Doc Ryan & Dr. Matt with Expedition 44

Shepherding/Teaching
o Cares for and develops the people of God by leading, nurturing, protecting, and discipling them
o The teaching aspect clarifies the mind and will of God as found in the Bible so that people can gain wisdom and understanding in following Jesus as a disciple.

Focus/Tasks
o Cultivate a loving and spiritually mature network of relationships and community
o Discern
o Guide
o Help the faith community to explore and seek to understand the mind of God
o Disciple

Impact when Shepherding is a monopolized gift
o Closed, non-missional community
o Co-dependency between the church and pastor (hierarchy/CEO mentality- messiah complex)
o Don’t rock the boat approach to organization
o Too passive and insider focused

Impact when Teaching is a monopolized gift
o Theological dogmatism
o Christian Gnosticism (saved by knowledge)
o Bible and Theology replaces the Holy Spirit
o Control through ideas (Pharisaism- is it lawful?)

Summary
o Jesus is the Shepherd. Pastor is not an office or position in the Bible but a function
o The chief task of the shepherds/teachers was to help the church in times of personal crisis (shepherding) and to enlighten and cultivate the church’s spiritual life by revealing Christ through the exposition of Scripture (teaching).
o One must learn before they teach
o Those who function in shepherding are to be mature believers (“elders”).
o Teaching and shepherding are gifts for the unity and building up of the body to reflect Jesus Christ.
o Shepherding is about service and discipleship and not rule or authority.