THE MINISTRY OF PASTORING (4)

Let us turn to John 21:15-17 NKJV So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep”

Some of the last words Jesus spoke to the Disciples was all about Shepherds and sheep.

Let us highlight right from the start of this blog, in each of these verses, Jesus says MY lambs, MY sheep, let us not forget this important truth, the lambs and sheep belong to Jesus.

These verses emphasise an essential aspect of the Shepherd’s ministry starting with the LAMBS v.15. These are new believers, that need to be discipled and fed.

In verse 15 & 17 the word translated feed is BOSKO.

The word in verse 16 translated TEND is Poimaino which you will remember from blog 2 is the word for shepherd.

This expresses two very important aspects of the Shepherd’s ministry.

Poimaino tend (take care) is a very different aspect of ministry than what is expressed in verses 15&17 with BOSKO.

I have quoted in Blogs 1 & 2 a statement by Dr. Frank Damazio and it was Frank who I heard in a Pastor’s Conference teach on Bosko Ministry.

The Greek language is a very colourful expressive language, and when you have access to Lexicons you see the richness of the language.

Frank taught that the picture expressed in the word BOSKO is this:

It is the picture of the Shepherd going through the wool of the lamb/ sheep, looking for cuts, scratches, bruises, rubbish that is caught up in the wool (we sure bring a lot of baggage with us when we are born again), AND THE SMELL OF THE SHEEP IS ON THE SHEPHERD.

Sadly, so many think that Discipleship is simply a 6 week class, and when you have completed it everything is ok. I am convinced that there MUST be some wise ONE ON ONE, FACE TO FACE ministry to the lamb/sheep, and for the Shepherd to walk with the lamb/sheep (for as long as it takes) until being a Christian becomes a lifestyle.

There is a sense in which Discipleship is for life, it should transition to Mentoring, as we need to be accountable right throughout our Christian life.

So little BOSKO Ministry takes place in the local church, consequently we have Christians who have never been helped to deal with the cuts, scratches, bruises and rubbish and consequently live defeated unfulfilled Christian lives, that is why so many cease attending church, we are not commanded to get people to make “decisions” but we are commanded “to make disciples”. If we want to raise up quality disciples then we must do it the Bible way.

Every time I teach on this subject I hear the cry, this is too time consuming, I couldn’t do it, the Shepherd, must disciple in such a way that he raises up DISCIPLE MAKERS. Faulty discipleship will make the lamb constantly lean on the Shepherd, the lamb must learn to stand and live in his inheritance in Christ.

I have simply shared my heart in these blogs, I do trust they have been and will be a blessing to many. Amen.