Shepherd the church of God

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (1) Paul advised, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock.” To care for the flock effectively, one must first attend to and prepare oneself. (2) “The church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (a) Let us remember that the church belongs to God. (b) The phrase “purchased with His own blood” teaches the divinity of Jesus Christ. (3) The term “overseers” indicates that the elders were spiritual leaders appointed by the Holy Spirit. The word comes from the Greek term “episkopos.” Their mission is to shepherd the church of God. The same group of people is referred to using three distinct terms: (a) Elder (presbyteros) (Acts 20:17): a position of dignity. (b) Overseer (episkopos) (Acts 20:28): the responsibility of leading. (c) Pastor (poimen) (Acts 20:28): the responsibility of spiritually nurturing.

Savage wolves

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” (1) Paul gives the command, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock,” for a clear reason: (a) Savage wolves will come into the church. The “wolves” refer to false teachers. They will ravage the flock and cause destruction. (b) False teachers will also arise from within the church. They will attempt to draw Christ’s disciples away to follow themselves. (2) Paul teaches how to address these challenges: (a) Be on the alert. This means remaining spiritually vigilant and attentive. (b) Remember what Paul has taught. He reminds them, “Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” This shows that Paul’s ministry was deeply emotional, as his tears were a significant part of his service. Even today, false teachers exist. The way to discern false teaching is to examine whether it aligns with the teachings of the apostles. Let us pray, “Spiritual awakening begins with me.”