When the Sheep Teach the Shepherd

Pastors are teachers. Though we may do many other things, teaching is at the heart of our calling (Ephesians 4:11-12). That’s one of the main reasons I went to seminary nearly four decades ago. I knew that if I was going to teach God’s Word well, which a pastor certainly must do, I needed some tools to minister God’s Word to the flock faithfully.

But then I became a pastor, and it didn’t take long to learn something else. There’s another side to pastoral ministry, which people seldom discuss and often neglect. In addition to teaching, pastors also need to be taught. And not just in seminary, either.

Who teaches the pastor?

There is so much that a pastor does not know. That was true when the Lord directed my steps to Wheelersburg Baptist Church in 1987. It’s still true after three and a half decades of shepherding this precious congregation in rural Appalachia. Thankfully, the Lord has provided the shepherd with an excellent teacher.

Who is the shepherd’s shepherd? Yes, the Lord is, for sure. And we must sit at His feet continually. But who does the Lord use to grow His shepherds?

You say, “He uses other shepherds.” And, of course, you’re right. I’m so thankful for other pastors the Lord has used in my life. I find myself frequently asking the question, “What would Pastor Dave do?” I’m so grateful for the man who was my pastor when I was young, later became my mentor and friend, and whose example continues to help me today.

But other pastors aren’t enough. Who else does the Lord intend to use in our lives? Who else teaches the shepherd? I have learned (and am still learning) that the sheep often do.

Sheep can teach, too

There’s so much that a shepherd can learn from his sheep. It’s true. The teaching ministry goes both ways in the church. Certainly, God intends to use the shepherd to teach the sheep, and that happens week after week. It must happen, my fellow shepherds, since this is the Lord’s design. “Feed the flock of God that is among you,” Peter tells the elders in 1 Peter 5:2.

But the edification stream flows both ways. The Lord also intends to use the sheep to teach the shepherd, and this, too, should be happening week after week.

I am so thankful for this wonderful reality. I know that God has used the sheep with whom I have served these many years to teach me many things.

So many people come to mind, and I’d like to introduce you to a few of them. I know their names won’t bring faces to mind for you. But as you read the names of these sheep, think of the church family with whom you are doing life. Thank God for them and their teaching ministry.

I learned from Don how to do evangelism

You would think that after four years of Bible college and four years of seminary, I should have known how to engage in personal evangelism. Sure, I knew the verses, but when I first came to the church, I lacked confidence in one-on-one soul work. I learned that from Don. Don was a welder by trade and a soul-winner by the Spirit’s gifting. We made many visits together to people’s homes. I watched Don lovingly and clearly present the gospel to lost people.

I’ll never forget the evening we visited Jim and Pam. This young couple had recently attended our church for the first time, so we went on “visitation” to their home the following Thursday evening. After talking about family and work for a few minutes, Don turned the conversation to spiritual matters. He asked Pam, “Do you know for sure that if you died tonight, you’d go to heaven?” She replied with a huge smile, “Yes, I do. I just asked the Lord to save me a couple of weeks ago.”

“That’s wonderful!” replied Don. And then he turned to her husband and said, “What about you, Jim? Do you know for sure that you’d go to heaven if you died tonight?” And Jim replied, “Well, I hope so!” At this point, Don smiled and said, “How would you like it if the pastor shared with you right now how you can know for sure that you’re going to heaven?” In response, Jim said, “Sure!” And Don again smiled, looked at me, and said, “Tell him.”

What a privilege it was for me that evening to share the glorious gospel, invite Jim to repent, put his faith in Jesus Christ, and hear him call upon the Lord for salvation. Don went to be with the Lord about three years ago. It was a great joy to share that story at his funeral. I’m so thankful the Lord used that dear member of the flock to teach me how to engage in evangelism.

I learned from Dave how to be more effective in leading board meetings

One of the challenges of a long-term pastorate is trust. You say, “How is trust a challenge?” In the way Dave helped me to see about six years ago. Dave, the chairman of our deacons, said to me, “You know, since you’ve been our pastor for three decades, there’s a lot of unity on our board. That’s good. But I don’t think the men always say what they’re thinking at our meetings. They have too much respect for you.”

I was shocked. “You don’t think our board members feel free to speak their minds?”

“No,” he insisted. “They don’t want to go against you.”

That was a defining moment for me. I opened up to the men at our next meeting and said, “I’ve learned something from Dave. We may be settling for a false peace at times. I truly value you men. When we are deliberating, I want every man to say what he’s seeing and thinking. It’s vital that we speak the truth in love at our meetings, that we put Ephesians 4:15 into practice.”

By God’s grace, that now happens at our meetings. At times, it’s messy but necessary and God-exalting. I learned that from Dave.

The sheep continue to teach this shepherd

I could go on and on recounting the lessons I’ve learned from the sheep. The Lord used a widow named Mary to teach me about being a selfless giver, about not letting your left hand know what the right hand is doing. He used Bob to teach me about contentment and joy in difficult circumstances. He used Gary to teach me about prayer. He used June to teach me about the importance of gracious hospitality. He used John and Denise to teach me about loving people when others give up on them.

And, of course, He has used my wife to teach me countless lessons. She, too, is a member of the congregation I serve and someone from whom I have much to learn. Sherry can pick up on things I’m prone to miss concerning people, situations, and needs. More than once, when our daughters were still under our care, she would say to me, “Honey, I think your daughters need some time with their dad.” And, of course, she was right.

We all need the teaching ministry of the body of Christ

The Scriptures are clear on this point. It takes the ministry of the church, the whole church, to make a disciple. The following texts are likely familiar to you but are worthy of our ongoing attention.

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.”  – 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (ESV)

“…Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” – James 1:19 (ESV)

“Reprove a wise man and he will love you.” – Proverbs 9:8b (ESV)

Where to go next? An action plan for the pastor

My fellow shepherds, yes, we must be faithful teachers of the Word by all means. But let’s also be faithful learners. Specifically, let’s be willing to be taught by the congregations we serve. The Lord has much to say to us through the sheep entrusted to our care.

Regarding the next steps, here are three suggestions.

1. Resolve never to stop being a learner.

I’m not talking about reading another book this week or attending another seminar next month, though there’s certainly a place for that. I’m talking about a mindset regarding the local church. The Lord intends to teach us many things through His people. But to benefit, we must be willing to be taught.

So let’s resolve right now never to stop learning. Let’s prepare for the teaching ministry of the sheep that the Lord will bring into our lives this week.

2. Learn to ask better questions.

Most of us know how to ask questions to help others grow. Let’s learn to ask questions that will help us know our people better. These questions, in turn, may facilitate our growth.

Questions like these. Who are the people who have had the biggest influence on your life, and why? What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever experienced, and what sustained you? What do you appreciate most about the Lord? What do you think it’s like being a pastor? If you were a pastor for a week, what would you do that we’re not presently doing?

3. Visit a shut-in this week and pick their brain.

When I first became a pastor, I used to visit Carrie in her small apartment. I was twenty-six, and she was close to ninety. She was on an oxygen machine, struggled to breathe, and could barely walk. Yet, I learned a lot from her. I’ll never forget when she asked me, “Pastor, how do people who don’t know the Lord live?” And she didn’t wait for my answer but promptly responded, “They don’t live. They merely exist.”

The Lord took Carrie home to heaven just a couple of years after I met her, but He still brings her words to mind from time to time. I’m thankful she taught me that people around me who don’t know Christ aren’t really living but merely existing. I’m a much more effective pastor when I keep that in mind.

So, visit the shut-in, my friend. You’ll encourage them and perhaps learn from them.

©2023 Brad Brandt. Used with permission.