The oversight of souls

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>How do you understand pastoral ministry? What is the </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>centre</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> of your calling as a pastor? Is it difficult for your people to speak directly with you? Do you </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>know</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> your sheep? Do they know you? Are you really </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>shepherding</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> God's flock as you have been called to by the Great Shepherd Jesus himself? </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>In this book Ray Van Neste looks to God's Word and church history to show that </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>the oversight of souls </em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>is to be the very </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>heart</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> of pastoral ministry. The author of Hebrews writes that congregants are to: Obey your leaders and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account (Hebrews 13:17). This guarding shepherding and watching over souls requires knowledge of and meaningful engagement with the sheep and seeing them as very dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8) with the goal to present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28).</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Caring for people is not just a </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>part</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> of pastoral ministry it is its </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>heart</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>. Van Neste shows how ministering the Word means not only preaching but privately teaching and exhorting individuals praying for and with them knowing them as Jesus and his disciples both taught and exemplified. Pastors prepare to be challenged and encouraged-and perhaps refocused-in your ministries!</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>