Lesson 1: The Heart of a Shepherd

Oct 18, 2026 · @Ambassador Jen

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:11, 14)

At a glance

Jesus is the pattern for every pastor. Before you lead like a shepherd, you must see how He leads.
A shepherd knows the sheep, sacrifices for the sheep, and stays when danger comes.
The difference between a shepherd and a hireling is not skill. It is the heart.
God chooses shepherds by their heart, then trains their hands.

1. Jesus is our pattern

The word pastor means shepherd. When Jesus described Himself, He did not call Himself a CEO, a manager, or a celebrity. He called Himself the Good Shepherd. That means every pastor is an under-shepherd, serving the flock that belongs to Jesus. Peter called Him “the Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4).

This changes how you see your role. The sheep are not yours. They are His. You are trusted to care for them on His behalf, and one day you will give an account for how you treated them (Hebrews 13:17).

In summary:

The sheep belong to Jesus, not to the pastor.
You serve under the Chief Shepherd.
You will give an account for how you cared for His people.

2. A shepherd knows the sheep

Jesus said, “I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14). He “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3).

A shepherd in Bible times lived with the flock day and night. He knew which sheep limped, which one wandered, and which one was about to give birth. Knowing the sheep is not about having the biggest crowd. It is about being close enough to see what each one needs.

In ministry, knowing the sheep looks like:

Learning names and stories, not just faces.
Noticing when someone stops coming.
Knowing who is grieving, struggling, sick, or growing.
Letting the people know you, too. Shepherds are not distant.

In summary:

Closeness comes before leadership.
You cannot feed, protect, or heal sheep you do not know.
The size of the flock should never replace care for each one.

3. A shepherd sacrifices for the sheep

“The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus did not only teach about sacrifice. He went to the cross.

Pastoring will cost you. It costs time, sleep, comfort, and sometimes reputation. There will be calls in the middle of the night, hospital visits, hard conversations, and seasons when you pour out more than you receive. The heart of a shepherd says, “They are worth it.”

But sacrifice is not the same as self-destruction. Jesus also withdrew to pray and rest (Luke 5:16). A shepherd who never refills will have nothing left to give. We will cover this more in Lesson 7.

In summary:

Shepherding costs something, and that is part of the call.
Sacrifice flows from love, not from pressure or guilt.
Healthy sacrifice includes time to be refilled by God.

4. A shepherd stays when danger comes

Jesus compared the good shepherd to the hireling: “He who is a hireling and not the shepherd… sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees… because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep” (John 10:12–13).

A hireling works for the paycheck, the platform, or the title. When trouble comes, the hireling leaves. A shepherd stays, because their heart is with the sheep.

Signs of a hireling heart:

Serving only when it is comfortable or rewarded.
Avoiding hard conversations to protect their image.
Leaving the flock when a better opportunity appears.

Signs of a shepherd heart:

Staying through seasons of conflict, loss, and attack.
Caring for people who can give nothing back.
Putting the flock’s good above personal gain.

In summary:

Danger reveals whether you are a shepherd or a hireling.
Shepherds stay because they care.
Check your motives often: why are you serving?