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SHEPHERDING SERIES OVERVIEW
(Chicago UBF, April 27–May 18, 2025)
It’s a wonderful truth that Jesus is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11). No one else could ever love us the way he does. His love is such that though he was the eternal Word, he became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1–2,14). He gave his life and shed his blood to save us from our sins, and rose again to save us from the power of death. When we come to him, we’re saved and find pasture, and no one can snatch us out of his hand (John 10:9,28–29). One day he will come again and take us to himself, to be with him forever in the Father’s house (John 14:2–3). Knowing him as our Good Shepherd gives us true rest, restores our souls, and guides us in the paths of living a righteous life for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:1–3).
The Bible urges church leaders to be shepherds (e.g. 1 Pet.5:1–4). But the love of our Good Shepherd Jesus helps every believer also learn how to show his love to one another: at church, in our families, at work, and to each human being we encounter every day wherever we are. To grow in the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd is part of the sanctification for all those who are in Christ. John’s Gospel highlights how growing as shepherds was Jesus’ program for his disciples (see chapters 10 and 21). Living in the real world, we all have to work hard. Sometimes we’re burdened by life’s problems, needs and demands. But our Lord Jesus invites us all to come to him to find rest, to take his yoke as a shepherd and learn from his gentle and lowly heart. When we do, we find that this life of following him, learning his shepherd’s heart for our fellow flawed and fallen human beings, is not heavy but light (Matt.11:28–30)
In this Shepherding Series we’ll look at four passages: John 21, Matthew 9:35–38, Ezekiel 34, and 1 Peter 5:1–4. Each lesson sheds light on some aspect of the life of a shepherd:
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John 21 shows that a shepherd’s life starts with knowing the love of our Lord Jesus, and learning to love him back by feeding his lambs.
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Matthew 9:35–38 shows us the great need in the real world for compassionate shepherds, how to see people as Jesus does, and how to pray for this.
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Ezekiel 34 illustrates the practical work God expects from shepherds, and the hope that Jesus our Good Shepherd has come to fulfill God’s vision and enable us to grow to do his work.
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1 Peter 5:1–4 describes the work, the motivations, and the example of real shepherds, and the key to it all: living with the hope of our Chief Shepherd’s appearing.