the one who acts as shepherd of the church

Elders should shepherd God's flock. Interestingly, when asked about how the events in the Fireside began to unfold, McKinneyin what appears to be a slip-up in his storytold the detective, We were meeting in the bar. McKinney said he became angry when Shepard grabbed his leg as the men drove through town. Motives can be complicated. After Shepard died at 12:53 AM on October 12, first-degree murder was added to the charges against both men. Before we examine these qualifications (in future messages), I want to take this message to explain some basics about church government. Its a demanding ministry, and men who work in an outside job cant always continue in it year in and year out. ", Even Jason Marsden, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, concedes that the Shepard murder was not just a hate crime. Henderson confronted them, a fight ensued, and police arrived. A church that has a mutual affection for her leaders is a blessed union. I think even Fletch was on to something when he was asked, What do you do for a living? and he replied, Im a shepherd. The Bible says that church leaders are shepherds (Acts 20:28;1 Peter 5:1-2; cf. Still, the death penalty remained an option in the second phase of the trial, the penalty phase. Pastoral Care (1): Definitions and Background - The Gospel Coalition Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. A fourth word (Greek, prohistemi, from a compound, to stand before or first) means to lead or have charge over (1 Thess. 2 Chronicles 19:6,7 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 34:4-5); he corrects the erring or rebellious (2 Tim. 3:1-7) by daily time in His Word and in prayer. This was a precursor of what Luther had in mind in the sixteenth century when he advocated the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. In that doctrine, Luther did not intend to obscure the distinction between laity and clergy but simply intended to point out that all Christians are to be involved in fulfilling the mission of thechurch. (He had severely beaten Durand three months earlier.) We have put those childish things away and now we act like men. Although Henderson never struck Shepard, he followed McKinneys order and tied Matthew to the fence. Thus rather than voting for elders at our annual meeting, we should view it as confirming these men as meeting the biblical qualifications. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Church is not a denomination, a human organization or a building but the people God is working with in any age. 5:1-4) also make it plain that this office is for men (husband of one wife). Secondly, the shepherd is responsible to feed the sheep. But was it really a hate crime? While an organism is organized, it is more: it is living, responsive to the living Head. We cannot grow without it. Remember, it was the Holy Spirit who appointed you to guard and oversee the churches that belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, which he purchased and established by his own blood. Shame and guilt will launch an all-out attack on our confidence if we allow doubtful, worrisome, and anxious thoughts to spin into a destructive tornado. Thank you., The judge asked the Shepards if they wished to say anything. The nominating committee interviews each candidate, going over these questions. To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. What does it mean that my sheep hear my voice (John 10:27)? While a coach sits on the sideline and offers direction, a shepherd stands in the midst of the action and is part of the action himself. Sadly, too many pastors in our day allow themselves to get diverted from prayer and the ministry of the Word. Tangeman pointed to two episodes of homosexual abuse suffered by McKinney, the first as a boy of seven and the second as an early teen, part of what the defense lawyer called McKinneys confusing, sexually traumatic past. Tangeman suggested that when Shepard made his alleged sexual advance in front of his friend Henderson, he felt humiliated and his past bubbled up in him. Tangeman admitted that this so-called (by others, not the defense) gay panic response didnt excuse the beating, but rather justified the jury finding his client guilty only of manslaughter, not murder. It must also be remembered that shepherds are part of the fold and not above it. Shortly after I came here, I had lunch with a denominational executive who advised me, Youve got to build your power base as a new pastor in a church. I didnt reply, but I thought to myself, Im sorry, but Im not into building a power base. If you operate that way, youre simply trying to manage and manipulate a bunch of self-willed people expressing their wishes through majority rule. His bloodied tan shirt and chinos shown pinned to a presentation board. Acts 20:28 " Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood: prosechete heautois kai panti to poimnio, en o humas to pneuma to hagion etheto episkopous, poimainein ten ekklesian tou theou, en periepoiesato dia tou aimatos tou idiou. 1:1; Titus 1:5). Acts 6 Ministry - The Shepherd's Church John: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament by Edward W. Klink III. Officials said he was shot at more than 90 times in about 7 seconds, after he fled the vehicle on foot. He and his wife, Julie, have four children. Its complicated. Lesson 8: Who's In Charge Of The Church? (1 Timothy 3:1 and other To support the theory that Shepards hitting on McKinney threw him into a rage, the defense had a few incidents from Matthews past that they could trot out. This was set forth with great emphasis in Jesus' discourse with Peter after the resurrection, when He inquired of Peter's love for his Master. The Reverend Fred Phelps and other members of the notorious gay-hating Westboro Baptist Church protested nearby, carrying signs like No Tears for Queers.. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. But fear of the death penalty makes decisions like this difficult for both the defendant and his attorney. He was known for his violent temper. There are no stipulations in the New Testament as to the number of elders per church. ACT LIKE MEN. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. That should be determined by the number of qualified men and the need for shepherding in the church. A hearing was held on April 5 to consider the plea and determine sentence. A fifth word (Greek, hegeomai, we get our hegemony from it) means to lead or rule (Heb. I pray that some of you will aspire to that work. As a church grows, the pastors role often changes imperceptibly into a business manager rather than a pastor-teacher. She said that Russ had told her that McKinney said to Shepard, Youre getting jacked; its gay awareness week.. 5:17-18.) A little flock. The Church of God": "The Church of God is a spiritual body composed of believers who have and are being led by the Holy Spirit. Shepards wallet was stuffed into a dirty diaper belonging to McKinneys infant child. Shepard attended Catawba College in North Carolina in the fall of 1995, where he developed his first close same-sex relationship. For her own safety, she was kept hidden at a location outside Wyoming for almost a year before the trial. The church needs shepherds not coaches. But a good shepherd weans his sheep from the elemental principles of milk that is given to babes, and he gives them a diet that will cause them to become strong and fully equipped to do the ministry of the gospel. It took me a moment to realize that he was a pastor and not a coach for a sports team or some sort of motivational speaker/CEO type. The spiritual nomad or the isolated maverick is one that runs against the grain of Gods design for His church. In the first place, to be a shepherd over the flock of sheep means that it is the shepherds responsibility to lead the sheep. Shepherds feed, lead, and protect the sheep. . Take comfort that when you walk through the valley of deaths shadow, they will be there with you. With regard to the difficulty that this reading seems to imply the unscriptural phrase, "the blood of God," and to savor of the Monophysite heresy, it is obvious to reply that there is a wide difference between the phrase as it stands and such a one as the direct "blood of God," which Athanasius and others objected to. Neuter of a presumed derivative of poimne; a flock, i.e. After Shepard died at 12:53 AM on October 12, first-degree murder was added to the charges against both men. Unfortunately, this is a conversation that only exists in the American Christian world. 13:7, 17, 24; Luke 22:26). A license plate inquiry led Detective Rob DeBree to question McKinney about the bloody gun. All, the whole, every kind of. He said he never wanted Matthew to get hurt out of the whole thing., But McKinney did not stop. McKinney suggested his desire for drugs was the reason that he, Henderson, and Shepard got into his truck. Who is in charge of the church? A close friend of Shepards, Ted Henson, recalled another incident a few weeks before the murder. Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. But officer Flint Waters told Henderson that if police found someone with a bullet they'd be talking to him again. Any defense strategy that attempts to shift blame to the victim risks infuriating jurors, but they didnt have much else to work with. Shepard died at his Totier Creek Farm on Thursday, according to a statement issued by family spokesman Chris Boneau. Although there is no concept in the New Testament of elders serving a set term of office, it is not a bad idea to have a fixed term so that an elder can be reviewed by the congregation and so that he can determine whether to continue serving or to take some time off. But he would die, just over five days later. Christians who isolate themselves are endangering their own spiritual growth by avoiding biblical accountability or counsel. The ministry of the Word is what sets the direction for the leadership, and at the same time it protects the flock from dangers facing the church (e.g.,Acts 20:29-30). From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. More than merely being called pastors, church leaders are told to pastor/shepherd. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation. 12:8). Leaders know from the Word and from experience what healthy spiritual maturity is so that they can guide others in the ways of the Lord. Neither is the church viewed as a democratic organization, where the members are free to vote their own minds on issues. A week later, Henderson entered the state penitentiary in Rawlins. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. It is obvious from this text in Acts that one of the functions of the leaders of the early church was to equip the laity so that the ministry of the gospel could be effected through their labors. Police say he refused to stop and fired a gun from a vehicle during the pursuit. For example, he said that until their encounter in the Fireside, McKinney had never heard the name Matthew Shepard.. What does it mean that the Lord is my Shepherd? Matthew was taken by ambulance to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Aaron McKinney, meanwhile, was desperate for money or drugs, or both. As Americans who love democracy and freedom, we tend to resist submission to authority. Psalm 78:70-72 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: . From that moment on, for most people following the Shepard case, the beating turned murder was a hate crime, plain and simple. Rejoice when they unfold the Scriptures without shrinking back. God holds the leaders accountable for this, and declares that he, himself, will replace these oppressive shepherds. 2:11-15), leadership in the local church is to be male, not female, in order to preserve Gods order instituted in creation, but violated in the fall. Christian Leadership: Deacons as Spiritual Shepherds Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. Matthew Shepard is a person that deserves your dignity and your protection and your ability to follow the law in this case.. Thats the American way! St. Clair testified, It set off something inside me. . This means that the elder who is supported as the teaching pastor (1 Tim. He might have looked at Matthew, saw a reflection of himself, and not liked what he saw. In addition, he drove the vehicle in which he anticipated a robbery would take place. Shepherds and sheep alike need a vital connection to the local church. For one, the less culpable of the two, it was a robbery that got out of handand had nothing to do with Shepards sexual orientation. All rights reserved. Rerucha described polite, well dressed and well educated Shepard as someone McKinney saw as an easy mark. He said the evidence the state would present against McKinney would be overwhelming., Jason Tangeman, representing McKinney, said his client did not intend to cause the death of Matthew Shepard. McKinney beat Shepard during five minutes of emotional rage and chaos. It was a crime committed in the heat of passion. Not everything Tangeman said in his opening statement was factually accurate. Some pastors unwittingly eschew solid and timeless biblical terminology in favor of denuded jargon that can essentially mean anything or worse, nothing at all. No lawyer wants to see his client executed. School classmates described him as friendly and tender-hearted, but his lack of athletic schools and small size made him the subject of teasing. In her book, The Meaning of Matthew, Judy said she believed Matthews alleged sexual aggressiveness was merely a product of the witnesss fear-fueled imagination.. They are with us. He told the press that now was the time for Congress to pass a federal hate crimes bill. No single shepherd can pay attention to all of the macro-dangers and micro-threats but a team of shepherds can. He hung out at the bar until sometime after 6:00, when he left to attend a meeting of the campus LGBTA, where plans were being made for the following weeks events celebrating Gay Awareness Week. It is a fine work. What are those elders supposed to do? (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1. During the jury selection process, Skaggs told potential jurors the case was about the life and potential death of a human being; the lifestyle of any one individual is irrelevant. He said the case is not about haterather the more mundane motive of a robbery. He asked jurors to give his client a fair shot. Prosecutor Cal Rerucha told jurors that under the Wyoming Constitution, all peoplewhether straight or gayare equal. Its possible that Matthews early sexual abuse had something to do with his history of depression, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use. We are here today demanding that the eight officers who killed brutally murdered Jayland Walker be terminated immediately, said Rev. Did Shepards sexual orientation have anything to do with the attack? The agreement was supportedeven pushedby the Shepards, who did not want to see Matthews reputation dragged through the mud during the penalty phase of the trial., The jury never said Matthews murder was a hate crime, they just declared it to be a murder. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. The word "shepherd" is the same as "pastor." The work of pastoring is shared by the elders. Matthew said, Theater provides me with an escape from everyday life. On a senior class trip to Marrakech, Morocco, Matthew wondered at night from his hotel and was robbed and raped six times by a gang of men in the citys Old Quarter. McKinney asked Henderson to get some rope out of the truck and tie Shepard to the fence, which he did. What Does It Mean to Be a Shepherd Over the Flock? - Ligonier Ministries . Democracy may be a great way to run our country, but its a lousy way to run the church. He exercises His headship through spiritually mature elders. Meth was a big part of the club scene, and Shepard began working for a Denver family involved in a drug distribution route running up I-25 from El Paso to Denver through Fort Collins, and then over to Laramie. But they told the church to select qualified men who could take care of these matters and added, But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). The Bible prescribes several things concerning these leaders: As we saw last week (1 Tim. According to Henderson, it was during this conversation that McKinney brought up robbing Shepard. Skaggs might well have had better luck with a jury. His ministry of tears was one that experienced anguish and suffering but also rich joys in the life of the people. Following again Johns imagery from nature, when a sheep is wounded or becomes ill, it is to be noticed by the good shepherd, who takes that sheep from the flock and gives the special attention needed by the sheep to be restored to fullness of health. Lesson 53: Job Description for Church Leaders (Acts 20:28) OConnor was a former porn star and Hollywood hustler. Training requires more hands-on participation, showing someone how to master a particular skill. Twenty-one years after beating Shepard into . More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! He explained that he was a coach for his clients, seeking to guide them through their story. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. He began doing crystal meth and made money working as a male escort. Pertaining to self, i.e. 11:14) and there is wisdom in sharing the responsibility and authority in the church, so that no single person will dominate without accountability. Even though we are affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Association, we have people here from a number of different church backgrounds. 5:2.) The biblical name of this church is . But if the members are living daily in submission to the living Head and seeking to obey His Word, then when they come together to take care of business, they are denying self and reverently seeking what the Lord is saying to His church corporately. A true shepherd knows the sheep that have been allotted to his charge. It made me angry. St. Clair rejected the invitation. In all of these enterprises, the pastor is to mirror and reflect the ministry of Jesus Himself, who gave of Himself completely to those given to Him by the Father.

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