Our theme for this year’s graduate theological course was to have “the heart of a shepherd”.

What makes a good shepherd?

To answer that, we must first look at what the roles of a shepherd are. By definition, a shepherd is someone who rears a flock of sheep. By extension, a shepherd is also accountable for the needs of the whole flock.

What are these needs exactly? For a sheep to grow healthily, it needs adequate food, water, and time to roam. In biblical times, this often meant that shepherds lived a nomadic lifestyle, leading the flock between pastures to not overconsume resources. Without pens, this also emphasised the role of shepherds as protectors of the flock, as sheep cannot defend themselves and are vulnerable to predators. We even see this appear in the Bible as David defends his flock against lions and bears (1 Sam 17:34-36).

In summary, the roles of a shepherd go beyond just feeding and taking care of sheep; they are also leaders and protectors of the flock.

Let us now delve into how Ezekiel compares and contrasts the characteristics of irresponsible shepherds (Ezek 34:1-10), with Jesus (Ezek 34:23) as the true Shepherd (Ezek 34:11-16). The table below summerises the above.

Note how the fault of the irresponsible shepherds lies not in that they fed themselves, but that they left the flock unfed (Ezek 34:3-4). This implies a certain degree of negligence, as the shepherds had the capacity to feed the flock but did not.

What does this mean for us? While we may be comfortable in our own friend groups in church, it is also important to keep a lookout for those amongst us who may feel left out. While it is not wrong to be with our own company in church, reaching out to these individuals would go a long way in preventing them from feeling neglected.

The second fault of the irresponsible shepherds is leaving the flock vulnerable to predators. All of us face temptations at some point; that’s why having a strong circle of spiritual brethren is important to keep each other in check.

However, when one of our brethren falls into trials or temptations, how can we support them? If they fall into temptation, do we have the moral courage to speak up? These are some questions that we can ponder on.

Furthermore, just as God will seek out His scattered sheep (Ezek 34:12), we should also pray for or check in on our friends who are coming to church less or have stopped altogether.

I’ll end off with some takeaways. Throughout the 11 day course, our facilitators gave us “daily missions” to help us emulate having “the heart of a shepherd”. I have selected a few that I encourage everyone to try.

1 - Reach out to someone new

While it may be outside of our comfort zone, reaching out to different people can help ensure that our church has a warm and inclusive environment.

2 - Find out the prayer requests of our peers.

It can be quite eye-opening to see the burdens each one of us carries. To intercede for each other in prayer is one of the best forms of care we can show to our peers, and I can assure you that they will appreciate it.

3 - Have a 1-1 faith-related conversation with someone

Delving beyond surface level conversations can help us learn more about each other as well as new perspectives. A good shepherd knows their flock well, and having such conversations would help us learn from our experiences and grow spiritually.

In conclusion, many things encompass being a good shepherd, from looking out for each other to labouring in prayers. Moreover, this responsibility falls on everyone; you do not need to be a church leader to take up this role. What is even better than a good shepherd taking care of a flock is a flock of good shepherds taking care of each other. Such an environment would definitely foster a warmer, welcoming church full of love.