The 3 Ls of Great Shepherding

by Tom Ellsworth

I have the utmost respect for those men who volunteer their time, energy and hearts shepherding God’s flock.  And through the years, I’ve served with some great ones!  You are undoubtedly familiar with education’s 3 Rs – reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic.  How about I offer the 3 Ls of shepherding?  (Yeah, I see you rolling your eyes but I’m a preacher – I think in threes; it’s my favorite number!)  Consider these characteristics common to all great shepherds.

Great shepherds lead.  They lead in conjunction with staff.  They lead by example, word and action.   They lead because they can do nothing less!  As a matter of fact, when seeking an elder to serve, look for one who is already leading.  A qualified shepherd already has followers because they trust him.  I understand there is a certain type of sheep in Iceland known as leadersheep.[1]  Leadersheep are highly intelligent animals that have the ability and instinct to lead a flock home during difficult conditions. They have an exceptional ability to sense danger and a highly developed sense of direction.  There are stories in Iceland of leadersheep saving lives during the fall roundups when blizzards threatened shepherds and flocks alike.[2]  Since all in the Church are sheep, God is looking for some leadersheep to step up and … lead! 

Great shepherds learn.  The elders I have always admired most are those who continue to learn throughout their lives.  When a leader concludes he has learned enough and is content with his knowledge, he ceases to be a good leader.  Would you want to undergo surgery with a surgeon who still used ether as his anesthesia of choice?  Not me – I had a tonsillectomy as a kid and I got ether; I thought the surgical team was going to kill me before they even looked down my throat!  Would you purchase phone service from a company that only sold rotary dial telephones?  I don’t think so.  You get my point.  Who wants to follow a shepherd who hasn’t read anything newer than the original 1924 edition of Halley’s Bible Handbook?  Don’t get me wrong, Halley’s is a wonderful resource, but even Halley’s is in its 25th revision!  A great shepherd keeps reading, learning, growing.  How can a shepherd lead younger generations if he has no knowledge of their culture, and every generation has its unique culture!  God is looking for shepherds who never stop learning.

Great shepherds listen.  I cannot emphasize how important intentional listening is to good shepherding.  Make no mistake about it: there is a vast difference between hearing and listening.  Hearing merely employs the ears; listening involves ears, eyes, emotions, intellect, concentration, intentionality and more.  When you listen, you key in on the other person’s story.  You listen with the intent to learn, not to form an argument for how to respond.  You seek to understand before you seek to be understood.  In our polarized society, I fear we have forgotten how to listen.  Consequently, elders must work even harder today at listening, because listening:

·         affirms those who are speaking

·         hones leadership focus

·         prevents erroneous conclusions

·         helps solves potentially divisive problems

And those are just a few of the benefits of listening.  God is looking for shepherds who will listen well and respond accordingly because they might just change the future. 

Forty years ago, I came to Sherwood Oaks Christian Church disheartened with what I had recently experienced in ministry and needed the encouragement of a gentle shepherd.  I found that encouragement in an elder, Ray Wampler.  Ray was 70 years old and I was 25; we were from two different generations but the bond that developed quickly erased that gap.  Ray was a good listener.  He listened intently to my thoughts and was always willing to give a new idea a hearing and a try.  Not every idea worked but I never got an “I-told-you-so” response from Ray.  He dearly loved the church and realized that changes were needed to move the congregation forward.  And while I’m sure he had his doubts about some of my vision, he was always encouraging me forward.  Ray and I served together for five years before his health deteriorated.  I remember well my last visit with him in his home at his bedside.  We both knew he would soon be going home.  We cried together and with his last words to me, he expressed his love.  I told him I loved him, too. I will be forever grateful to God that he brought Ray Wampler into my life when I needed him most.  He changed my future and that of the congregation.

God and His flock deserve our best and that shepherding effort begins with leading, learning and listening. 

[1] https://www.trinityfarm.net/icelandic-leadersheep

[2] http://lavenderfleece.com/leadersheep.html