I was about twelve or thirteen years old when I had my tonsils removed.
Although I slept through the procedure, I remember a visit from my pastor. I don't think I had ever seen him anywhere but behind a pulpit. He stood by my bedside and talked to me. His actions made quite an impression.
In my hospital room stood a mere man. He was not in his Sunday suit, and he spoke directly to me—not in his preaching voice. He used a gentler tone. Not that he shouted from the pulpit all the time, but his preaching voice, to me, sounded just like God's voice. Now he spoke in a less commanding voice. He also prayed and said my name (I didn't even think he knew it).
After that brief visit to the hospital, my pastor never looked the same. Not until years later did I realize that in those brief moments in the hospital, he became my spiritual shepherd. I watched him closer and listened more intently when he spoke. His ministry at my bedside made a difference in our relationship.
Words are more powerful when they come from someone who walks with us in our spiritual pilgrimage. They carry a measure of guidance that goes beyond what we hear or see through media and screens.
While leaders are not perfect, they have vowed to shepherd faith families by the power of the Holy Spirit. Understanding the shepherd-sheep relationship helps us carry the message of our faith to the heart of others.
The inspiration and knowledge gained from words are significant, but an exchange of influence and spiritual energy comes when we hear from our worship leader. Worship entails hearing God's Word from the voice of a shepherd—those who come alongside of us and speak with a voice that reflects God's heart.
Make sure you are shepherding according to God’s heart.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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John Zimmer has been married to Paula for almost forty-seven years and has three children and four grandchildren. A graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, John has been a life-long music and worship leader in churches in Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio. His passion is thoughtful and passionate congregational worship leadership. He writes a weekly blog, "Words from the Friar," which is an insightful look at corporate worship, or what he calls, faith-family worship. His emphasis is reconnecting a congregation to a unifying worship time that works regardless of worship style or resources. His writings reflect a creative and fresh look at Christian worship.