The Tender Nurture of Shepherding Souls

A Philosophy of Ministry and Case Study by Tommy Myrick

“A bruised reed he will not break,

and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice” Isa 42:3

No man dresses in the morning by pinning the badge of “Discipler” to his lapel. If he is a
member of Christ’s Church, he is “discipler.” In God’s great enterprise of changing lives,
no individual chooses whether to be or not to be used by the Master in the lives of others.
He is so by definition. Each member of the church is enrolled in God’s great program. I
didn’t go looking for discipleship. Discipleship found me!

Several years ago the Lord drew five college students into my life. Each varied in age,
level of maturity, personality dynamics, level of biblical aptitude and theological
awareness, some even attended colleges separated by geographical distance. What
developed in the days, weeks, months and years since has beautifully reflected how the
Chief Shepherd grows up and grows together the flock of God as a discipling local
church.

In this brief essay I’d like to reflect upon the biblical model for discipleship from the
perspective of both shepherd and sheep, doing so with the nuanced example of real-life
vignettes. All of these considerations will turn on two questions; “What is the message?”
and “How is the message proclaimed?” Ultimately these are subservient questions. The
overarching concern is to show how God applies the gospel-work of his Son to the
church by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He accomplishes his goals in needy sinners
without breaking the bruised reed or quenching the smoking flax. As his under-shepherds
let us speak after God himself and take up his tender nurture of shepherding souls.

God Speaks

The Book of Acts records Paul standing in the Areopagus puzzled as to why Athenians
worship deaf and dumb idols while failing to worship the God who speaks! “He himself
gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (17:25, cf. 22-31). The opening
chapters of Genesis record God fashioning man with a handful of dust and breathing life
into his nostrils (Gen 2:7). The Speaking God opens his mouth and bones live (Ezek 37).
He commands life with a single word, “I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’” (Ezek 16:6)
and “Little girl, I say to you, ‘Arise’” (Mk 5:41). He “upholds the universe by the word of
his power,” reminds the preacher in Hebrews (Heb 1:3). Our God is a speaking God. And
everywhere he speaks his glory is shown.

Familiarizing ourselves with this creational design holds massive implications for our life
in the local church. We find that we were made by and are made dependent upon the
Word of God. Even before the Fall, men and women were designed with inherent
weakness. They were made dependent upon the voice of their Creator (cf. Gen 2:7). The
Fall only twisted and misdirected this creational good; relying upon other created things
for meaning, purpose, instruction and satisfaction (Rom 1). Jesus provides a way of

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escape for us, responding to the Devil’s temptations “man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Likewise, Jesus builds
up and adorns his church by speaking his sweet gospel promises to her. The covenant
community gathers together to hear a word unlike all others, they gather to hear the very
Word of Christ.

Chris was desperate for a foreign sound. Entering the church family as a young man from
a broken family, he carried a heap of burdens and masks from collected identities. Chris
needed to hear a restorative Word spoken by the Covenant God who made him and called
him by name. As new believers make their way into the local church they hear the voice
they were made to know (John 10:27). Brothers and sisters in Christ gather around and
apply the basics of biblical doctrine as a salve. God has designed his church to be a
hearing community where hearts are mutually affected, minds edified, and wills
instructed…together. It is also a speaking community where members speak God’s words
to one-another, helping brothers and sisters become better acquainted with the voice of
the Good Shepherd. Discipleship tunes our ears to hear the Savior speaking.

Scripture Locates

What happens in discipleship ministry when we encounter anomalies? Some individuals

don’t fit neatly into program models or anticipated stereotypes. After all, sinners are
messy! And no mess is altogether similar! While the curse of sin is common, it takes
unique forms in the lives of our people. People only seem as anomalies to us when we
cannot locate that individuals with his/her circumstances in scripture. Has scripture has
gone silent? What is a teacher or counselor or mentor to do?

Clark felt like an anomaly. Though baptized and raised in the local church and never
knowing a time apart from the instruction and fellowship of the body of believers, Clark
wrestled with assurance. Sure he was mentally aware. But this learning had not saturated
the corners of his heart. The discipleship that he received had all the right components
except one of the most obvious…Clark himself. It is not enough to tell our people the
grand story of redemption. We must help our people locate themselves within that story.
Christ’s story remains of no good to us so long as we are not members of that story by
faith. Rather than anomalies our people are profoundly common individuals about whom
scripture is written.

All throughout the bible there are “gotcha moments.” God speaks through his appointed
servants to grab the attention of his people and speak to them personally. Sometimes his
tone is soft and delicate while other times thunderously fearful. But his gospel-message
remains the same, “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are
mine” (Isa 43:1). We are like children suddenly enveloped in the big arms of the Father,
who bends down to us and reminds us, “I’ve got you!” Our people need to hear this. They
need to know whose they are, to whom they belong. They need to know that scripture is
written about them. God is addressing their needs and their situations. Christ’s atonement
is for them. The Holy Spirit is applying this work to individuals in the context of the local
church.

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Shepherds Care

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”
(John 13:35). In the New Covenant the gospel shines with full clarity in the finished work
of Jesus Christ. It brings with it a full picture for nurture in that gospel-community. No
longer are the weak and ill ones separated as “un-clean” in the Mosaic Law (Lev 14).
They are welcomed. Jesus himself, rather than being defiled by impurity, walks up close
and extends his touch to heal (Matt 8; Lk 12). Rather than keep the children at a distance,
Jesus bid them come (Matt 19; Mk 10). In the same way, Jesus charged his disciples to
carry his gospel to strangers and welcome them in (Matt 24). It is no coincidence that as
Jesus poured out the Spirit upon the church at Pentecost, not only were entire families
converted and baptized, but the growing church enjoyed fellowship with one another as
they cared for each others needs (Acts 2). This is the atmosphere of discipleship that
springs from Spirit-empowered gospel proclamation. Gospel preaching is accompanied
by gospel caring.

As we seek to care for the needs of others we encounter people, not problems. Problems
can be classified. They can be dissected and broken down into basic form. Root sins can
be traced. Remedies are easily prescribed. And “seven-steps to recovery” can be outlined.
But this is not the sort of discipleship to which Christ calls his church. We shepherd
people, not problems. Biblical learning is never grasped in a vacuum. There is context
and application. Our goal is to help our people apply biblical truth in their lives. As we do
so, we must always remember that are dealing with fine china. People are precious. Lives
are delicate.

One of my favorite moments is meeting with church members following a sermon and
listening to them weep in response to the gospel. Sometimes, even for those who have
savored strong gospel preaching for generations, the Lord does a deep work that only
tears can express. Scripture reminds us again and again that sanctification is a life-long
process. Both babes and grandparents travel along the sanctification-road together as
children learning the way. Here, every single victory over sin whether subtle or
triumphant is a cause for celebration. Does our ministry of discipleship weep with those
who weep and rejoice with the rejoicing ones (Rom. 12:15)? If we are to follow in the
steps of Christ by taking up this shepherding care of souls, we must nurture those with
whom we share the Comforter himself.

In every lesson there is one message. Like the diamond of great prize, we uphold Christ’s
gospel to the light and turn it for our people, so that the light of his glorious grace reflects
and refracts in all its intricacies. The sheer marvel is that none are excluded! All join
together. Even in all our frailties, the Lord accomplishes his task “until all have attained
to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). Lord teach us to instruct
your church with the tender nurturing care of the Savior.