WEEK 2 | FOLLOW
You are a sheep. And the Lord is your shepherd.
With the call to shepherd other people often comes the temptation to make shepherding your primary identity—you might begin to see yourself first and foremost as a shepherd. Being a shepherd certainly has a major bearing on your identity, but this is crucial: you are first, foremost, and always a child of God. A sheep under the guidance of the Good Shepherd. That is your primary identity, and failing to keep that identity primary will inevitably undermine your role as a shepherd.
You cannot be a good shepherd if you are not a good sheep. You cannot lead people closer to Jesus if you are not following him yourself. The more you lead, the more temptation you will face to set the agenda, to determine the goal, to decide where and how the sheep under your care should be led. But that’s not for you to decide. If you are a sheep following the Good Shepherd, then you will always know exactly where the sheep under your care need to be led, and you will always know how to get there.
In this session, we are going to focus on that primary identity. What does it mean to be a sheep following the Good Shepherd?
Following the Good Shepherd: Psalm 23
One of the most well-known passages in the Bible explores exactly this question: the 23rd Psalm. Its words may be familiar to you, but we encourage you to read it slowly, to “step into” the imagery, to let the metaphors and phrases stir your imagination. Ask yourself what it means to have the Lord as your Shepherd. Let these words, which have comforted God’s people for millennia, shape the way you view yourself.
>> Take a minute right now to read Psalm 23 slowly and reflectively. <<
The Good Shepherd leads me to rest and refreshment (vv. 1–3). Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we are lacking for nothing. Picture yourself as a sheep being led by this Shepherd. He leads you to green, lush pastures where you can rest. He brings you to water where you can be refreshed. When you follow this Shepherd, he leads you to the kinds of places you need: places where your soul can be restored.
QUESTIONS | REFLECTION
1. In verses 1–3, how would you summarize what the Shepherd does for his sheep?
2. Can you give any examples of times that God has done these things in your life?
The Good Shepherd protects me in dark times and places (v. 4). Now look at verse 4, which takes a darker turn. This is a good reminder that even a Good Shepherd must sometimes lead his sheep through shadowed valleys. We would, of course, prefer to stay in the green meadows and beside the refreshing waters, but when the Shepherd starts down a path that will lead through the dark places, even there we must follow him.
The word “vulnerable” certainly applies to sheep. A sheep is about as far from “tough” or “resourceful” or “brave” as an animal can get. Truly, a sheep has no business in “the valley of the shadow of death.” It stands no chance.
We might expect David to have written, “Even when I find myself in the valley of the shadow of death, you swiftly lead me to safer places.” But he doesn’t. Instead, he says, “Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” Why? “For you are with me.” The terrifying place does not cease to be terrifying and the sheep does not cease to be a sheep. But the presence of the Shepherd quiets all fears. The sheep doesn’t suddenly turn into a fearless predator; the Shepherd is there, and it is enough. His rod and staff—used to fight off predators and gather straying sheep—are a comfort. It doesn’t matter what path they are taking; when the sheep is with the Shepherd, there is always peace and comfort.
QUESTIONS | REFLECTION
3. What types of real-life, modern-day situations would you equate with “the valley of the shadow of death”?
4. Has God ever comforted you in these types of situations? How so?
The Good Shepherd never leaves me (vv. 5–6). Now read verses 5 and 6. In these verses, David celebrates the Shepherd’s constant presence. When David is in the presence of his enemies—truly a terrifying place to be—he finds that the Shepherd has laid out a banquet. When he finds himself overflowing with favor and blessings, he knows that the Shepherd has done it. He is confident that every day of his life, he will be pursued by God’s goodness, his mercy. And the culmination of the Psalm is this statement that answers all of our longings: “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
QUESTIONS | REFLECTION
5. What difference would you say God’s presence makes in your life?
6. In your daily life, how aware would you say you are of God’s presence? How do you think you could increase this?
The Problem: Leaders Who Don’t Follow
Thus far, we have been exploring what it looks like to be a sheep following the Good Shepherd. We should always come back to these descriptions, to this imagery. This identity is not something we learn once and simply check off a list. It’s a lifelong process of remembering who we truly are.
As you prepare to shepherd other people, this pursuit of the Good Shepherd is all the more vital. Be warned at the outset: shepherding people apart from the Good Shepherd will be disastrous to your soul. The truth is, people often lead other people for terrible reasons. Their motivations stray, their lust for power grows, and an initially good act (shepherding) gets distorted into something ugly. Let’s explore some of the dangers here.
Ask yourself this question right now: why are you doing this? Let the question linger in your mind as you complete this session. Peter’s admonition to church leaders unmasks some twisted motivations for shepherding other people. He says:
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Pet. 5:2–4)
A shepherd leads, of course, which is why Peter calls these leaders to “exercise oversight.” But he gives several warnings about what that ought to look like. Don’t shepherd under compulsion, he says, but instead, shepherd with a willing heart. It is a privilege to lead God’s people. If you find that you’re shepherding because you’re feeling forced or coerced, or if you’re leading without a sense of joy, it’s time to either step down (at least temporarily) or re-evaluate what you’re doing and why (our prayer is that this SHEPHERD study will help you do that).
Peter also warns us not to shepherd others for shameful gain. If that warning perplexes you—what could someone hope to gain by serving others?—then you have a healthy view of shepherding. But make no mistake: the church has no shortage of leaders who see other people as a means to their own ends. If you find yourself drawn to the prestige of being a leader, or to the power you might attain, or some other form of “shameful gain,” it’s time to have an honest conversation with the Good Shepherd. Recover your identity as a sheep, you are straying from his path.
And then Peter insists that we should not be domineering over the sheep. This is a hugely countercultural statement. Some will have trouble distinguishing between leading and domineering. Aren’t those synonymous concepts? But that’s the opposite of a shepherd’s heart. A shepherd, Peter says, is an example to the flock. It’s not about being served by the sheep, it’s about caring for them, teaching them how to follow the Good Shepherd.
And once again, this is why it’s so essential that we cling to our identity as sheep. We will always lose sight of what we’re really trying to do when we stop following the Shepherd. When we stop following, things go south. For many, this is where the power trip comes into play. You stop seeing the sheep as God’s sheep, and you begin to see them as your audience, as a source of affirmation, or servitude, or praise.
For others, this is where burnout occurs. You pour so much effort into shepherding others, believing you are doing it all in your own strength. When you’re not being led and cared for and refreshed by the Good Shepherd, you’ll quickly run dry in shepherding other sheep. Most shepherds will at some point or another begin to view their sheep as a burden. And this is where Peter’s warning about shepherding willingly—eagerly even—is most needed. Sheep would be a burden if you had to do it all yourself. But remember that you are a shepherd under the care of the Good Shepherd. The sheep actually belong to the Good Shepherd—you are an “under-shepherd.” Your role as a shepherd is delegated by the True Shepherd. Anything you have to offer the sheep comes from this Shepherd. If you remember that, the sheep cease to be a burden, and you can begin to see them as an opportunity to draw closer to the Good Shepherd.
QUESTIONS | REFLECTION
7. Honestly evaluate your reasons for wanting to be a shepherd. Why are you doing this? (Don’t just give the right answer, do some sincere heart searching here.)
8. Where do your motivations tend to go astray when you take on a leadership role? Why do you think this is?
The Solution: Follow as You Lead
The solution, as we have been saying, is to follow as you lead. You must follow before you lead, and you can’t stop following once you start leading. The Lord is your shepherd. That identity must be branded into every thought and action. Following the Good Shepherd is simply a way of life for shepherds in the church. Remember that Peter called on shepherds to be an example to the flock (1 Pet. 5:3). It’s easy to tell the sheep what to do. But it’s impossible to be an example to the flock if you’re not following yourself. The key to it all is summed up in Paul’s simple and memorable statement: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). That would be an excellent little verse to memorize as you seek to shepherd while being shepherded.
QUESTIONS | REFLECTION
9. Take a moment to reflect on the material you’ve covered in this session. How would you summarize what it means to be a sheep following the Good Shepherd?
10. How would you summarize what it truly means to have the heart of a shepherd?