{"id":8858,"date":"2012-07-16T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2012-07-16T12:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=8858"},"modified":"2026-07-27T16:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:55:13","slug":"shepherding-motivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/shepherding-motivation.htm","title":{"rendered":"Shepherding Ministry: Motivation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ShepherdingThree times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter responded that he did to which Jesus told him to feed His sheep. On the surface this exchange from John 21:15-17<\/span> looks fairly obvious that it’s about motivation. If Peter loved Jesus, He would do something to show it.\u00a0 Specifically, he would care for what is important to Jesus … His sheep (followers).<\/div>\n

Love as Motivation for Involvement in a Shepherding Ministry<\/span><\/h2>\n

As Jesus had communicated earlier, love is the greatest commandment<\/a> … first love for God and then love for others (Matt. 22:35-40).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Greek language uses different words for love:<\/p>\n

agapeo<\/em> – divine love
\nphileo <\/em>– friendship type of love
\neros<\/em> – romantic type of love
\nstorge<\/em> – familial type of love<\/p>\n

The word for love used in the Great Commandment which we are to have for both God and man?\u00a0 —\u00a0 agapao <\/em>… a selfless, sacrificial, giving sort of love<\/p>\n

Now look at the original language in John 21 and you will see that Jesus and Peter, also called Simon, were not on the same page.<\/p>\n

v. 15 –<\/p>\n

Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love [agapao] me more than these?”
\n“Yes, Lord,” he (Peter) said, “you know that I love [phileo] you.”<\/p>\n

v. 16 –<\/p>\n

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love [agapao] me?”
\nHe (Peter) answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you.”<\/p>\n

v. 17 –<\/p>\n

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love [phileo] me?”
\nHe (Peter) said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you.”<\/p>\n

Not too long before this encounter, prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter asserted, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Lk. 22:33).<\/span> That sounds like what AGAPEO would do.\u00a0 When faced with an opportunity to put that love into practice, Peter denied that he ever knew Jesus, not once but three times!<\/p>\n

Peter learned some hard lessons.\u00a0 Undoubtedly humbled by his own weakness, Peter couldn’t bring himself to respond to Jesus’ question, ” do you truly love [agapao] me?” with more than “you know that I love [phileo] you.”<\/p>\n

Despite receiving a lower level love response, Jesus nonetheless asks Peter to feed His sheep.\u00a0 The third time Jesus even switched to phileo <\/em>to match Peter’s level.<\/p>\n

Lessons for Us as Shepherds of His Sheep<\/h2>\n

1)\u00a0 Agapeo should motivate you to serve.\u00a0 To be most effective in shepherding<\/a>, you can’t be selfish, protecting yourself.<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0 It’s one thing to say you agapao God and others, but another to truly love that way.\u00a0 Guard against pride in this.<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0 Jesus will meet you where you are, patiently waiting for you to grow more in love with Him.\u00a0 Be honest with him about where you are.<\/p>\n

4)\u00a0 Though you might not feel worthy to shepherd His sheep, do it anyway.\u00a0 If you wait until you fully arrive, you probably won’t do it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter responded that he did to which Jesus told him to feed His sheep. On the surface this exchange from John 21:15-17 looks fairly obvious. If Peter loved Jesus, He would do something to show it. Specifically, he would care for what is important to Jesus … His sheep (followers). . . . Continue reading Shepherding Ministry: Motivation<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-discipleship-spiritual-growth","category-leadership"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t