Here's our Care Circle "Continuing the Conversation" guide for Oct 10, 2021.
Kung gusto ninyo ng downloadable version, you can get the file here:
Topic: The Shepherd's Calling
Series: Like a Shepherd
Date: Oct 10, 2021
Opening [Pambungad]
Napakahalaga to build a genuine relationship with your members. Ang discipleship ay hindi lang attendance o pang-sesermon kundi pagkakaroon ng relasyon sa isa’t isa at sama-samang pagtahak sa buhay.
Mga bagay na makakatulong:
1. I-welcome ang grupo.
2. Kung kayang magkaroon ng ice breaker, mas mainam!
3. Kamustahin ang kanilang mga naging nakaraang lingo – any highlights or challenges.
4. Kamustahin kung nagawa ba nila ang application last week
5. Kamustahin kung meron bang answered prayers mula sa inyong mga ipinanalangin.
Rewind [Balikan ang Napakinggan], Reflection [Magnilay-nilay] and Practice [I-apply ang Natutunan]
Note: Hindi po kailangang daanan isa-isa ang items dito. This full sermon outline ay para maging guide ninyo sa pagrerecap ng topic.
I. THE ‘UNATTRACTIVE’ CALLING OF A SHEPHERD
Looks of a shepherd:
1. Lonely field work
2. Simple outfit.
3. Plain bag
4. Basic hand tools – rod and staff
5. Light weapons – sling
Mission of a shepherd: TO CARE FOR THE SHEEP. If he is hired as a shepherd, he is accountable to the owner. If he himself is the owner, he earns his livelihood from them.
Application: These shepherds show so much strength and courage amid the challenges of shepherding. Sa unang tingin ay ‘unattractive’. Unglamorous and attractive. Unglamorous, yes, but it does not mean unimportant. Unattractive to men does not mean useless to God. They should not be looked down upon.
Jesus – The Good Shepherd who lived a simple life BUT He had followers. The Great Shepherd’s calling was to die like a sheep, to be offered for the sins of man. That calling is to ‘ATTRACT’ sinners to Himself, THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
Paul – He was notorious as a pre-believer of Jesus but when He met Jesus in Damascus, his life became that of a ‘spiritual shepherd’ to many people, especially the Gentiles, in his time. Many were attracted to the Gospel because he was fulfilling his calling as a shepherd: mothering them with care, fathering them in the faith.
The shepherds or pastors in our time received the Chief Shepherd’s calling in many different ways. These pastors continue to live up to God’s noble calling. These shepherds of the flock know that what they have is a noble calling. They know their place in God’s kingdom --- to save and disciple and equip as many souls as they can in the power of the Holy Ghost! THEY CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. And as sheep, we listen to them, we support them, we obey the Lord through their ministry in our lives. The gospel they bring is attractive!!! Jesus is beautiful in and through their lives!
Reflection: The next time you see a pastor, do not be deceived by what he does not have! Be inspired by Who called them and their noble calling! GOD IS THEIR CHIEF SHEPHERD, and they PARTNER with HIM! Help the church, the Gospel and their family to be more attractive.
CC: REFLECTION 1. Sa tingin mo, bakit pinili ni Jesus na maging “simple lang” noong nandito siya sa mundo? Paano ito nakatulong sa Kanyang mission? 2. Ano ang common misconception (mga maling akala) tungkol sa mga pastor or mga nag-llead sa church? (Example: ‘Mahirap’ o ‘walang finances’, ‘madali lang ang ginagawa’) 3. May tendency ka ba na pagfocus sa kung ano ang meron / kung ano ang wala sa iyong pastor or spiritual leader? Bakit kaya ganito tayo minsan? Ano ang dapat nating attitude tungkol sa kanila at sa kanilang calling? CC: APPLICATION 1. Bagamat “simple” man ang iyong pastor o spiritual leader, he/she is fulfilling a noble calling! Paanong paraan mo kaya matutulungan to be more ‘attractive’ o maging maayos ang kalagayang praktikal? |
II. THE ‘UNTIRING’ SHEPHERD AND HIS WORK
1. Feed the sheep (in good pasture)
2. Let the sheep drink (in still water)
3. Groom the sheep to make it clean
4. Shear the sheep to ensure health
5. Deliver the lambs (to care for it early)
6. Lead the sheep (to the right direction)
7. Seek the lost sheep (to rescue)
8. Gather the sheep (to assure ownership)
9. Protect the sheep (to keep them in the fold)
10. Sleep with the sheep (to sacrifice)
Application:
Jesus – The Great Shepherd did not get tired of His tasks. He maximized and ‘worked hard’ in the 33 years he had on this earth. He was an untiring Shepherd. He finished His mission as a Shepherd! Tetelestai!
Paul was telling his story to the Corinthians that they almost died just to bring the gospel to the people. They were always persecuted, struck down, insulted, and faced death all the time. II Cor.11:28: What comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”
Our shepherd-pastors today have been UNTIRING, doing their duty as called of God. THEIR DEEP CONCERN FOR US IS UNTIRING.
1) They feed us with spiritual food despite their educational attainment. They keep learning.
2) They lead us to thirst for God – kaya kahit isa o dalawa ang audience sa Bible Study, hindi nila sinusukuan ang gawain. They keep thriving.
3) They make sure that we are healthy and growing in Christ – they continue to counsel and pray and minister to us. They keep ministering.
4) They become ‘makulit’ kahit napapahiya na para lang ma-assure tayo na we are cared for. They rebuke us with love to make sure that we are living a sanctified life with Christ. They keep loving.
5) They lead us by praying for us to have wisdom to do what is pleasing before God. They give us the right direction so that we can follow God’s will. They keep leading.
6) They sleep with our concerns foremost in their minds and hearts… nabe-burden sa mga burdens natin. Kapag may financial needs, sinisikap na tumulong kahit walang wala na rin sila. They keep giving.
7) They make sure that we do not fall into the trap of Apollo Quiboloy and Eli Soriano by teaching us Biblical theology. They keep guarding.
8) They reach out to us, making friends with us, patronizing our concerns. They keep connecting.
Never look down on a shepherd-pastor just as we do not look down on other frontliners in our society.
Reflection: The next time you see your pastor stand behind that pulpit, think of him as someone who always ‘works’ , not just working and standing there for 1 hour, but during the week, he is someone who has the sheep in his mind and in his prayers
CC: REFLECTION 1. Sa tingin mo ba, naging mahirap / tiring kaya ang ginawa ni Jesus at Paul na pagmiminister? Bakit kaya sila nagpatuloy kahit na malamang ay nakakapagod ang kanilang ministry? 2. Sa mga nabanggit, ano ang madalas mo nang naaappreciate na ginagawa ng iyong pastor o spiritual leader? 3. Ano naman yung hindi mo masyado naaappreciate pa dati, at ngayon mo lang talaga naisip na ginagawa nila? CC: APPLICATION 1. Your contribution to JESUS (the Chief Shepherd) and your undershepherds here on earth ay makilahok sa ministry. Lahat tayo ay pwedeng mag-serve kahit sa maliit na paraan. Ano kayang ministry ka pwede sumali? |
III. THE ‘UNDER-APPRECIATED’ SACRIFICES OF SHEPHERD
1) CONSTANT CONCERN – The shepherd loves the sheep despite their being smelly, ‘dumb’ and losing direction. Paul said to the Corinthians: 2 Cor. 11:11 - Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2) CONSTANT OVERSIGHT - The shepherd stays with the sheep all the time. ‘through thick and thin’.
3) CONSTANT COMFORT – The shepherd carry the tired sheep on their back to give it comfort.
Application: OPEN WIDE YOUR HEARTS TO THE SHEPHERDS.
2 Cor. 6:11 -13 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
1) Imbes na tinutulungan ay pinagtutulungan.
2) Imbes na inaangat ay binoboljak!
3) Imbes na nagaalagaan at naglalaglagan!
4) These pastor-shepherds INVEST IN OUR LIVES FOR ETERNAL VALUE AND BENEFITS. WHY NOT INVEST in their lives, too, even just for benefits in this world?
The shepherd saves the life of a cast sheep (HELPLESS SHEEP WHO LIE BEHIND THEIR BACKS AND CANNOT MAKE THEMSELVES STAND) How many times have we been unfaithful and been a CAST SHEEP.. yet the Pastor continues to embrace and love you and reach out to you?
Reflection: The next time you see your pastor, do not just look at him but be sensitive to what the Spirit of the Lord says to you to affirm his calling. BE A PARTNER in the GOSPEL! WE CAN DO MORE!!
CC: REFLECTION 1. Napagtsimisan niyo na ba, o na-“badmouth” ang pastor mo o spiritual leader? 2. On the other hand, na-affirm (o pinalakas / inencourage) mo na ba ang pastor o spiritual leader mo – kahit hindi Pastor Appreciation Month? 3. Naranasan mo na ba na meron kang tinulungan pero nanatiling “matigas ang ulo”? Ano ang pakiramdam? 4. Natatapos ba ang pakialam sa atin ni Jesus at ng ating mga earthly ‘pastor’ pag dumating na ang challenges? Hindi di ba? Ano ang nararamdaman mo tungkol dito? CC: APPLICATION 1. I-affirm ang iyong pastor o spiritual leader. Sendan siya ng message ng 3 bagay na gusto mo tungkol sa kanya. |
CONCLUSION:
In the heart of the shepherd-pastors, the sheep themselves are the letters of recommendation that they need. Thank God for all those who have been supporting your pastors, respecting, and honoring them, in more ways than one!
Warning! But sadly, there are shepherds who do not shepherd. They sometimes “kill’ their own sheep for their own interest or lead them astray. They are accountable to the leadership of this organization but all the more to god who called them.
No one can fully understand the travails of a ‘spiritual shepherd’ better than a ‘shepherd’ himself.
BE LIKE A SHEPHERD YOURSELF: BE LIKE A SHEPHERD… BE A SHEPHERD – NURSE, BE A SHEPHERD-TEACHER, BE A SHEPHERD-BUSINESSMAN, BE A SHEPHERD – DOCTOR, BE A SHEPHERD-LAWYER, BE A SHEPHERD- CALL CENTER AGENT. BE A SHEPHERD-NEIGHBOR, BE A SHEPHERD-FRIEND, BE A SHEPHERD-FATHER, BE A SHEPHERD-MOTHER, BE A SHEPHERD-BOSS TO SOMEBODY… THEN YOU WILL APPRECIATE MORE WHAT YOUR SHEPHERD PASTOR DOES!
CC: REFLECTION
1. Bakit makakatulong sa iyo na maappreciate ang ginagawa ng pastor o spiritual leader mo kapag naging shepherd ka na rin?
CC: APPLICATION
1. How can you appreciate your pastor ngayong Pastor Appreciation Month?
2. Sino ang pwede mong i-shepherd? Simulan na ito!
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Prayer [Panalangin]
Closing [Pangwakas]
I-remind ang grupo tungkol sa mg ito:
- Kanilang daily Bible reading and devotion
- Pagdalo sa church
- Pagbibigay (tithes and offering)
- Pananalangin (kasama ang Prayer Cell)
- Pag-care sa iba
- Pag-seserve sa ministry – baka wala pa silang ministry, marami pong available!
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