Church of Flocks and Families

There are many things Jesus taught on while He was here. I consider the things the gospel writers chose to write on as Jesus' "greatest hits", because we KNOW Jesus spoke on MUCH more than what they wrote down for us. Two of His greatest hits are the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son.

The parable of the Lost Sheep is about the shepherd who leaves the flock in search of the one sheep who has become lost, isolated from the flock, or perhaps even wandered off. We are not specifically told how the sheep got lost, why he wandered, how, etc. All we know is the shepherd finds out one of his sheep is missing. The lost sheep in the parable is not one who is in search of a flock, or who is being pursued to be asked to join the flock. The lost sheep is already a part of the flock. When it is discovered to be lost, the shepherd actively pursues and searches out the lost sheep and doesn't just lead or bring him back, but even carries him back.

In the Prodigal Son, the son makes known his plans and runs off and squanders everything the father had for him. The prodigal already belonged to the family and was an active member of the family, and then he left with what was his. When he realizes his foolishness and decides to come back to see if his father would just hire him as a servant, what does the father do? He welcomes his son back with open arms, even running off in the distance to meet him, and throws a tremendous celebration in his honor. Again, this is not a new son, or an adopted son, or someone welcomed in off the street. He is a member of the family who has purposefully and actively 'run off' and returns.

What is it about the shepherd and the father that is so poignant and applicable to the church? Love...love for the flock, not only as a group, but for each individual sheep. Love for the family, not only as a whole, but each individual member of the family.

The advice and encouragement I have, for what it's worth, is going to sound simplistic and perhaps even trite to some. But in the extremeness of its simplicity lies its foundational, undergirding truth. Pastors, staff members, leaders, volunteer leaders...love the people in your church as Christ loves the church.

Later...and be careful out there.