But over time he realized that
c aring wea
ried him and he t ired of he
aring only complaints. He left the pastorate to sell insurance.
James felt he had few resources
himself for the ministry (abundance) - or - James tired of putting his heart out for people. He fled the flock (security).
d Ellen, an enthusiastic leader of her small group when things were going well, suddenly experienced a loss of motivation when conflict
b
egan to crop up w
ithin the group. E ventually she decided she wasn't a good fit for small group leader.
Ellen fled the responsibility of
shepherding in the face of conflict (security). Ellen fears intimacy herself, having no confidence that conflict can end well (intimacy).
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #1
©2007 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895
tel 608.274.9001 email info@intervarsity.org web www.intervarsity.org

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