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Acts 20 notes for spring meetings.PDF
Shepherding Notes and Applications
April 3, 2000
Acts 20 Paul as a shepherd
Application to IV staff
v18
"You yourselves know how I lived among
This is crucial for shepherding, and especially for
you...": His life as a model was both accessible
leadership development (or staff development, for
and attractive. He lived near enough to them that
that matter). Staff need to live lives that are accessible
they could tell that his life was consistent, that
(not seeing students for just ninety minutes/week)
the things he said about his love for God and
and attractive (not always complaining about their
people matched his actions
lives or worrying about burnout).
v18b, 31
"the entire time from the first day that I set foot
While we do not work as staff 24-7, as shepherds our
in Asia". Paul lived his model consistently.
hearts are always available to the flock. How easily do
31: "for three years I did not cease
night or day to
I "clock out"?
warn everyone with tears"
v19
"serving the LORD with all humility & with
I am tempted to be impressed at myself when I find
tears": Paul's heart is in it. He cries over his
myself in a tender moment with a staff person. I take
people. His focus isn't on the greatness of his
pride in being trusted enough that staff will cry with
own leadership.
me. But do I cry with them?
v20
"I did not shrink from doing anything helpful."
Are there helpful things that I won't do because it
He had a deep pocket--he was willing to teach, to doesn't feel like my job?
pray, to make tents, to serve in whatever way was
needed, whether "important" or not.
v26
"I declare to you this day that I am not
Do I understand the difference between
responsible for the blood of any of you." Paul
responsibility to and for people? Do I err on the side
understands his role as a sentinel (Ezekiel 33:6).
of taking too much responsibility
for people's choices,
He is responsible
to the people, to speak the
or taking too little responsibility
to people in my role
truth. He isn't responsible
for them, for their
as sentinel?
response.
v27
"for I did not shrink from declaring to you the
Are there things I receive from God that I have
whole purpose of God." Everything Paul
withheld from the people I lead? Insights, challenges,
received from God he gave to the people he led.
calls to repentance, affirmations and appreciations,
Not, "
etc. Can I say that "I did not shrink" when I met with
them or wrote year-end appraisals? Are there things I
have said to others about them that I have failed to
say to them? Have I been faithful to my sentinel role,
my responsibility to them?
v28, v31
v28: "Keep watch over yourselves and over all
As a shepherd, a big part of my role is to keep watch.
the flock...
How do I do at looking around, at noticing danger
v31: "therefore be alert": Paul tells them to keep
before its already wreaking havoc? How do I do at
watch over themselves too, not just the flock.
keeping watch over myself? How am I potentially a
danger to the flock?
v28
"Of which the Holy Spirit has made you
The HS makes us overseers by 1) giving us a heart
overseers." Paul has a sense of God's
for the flock, and 2) giving the flock hearts to trust us
involvement in their appointment as leaders.
as leaders. This takes time. How have I seen the HS
do his work in my heart?
v28
"To shepherd the church of God that he
How am I tempted to think of the fellowship as my
obtained with the blood of his own Son." Paul
fellowship, or the small group as mine? Or
my staff
was very aware of the ownership claims God
team? What does it do to my understanding to speak
makes on his church. This is extraordinary: Paul
of
God's staff team?
God's flock?
is not distant, yet not possessive of the church.
(See also 1 Peter 5:2: "flock of God")
v29
"I know that after I have gone..." How does Paul
In what ways do I exercise foresight for the flock?
know? We could say he knows because he is a
What can I say about what I know will happen with
prophet... Or simply that he has foresight. He
next year's staff team? Student leadership team? Have
sees further down the road than his younger
I had foresight for the fellowship but not
leaders. He knows the kinds of things that are
communicated it? Have I had suspicions about the
likely--he may even have an idea about who are
dangerous wolves but refrained from speaking up?
likely wolves.
v29-30
"Savage wolves will come in among you, not
Wolves: people who are a danger to the sheep or
sparing the flock. [Paul, as Saul, was one of
even to other shepherds. People who get
these.] Some even from your own group will
inappropriate needs met through their leadership
come distorting the truth in order to entice the
experience. People who, by their actions, harm
disciples to follow them." Paul knows the
others: intimidation, harshness, abuse, romantic
dangers are both from outside and from within.
attentions, sowing divisions.
He's seen this first-hand.
v31
"I did not cease night or day to warn everyone
Do my warnings come with tears? Or simply with
with tears" Paul's warnings come not with
impatience or annoyance? Or do I shrink back from
impatience or anger, but with tears. He feels
warnings altogether?
deeply, and cries on behalf of these folks (also
v19): compassion, he really cared for them, cried
over them. He was deeply involved with the
people. Not simply a "professional." He didn't
live a self-protective lifestyle.
v32
"I commend you to God and to the message of
Paul's lack of possessiveness of the ministry in
his grace" also v 25: "none of you... Will ever see
Ephesus makes it possible for him to commend folks
my face again."
to God
v33-35
"In all this I have given you an example that by
Modelling is not enough. Actions are not
such work we must support the weak,
self-interpreting. I tend to be much better at
remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he
modelling than I am at interpreting my model. For
himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to
the sake of avoiding blowing my own horn I might
receive.'" Paul is willing to call attention to his
risk people getting the wrong idea: they conclude that
model, interpreting what he was doing so that
I am uniquely a servant, rather than I simply have
they will understand why. He doesn't want them
come upon a key insight of Jesus': it actually IS more
merely to think that he is a great guy, but that
blessed to give than to receive. Interpreting the
God promises to so bless anyone who would so
model calls people to follow, not because I am so
live. Paul wasn't ripped off by his lifestyle--rather
special, but because God backs your choice to be
he was very blessed by God.
generous.
v35
"It is more blessed to give than to receive": Paul
How do I motivate generosity? How willing am I to
understands that he is living a blessed life. He
connect a generous life with receiving blessing from
wants everyone to know it too, so they will also.
God?
20-32
Paul proclaims the message (v20), teaches
Paul has a total life involvement in his leadership that
publicly and from house to house (v20), testifies
is intense (and potentially intimidating) but also very
(v21), proclaims the kingdom (v25), declares
attractive. People are most sad that they will never
(v26, 27), warns everyone (v32). Implies urgency,
see him again. Is my life's intensity attractive or just
constancy, boldness. It seems that this is all he
intimidating? Does Paul's fanaticism seem accessible
thinks about. He is fanatical about this stuff. He
to me, or just too far gone?
is forceful, determined.
I Peter 5
Proper motives for shepherding (intrinsic rewards)
Improper (sordid) motives for shepherding
Y the chance to grow in faith
Y recognition or status
Y an ability to see God at work
Y privilege or money
Y deepen relationships with people
Y romance, seeking approval, being well liked
Y grow in capacity for love: even our ability to love our
Y power: social, intellectual, emotional
parents and families grows when we grow as shepherds
Y crown of glory that doesn't fade: fruit that lasts
What are the warning signs of improper motives for shepherding?
Y resentment of other leaders
Y impatience at the flock, domination and control (from Ezek 34, leading "with force and
harshness")
Y people desiring influence without paying the cost
Y Prayerlessness
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