Tag: Shepherds

Pursuing Shepherds

March 21, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

Shepherds must diligently pursue sheep that struggle and wander away.

I’ve never known of a situation in the Bible where literal sheep went after other sheep that wandered off. Every time, it is the shepherd who goes after the one.

Another interesting fact is the shepherd did not wait for weeks or months to see if the sheep might come back to the fold. Shepherds check their sheep every night. If one is missing, the shepherd goes looking.

We understand this physically, but do not always see it practiced spiritually.

Shepherds must not allow sheep to wander off. They need to check on them, see where they are struggling, and find ways to provide needed assistance.

We need good shepherds.

Connected Shepherds

March 20, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

As I get older, I see how easy it is to be disconnected, even reclusive from the world, world events, and activities, especially what a younger generation faces every day. It may be in the home, at school, on the job, or in the community.

Shepherds, who tend to be older (by God’s design), can easily become isolated from the world. When this happens, they are challenged to help provide solid biblical answers for these challenges when they are asked.

Take time with the sheep to learn about the battles they fight and focus on how to provide biblical answers to help them fight the good fight of faith.

We need good shepherds.

Praying Shepherds

March 19, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

Shepherding begins at the feet of the great Shepherd, Jesus.

Prayer cannot be overstated. James writes about the power of a prayer fervently rendered to our God. In the context, he specifically identifies elders as those who are to be called when anyone is sick.

Much debate has taken place related to the physical versus spiritual sickness discussed. Regardless of how you defend your thoughts on the matter, the main thrust of this text is about prayer and the power of faith that can impact one who is suffering.

James concludes by saying, “The fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (Jas. 5:16).

We need good shepherds.

Relational Shepherds

March 18, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

Leaders must learn how to address difficulties that arise from within and without. Who’s right? What’s right? Why? When? How?

When shepherds are solely focused on decision making, the ability to lead the sheep is relegated to the task of ensuring people hear a message from the pulpit that is healthy to scripture.

The avoidance of close, intimate, personal relationships has caused more confusion for the church today.

The questions confronting shepherds strike at the core of their being and the inability to provide biblical answers has caused more than a few to see the Bible as outdated and the church as a relic of past ritualistic practices.

We need good shepherds.

Protective Shepherds

March 17, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

Shepherds carry a responsibility to protect the sheep.

Consider some of the dangers people face in our world today. Just to name a few: complacency, apathy, anxiety, discouragement, frustration, fatigue, etc. People are constantly bombarded with immoral, unethical, and spiritual confusion.

Young people deal with the racism, pornography, gambling, humanism, evolutionary teachings, and a plethora of religious teachings that add to the confusion.

Shepherds must also handle the challenges of sheep that can’t get along with each other. The problems of ego, pride, personality conflicts, opinions, and a general lack of love for one another continue to make shepherding difficult.

We need good shepherds.

Knowing the Shepherds

March 7, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

While shepherds need to know the sheep, it is also vital for the sheep to know their shepherds.

For this to take place, it requires shepherds to be in the homes of those they lead and have the sheep in their own home. In fact, having the sheep in the shepherd’s home should be first.

Shepherds need to promote greater transparency and intimacy. When this happens, they will soon be seen as approachable, and deeper discussions allow members to open up and share the challenges, struggles, temptations, difficulties, and the joys experienced in their lives.

At this point, true shepherding occurs and relationships blossom as greater connections are made.

Knowing the Sheep

March 6, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

What does it means to know the sheep? The task is not easy and will require much of the shepherd. I am not referring to knowing “facts” about the sheep (whose sick, in the hospital, etc.). I am talking about knowing their strengths, weaknesses, their struggles, where they are tempted, etc.

Sadly, there are too many shepherds today that never see members outside of the building Sunday and/or Wednesday.

Knowing the sheep requires spending time with them, demonstrating a greater level of approachability.

Unapproachable shepherds are often seen as intimidating, and they are usually unaware of it. They can be seen as harsh, abrasive, standoffish, and above everyone else.

When time is spent together in each other’s homes, this changes.

The Board

March 4, 2025 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

A model of leadership has evolved that has influenced the church in some negative ways.

We often find that elders have become more like a board of directors that make decisions, but know little about “how” to shepherd.

Since most have only known this model, moving away from it will be challenging and require a new mindset.

A look at how the Bible describes shepherding will help, as scripture refers to Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

The leaders of God’s people are also referred to as shepherds. It seems fitting we would consider the role of Jesus to learn more to help those leading His people.

Preparing More to Lead

July 10, 2023 bobturner Daily Leadership, saltJournal 0 Comments

The need for leadership continues to be urgent.

While we understand the primary role of elders to involve the work of a shepherd, we also find that part of this role points to the responsibility of maintaining purity in teaching.

However, the lack of leadership development in years past has created a vacuum where the majority of congregations do not have elders and congregations with elders have too few to deal with the challenges.

Most locations recognize the problem, but what should be done? The answer lies in our return to God’s design, which means we need to initiate a plan for encouraging, promoting, and preparing more to lead.

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