Taking the Pastor’s Calling Seriously: Shepherding God’s Flock

New Year intercession opens with a clear confession: the future is unknown, but God reigns. Fear is real, yet faith is its kryptonite. The call is to pray for the world, for rulers both righteous and wicked, and for a great harvest of souls in 2026. There is a plea for the church to embrace holy boldness, discipline in the Word, and persevering prayer, trusting the Spirit to open doors and do the saving work. Local mission is not small in God’s hands; even a small fellowship can have great influence when hearts are bent toward obedience.

From there, attention turns to the life of the church and the pastoral office through 1 Peter 5:1-4. God still calls men to pastor, and the body needs to know what God expects—whether or not it aligns with cultural expectations. Three biblical words frame the role: elder (spiritually mature character), shepherd (tender care), and overseer (responsible leadership). Together they sketch a single calling: a spiritually mature man who tends, guards, and guides God’s flock. Pastors are not perfect, but their calling carries weight; they must take it seriously.

A sober warning follows: the church must resist being “dumbed down.” Extended emotional experiences cannot replace doctrinal depth. Felt needs cannot supplant biblical truth. A healthy flock is nourished by a steady diet of Scripture, preached with patience, reproof, and exhortation. True shepherding takes shape in three labors. Protection: guarding the flock from wolves, false teaching, and even self-deception. Provision: feeding the flock God’s Word, not merely what feels good in the moment. Production: helping believers bear fruit that remains—lives marked by love, joy, peace, and self-control to the glory of the Father. The appeal concludes with a fresh invitation: start the year under Christ’s rule, respond to the Spirit, and if needed, come to Jesus by faith.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Begin with God’s sovereign rule Start the year by fixing the heart on who God is, not on what may happen. Sovereignty is not a slogan; it is ballast for anxious souls and fuel for intercession. When God’s throne is the starting point, prayer becomes bold, hope becomes steady, and obedience becomes possible. [15:23]
• 2. Faith steadies fear in uncertainty Fear is always at the door, but faith answers it with God’s character and promises. Faith does not deny danger; it refuses to enthrone it. It remembers who sits above the storm, and it acts with courage shaped by Scripture rather than headlines. [16:51]
• 3. Know what God expects of pastors The church thrives when it understands God’s design for pastoral leadership. Expectations are not driven by trends or personal preferences but by Scripture. Holding pastors to God’s standards safeguards the flock and strengthens gospel witness. [51:35]
• 4. Elder, shepherd, overseer—one calling Scripture uses three terms to describe one office: spiritual maturity, tender care, and responsible oversight. Character is as essential as competence; posture matters as much as strategy. A pastor models Christ’s heart while guiding Christ’s people. [62:51]
• 5. Shepherds protect, provide, and produce True shepherds guard against wolves, feed with the Word, and labor for lasting fruit. Protection may require hard conversations; provision demands a steady diet of Scripture; production aims at Spirit-formed lives. This is Christ’s pattern for the care of his people. [76:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:23] - New Year Prayer: God on the Throne
• [18:21] - Intercession for the World and Nation
• [22:37] - Prayer for the Church: Boldness and the Word
• [28:04] - Welcome Back and In-Person Invite
• [31:13] - Missions Update: Lottie Moon Generosity
• [41:34] - Children’s Ministries: Volunteers Needed
• [42:47] - Building on the Basics Returns
• [52:56] - 1 Peter 5:1-4 Read
• [59:45] - Beware Dumbing Down the Church
• [62:51] - Elder, Shepherd, Overseer Explained
• [76:30] - Shepherding Means Protecting the Flock
• [80:38] - Provide the Word with Patience
• [83:25] - Aim for Fruit and Maturity
• [87:50] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

1. In 1 Peter 5:1-4, who is being addressed and what are they commanded to do? Consider the wording: “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight” [53:17].
2. What three biblical terms describe one office of church leadership, and what emphasis does each bring (elder, shepherd, overseer)? [01:02:51]
3. What was affirmed about the new year and God’s rule? Note the statement, “we know who sits on the throne” [15:23].
4. What three labors of shepherding were laid out for the care of God’s people? [01:16:30]

1. “It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” Why might shepherds be addressed first, and what does that reveal about accountability within the church family? [55:28]
2. How does beginning prayer with God’s throne reshape intercession for our world and its leaders? What shifts when God’s sovereignty is the starting point? [15:23]
3. Why is it dangerous to replace doctrinal depth with extended emotional experiences? What might a “steady diet of Scripture” practically look like in gathered worship and small groups? [01:01:14]
4. Shepherding aims at fruit that remains. What kind of fruit should pastoral care seek, and how can one tell if outcomes are Spirit-formed rather than man-made? [01:23:25]

1. Fear is real, but faith answers with God’s character and promises. Where is fear knocking at your door right now? What specific promise from Scripture will you talk back to that fear with this week? [16:51]
2. Intercede for rulers “both righteous and wicked.” Name one leader (local, national, or global) you will pray for by name this week. What will you ask God to do, and what small act can you take toward civic love and peace? [20:15]
3. Holy boldness starts near home. Who are two neighbors, coworkers, or friends you will lovingly approach with a simple testimony question: “Can I tell you what Jesus has done in my life?” What open door are you asking the Spirit for? [22:56]
4. Discipline in the Word is a gift, not a grind. When and where will you set aside 15–20 minutes daily this week to open God’s Word and pray? What will you read, and who can help you stay accountable? [23:42]
5. God expects pastors to shepherd and exercise oversight. How will you respond to godly oversight—especially when it stretches or corrects you? What practical steps can you take to support and pray for those who lead? [53:17]
6. Protection sometimes means hard conversations. Is there an area where you may be self-deceived or drifting? Who has permission to tell you, “You’re headed down the wrong trail,” and how will you invite that conversation this week? [01:16:47]
7. Provision aims at Word-fed people who bear lasting fruit. What is your plan to increase your intake of God’s Word (hearing, reading, memorizing, discussing) so that you grow in love, joy, peace, and self-control this month? Be specific. [01:21:51]