The Shepherd and His Staff

A Guide to the Biblical Principles and Practices of Leadership

Theodore Mistra

• Publisher: Castle Quay Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781927355930
• eBook ISBN: 9781927355947
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Nonprofit Organizations & Charities

This book is about leadership. It is, in fact, about the greatest leader model who ever lived. Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges were the first to encourage us to follow Jesus as the ultimate example of leadership for all purposes. Theodore Mistra applied this principle to his own career and learned that even an executive's highest calling is to become just such a shepherd leader. In The Shepherd and His Staff Mistra illustrates what the Bible reveals about the key principles and practices to becoming a shepherd leader. He shows that the shepherd as a leadership calling, role, and responsibility has equal force for both men and women. He asks us to remember that leadership applies to any person who has authority or influence over another person and that this influence is always to be used to glorify God whether in the home, church, schools, business or government.

Two Key Principles of Shepherd Leadership

God (the Father) has used the shepherd throughout history. He speaks of himself as a shepherd and sees people in leadership positions as shepherds. His shepherding perspective applies whether a given leader is in a position of public or private authority, in a rural or urban setting, or at the local or national level.

Jesus (the Son) was the ultimate role model for leadership. His consistent actions and explicit instructions were clear and compelling. He taught and trained Peter, his number-one protégé, and the rest of his closest followers to be like shepherds for leadership purposes. The shepherd model stems from two key principles: (1) be a good shepherd and (2) develop other shepherd leaders.

(1) Be a Good Shepherd

The first key principle is to be a good shepherd. A leader cannot adopt a leadership model; he must become one. The principle and process begin deep within the person. Becoming a shepherd involves starting at the heart level. The heart must be transformed into the very heart of the Great Shepherd. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

Certain heart-level truth is clear from Jesus’ life and leadership, his classic teachings on the subject and other relevant Scriptures.

• A leader knows and is known by his followers (from John 10, in which Jesus speaks about the shepherd and the flock).

• A leader looks after each and every one of his followers (from Luke 15, in which Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep).

• A leader nourishes his followers (from John 21, in which Jesus encourages Peter to follow him in feeding and caring for others).

Ultimately, according to Jesus, a leader would lay down his life for his people (figuratively speaking, but meaningfully and practically as well).

The leadership principle of becoming a shepherd actually appears throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Certain passages in particular, like the thirty-fourth chapter of Ezekiel, are worthy of careful study. The comprehensive plan—to be a good shepherd—easily drawn from all of the relevant Scriptures may be summarized in simple and effective terms as follows.

To be a good shepherd involves relationships in two dimensions, providing crystal clear structure and direction. One dimension is our individual personal relationship with God. The other dimension extends to our relationships with each other.

At the threshold, each of us is called to a relationship of purpose and meaning with the Great Shepherd. We are to love God with all of our heart, mind, and soul. Only then is it truly possible to be transformed into a leader—a shepherd—after God’s own heart. In turn, we are also able to begin loving others as we love ourselves.

Relationships

■ Vertical dimension—our personal relationship with God

• God is in command. He is like a sheepmaster, which is one who is both a shepherd and the owner of the sheep. God cares for his people like a shepherd tends the flock (Ezek. 34:30–31).

• God gathers people in his arms and carries them close to his heart. He gently leads those with young ones (Isa. 40:11).

• God wants his people to have leaders after his own heart, who lead with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15).

■ Horizontal dimension—our relationships with each other

• According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, a shepherd is one employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep in flocks. That’s just the beginning, as far as God is concerned.

• God intends his chosen leaders (i.e., shepherds), in ways both literal and figurative, to

• Gather

• Account for

• Search for and look after

• Rescue

• Tend

• Feed

• Protect

• Provide rest for

• Care for

• Bind up the injured

• Strengthen the weak

• Judge

• Save

• Watch over the people for whom they are responsible (Ezek. 34:11–24).

The first key principle also provides clarity of measurement in terms of accountability and outcomes. In the end, the differences between a good shepherd and an irresponsible one—with consequences for everyone involved—become all too clear.

Measurements

■ Accountability

• Leaders are expected to accomplish all that pleases God (Isa. 44:28).

• Leaders who lack understanding turn to their own way in search of personal gain (Isa. 56:11).

• God holds leaders accountable for their people, his flock (Ezek. 34:10).

• What leader can stand against God? (Jer. 49:19).

■ Outcomes

• The life of a flock (team, group, or organization) or any particular sheep (person) depends on the shepherd who leads it.

• If leaders honor God and serve his people, blessings, growth, peace, prosperity, safety and well-being will come (Ezek. 34:25–29).

• If leaders fail to honor God and serve his people, leaders will be shattered (Jer. 51:23). People will be scattered (Nah. 3:18; Zech. 10:2, 13:7...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Note
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword by Ken Blanchard
• Foreword by Blaine McCormick
• Introduction
• Reflection: A Shepherd's Staff
• The Original Peter Principle
• Two Key Principles of Shepherd Leadership
• Reflection: Our Chief Shepherd
• The Essence and Attributes of the Shepherd
• The Lord Is My Shepherd
• S: Stewardship and Service
• H: Hope and Humility
• E: Example and Excellence
• P: Perseverance and Prayer
• H: Healing and Hearing
• E: Encouragement and Endurance
• R: Respect and Reconcilliation
• D: Decision and Discipline
• Reflection: The Piney River Flock
• The Great Shepherd
• Afterword
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• For More Information