Shepherds Are Required

Multiplied Effort

To multiply disciple-makers, there needs to be a shepherd who will focus on multiplication.

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One-on-one discipleship is training a disciple-maker, and the purpose of a shepherd is to guide the church members to maximum multiplication of souls saved and disciple-makers trained.

After the Resurrection, in the last few verses of the Gospel of John, Peter started fishing again, and Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me…more than these (Peter’s old livelihood)?…feed my lambs…Jesus asked again, Do you love me?… feed my sheep…and Jesus asked again, Do you love me…feed my sheep in John 21.

First, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” because lambs must be nurtured, fed, and cared for to mature. What are they supposed to mature into? Sheep.

Then Jesus says, “Feed my sheep” a third time, because sheep are to reproduce sheep.

Notice that the Lord says “my sheep.” Pastors must never forget that the sheep are the Lord’s, and each pastor will give an account for the sheep he has overseen.

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The sheep will not multiply correctly without the shepherd overseeing their care, protection, feeding, and intentional multiplication of disciples.

A shepherd is needed to pair the sheep together properly for multiplication.

And the pastor best knows whom each discipler should disciple, who should meet with whom.

Also, a biblical pastor will be a pattern to follow, as we see in 1st Peter 5:2-3.

This means that the pastor and all assistants to the Pastor must disciple one-on-one so that the church can have them as a pattern to follow.

Plus, the difference in vision and guidance will be a difference-maker in leading by example. Do not delegate this ministry; participate in it; you are a disciple of the Lord as well.

Reproduction and multiplication are important to the Lord. A shepherd knows that.

But ultimately, Jesus says Do you love me? Then it comes down to obeying the Lord, multiplying His lambs to sheep and then more sheep, from a heart where He is first.

Instead of building “your” ministry, multiply His sheep.

Remove this step, and the math breaks down.

To multiply disciple-makers, biblical leadership is needed, and a disciple-multiplying ministry must have a pastor with a vision for spiritual multiplication deeply rooted in his heart, as a shepherd.

Now let's look at the next point.