Shepherding Ministry Resources

Online Training

• Shepherding Ministry
    Overview
    Defined
    Benefits
    The Shepherd
    A Network of Shepherds
    The Chief Shepherd
    How to Shepherd:
          General Description
          Specific Description
    Condition of the Flock
    Recommended Resources
    Venues for Shepherding:
          discipleship
          elders
          equipping
          mentoring
          ministry teams
          parents
          pastors
          small groups
          S. S. teachers
          support groups
   
  
• Body Life
• Christian Education
• Church Purpose
• Finding Your Best Fit in Ministry
• Helping Ministry
• Leadership Ministry
• Outreach Ministry
• Prayer Ministry
• Spiritual Gifts
• Staffing Ministry
• Teaching Ministry
• Worship Ministry
   
  

Bible Curriculum
Devotionals
Discussion Guides
Teacher Training
Specials
 

Children's Ministry
Church Life
Equipping Resources
Ministry Ideas
Seasonal / Holiday Resources
Teacher Training
 

Discipleship Training:

• A discipler teaches the sheep to follow the Chief Shepherd.
• A network of discipleship efforts may be most effective.
• Disciplers' main objective should be to work themselves out of a job
• To be most effective, disciplers must base what they do on the condition of the flock.
   
   
   
   
  

Disciplers' Main Objective Should be to Work Themselves Out of a Job:

The ministry description for a discipler is the same in many respects as any other kind of shepherd both in the general ministry duties as well as the specific ministry duties of a shepherd.

Possibly more than any other shepherding venue, however, a discipler's objective should be to work themselves out of a job by helping the disciple develop spiritual disciplines. The long range goal is to build a dependence on the Lord and not on you. If you don't get people into the Word on their own, devoted to prayer, and engaged in the other disciplines, you have not truly developed a disciple of Jesus Christ.

• Matt. 28:19-29 - "baptizing them . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
• Col. 1:28-29 - "teaching everyone . . . so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
• Phil. 2:12 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you . . . "
• 2 Tim. 2:2 - "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

Even Jesus did not stay with His disciples forever. Ultimately He ascended to heaven. At times He sent them out on their own in preparation of His leaving and then had a time of feedback.

Following Jesus' instructions and example, the discipler will accomplish this objective by:

1. seeking them out
      Matt. 28:19 says "go and make disciples."
    
   
2. sharing the Word
      Matt. 28:19 - To "make disciples" in the Greek means to teach.
    
   
3. supplication
      Jn. 17 - Jesus prayed for His disciples.
    
   
4. supporting
      Jn. 15:11; 16:33 - Jesus told them certain things to encourage them.
    
   
5. showing
      Jn. 13:15 - "I have set you an example that you should do as
         I have done for you."
    
   
6. spurring them on
      Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39, 43-44 - Jesus took His
      disciples to higher levels . . . He said, "You have heard it said but
      I tell you . . ."
    
   

More Discipleship Training:

• A discipler teaches the sheep to follow the Chief Shepherd.
• A network of discipleship efforts may be most effective.
• To be most effective, disciplers must base what they do on the condition of the flock.