How Paul Guarded The Flock

As I made my way through Paul's letters, I saw, once again, that he was a missionary-apostle (church planter), a theologian, a developer of leaders. But most important, Paul was a shepherd-pastor. He clearly understood-like the shepherd of Psalm 23-the significance of congregational feeding and protection. Here's how Paul practiced what he preached about guarding the flock.

1. Affirming: quick to identify evidences of God's work in persons and peoples; 
2. Thankful: ready to express gratitude for any act of generosity; 
3. Corrective: never reluctant to identify sin and rebuke it; 
4. Prophetic: warning of consequences if people were bent on making bad choices; 
5. Instructive: enlarging the theological base of peoples' faith; 
6. Protective: quick to defend those who were vulnerable; 
7. Transparent: unashamed to speak of his own weaknesses and sins; 
8. Affectionate: anxious for people to know how much he loved them; 
9. Prayerful: frequently praying "aloud" in his letters for people and their needs; 
10. Developmental: identifying, raising up those who might become leaders; 
11. Observable: presenting a model of the Christ-following life that others could copy. 

- Gordon MacDonald - 

1.  肯定：善於識別神在人身上作為的依據

2.  感謝：準備好對任何慷慨行為表示感謝

3.  糾正：從不猶疑指出與責備罪惡

4.  預言：警告人們執意做出錯誤選擇的後果

5.  指導：擴闊人們信仰的神學基礎

6.  防護：急於捍衛那些脆弱的人

7.  透明：不隱暪自己的弱點和罪惡

8.  深情：急於讓人知道自己多麼愛他們

9.  禱告：經常為他信中人與他們需要“大聲”禱告

10. 發展：提攜那有可能成為領導的人

11. 觀察：介紹跟隨基督生活的模範，讓人可加以效法