1. Reflection: What is your role as the pastor in your church?
A Different Look at Psalm 23
Reflection: What is your role
as the pastor in your church?
POWER POINT PSALM 23 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR IN THE CHURCH?
The most beautiful expression of the role of the Shepherd is found in Psalm 23. Although this is descriptive of God the Shepherd it is applicable to us as the Shepherds. What happened in the NT is that Shepherds refer also to leaders of the Church. In the epistles Jesus is known as the Great Shepherd (Heb 12:20) or the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:3f).
The shepherd is concern not just for the flock but for each individual sheep.

2. The Lord is my Shepherd That's Relationship!
v.1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want"
It can also be translated as "The Lord is my Pastor I shall not be in want." v.1 should read something like "The Lord is my Shepherd. Shepherds meet all the needs of their flocks. Therefore the Lord will meet all my needs."
This means the shepherd is the one who provides full and complete care for all of his sheep. Sheep are helpless (Isa 53:7), and are likely to wander and stray (Isa 53:6) and they need a leader whom they can follow (Jn 10:3-5). And under his leadership they have no lack. The rest of the psalm talk about how this can be done or what it means to be a shepherd in such a way that the flock has no want.
Notice the "Lord is MY shepherd." In Jn 10:3 the Good Shepherd "calls them by name", "knows them" (Jn 10:27) and goes out to seek the "one who is lost."
There is no way you can give everyone equal treatment especially if it is a big church but we have no excuse not to reach out to the hurting or the one in trouble or having CRISIS (Luke 15:1-7).

3. I shall not want That's Supply!
v.1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want"
It can also be translated as "The Lord is my Pastor I shall not be in want." v.1 should read something like "The Lord is my Shepherd. Shepherds meet all the needs of their flocks. Therefore the Lord will meet all my needs."
This means the shepherd is the one who provides full and complete care for all of his sheep. Sheep are helpless (Isa 53:7), and are likely to wander and stray (Isa 53:6) and they need a leader whom they can follow (Jn 10:3-5). And under his leadership they have no lack. The rest of the psalm talk about how this can be done or what it means to be a shepherd in such a way that the flock has no want.
Notice the "Lord is MY shepherd." In Jn 10:3 the Good Shepherd "calls them by name", "knows them" (Jn 10:27) and goes out to seek the "one who is lost."
There is no way you can give everyone equal treatment especially if it is a big church but we have no excuse not to reach out to the hurting or the one in trouble or having CRISIS (Luke 15:1-7).

4. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
That's Rest!
The shepherd "He MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN in green pastures, he leads me besides QUIET waters" (v2).
This is a beautiful picture of contented and secure rest. In the world we have lots of stress. As shepherds we must know how to help our flocks to rest/relax in the midst of a stressful world. That presume you know how to rest as well.
A beautiful picture is seen in Isa 40:11 "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the Lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; he gently leads those who have young.“
The shepherd knows how to feed the flock. V.2 "He makes me lie down in GREEN PASTURES, he leads me besides quiet WATERS"
Our responsibility is to satisfy their hunger and their thirst. This means to help our members to feed on the Word of God and where necessary to arrange for their physical needs as well.

5. He leadeth me beside the still waters
That's Refreshment!
The shepherd provides leadership. V.2 "He LEADS me besides quiet waters."
He leads not drives. In the old days if a shepherd drives it means the sheep is bound for the abattoir not for the still waters.
Cf Jn 10:3,4 "he...leads them out...and he goes before them.." We must be exemplary: leadership by example especially in the Christian disciplines.

6. He restoreth my soul That' s Healing!
The shepherd ministers to the needs of the soul encouraging the flock when he is tired, down and out. v3. "He restores my soul." Revives and refreshes the spirit.

7. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That's Guidance!
The shepherd guides by instruction and training. V.3 "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names' sake."
We guide counselee in paths of righteousness ie safety and well-being - paths that conform to God's moral will that is honoring to God's name. Not what we think is best for them but what God wants them to be and to do.

8. For His name sake That's Purpose!
The shepherd guides by instruction and training. V.3 "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names' sake."
We guide counselee in paths of righteousness ie safety and well-being - paths that conform to God's moral will that is honoring to God's name. Not what we think is best for them but what God wants them to be and to do.

9. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That's Testing!
The shepherd walk through the valley with the sheep. V.4 gives a wonderful picture of what empathy is. "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me"
Members goes through the trauma of life - some survive others don't. But as shepherds, we are there with them through that valley. This can be one of the most painful but rewarding experience.
To know you cannot do much about the situation but you are there for them trying your best to be with them in that valley.
Crisis intervention often takes a turn for the better in the valley of the shadow of death. Before that, people will always depend on their own strength and resources. The valley of the shadow of death is a purifying experience and we want to be there to encourage the person to go on.

10. I will fear no evil That's Protection!
As a shepherd you protect and comfort them v.4 "I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me"
Sometimes we have to protect the flock from wolves of various forms, it can be an abusive husband or parent or some natural disasters in life.
The real test of the real shepherd is whether are we prepared to lay down our lives for our sheep (Jn 10:11-13 that sets Jesus apart from the hireling).

11. For Thou art with me That's Faithfulness!
To provide friendship and fellowship rather than to come to them in a patronizing way. V.4 "You are with me."
We are advocates not critics. Care and counseling is the art of being with our flock. A pilgrim leading another.

12. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That's Discipline!

13. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
That's Hope!

14. Thou annointest my head with oil
That's Consecration!

15. My cup runneth over
That's Abundance!

16. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That's Blessing!

17. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That's Security!

18. Forever
That's Eternity!

19. What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives!