This week we were thrilled to welcome back Cameron Butler to lead the Sheep to Shepherds streams course at Genesis Church at Maryborough and Ballarat. The training stream will be run over the next 9 weeks with a few Celebration services.
Giselle Port introduced Cam and the stream framed around the song from Casting Crowns called Nobody. Cam challenged us from Mark 6:30-44 to get Jesus PERSEPCTIVE of the community/crowd. Saying that “perspective is everything!” When we get perspective right we take responsibility for those around us who are like “sheep without a shepherd”. We stand up and respond to their spiritual and physical needs rather than saying its not our problem!
“The challenge for us is that we often take the disciples perspective of the community around us. We say things like, “The need is too big.” “Tell them to fix their own problem.” “We don’t have resources, or money, or time!””
Jim McMillan’s stream group emphasised the importance for us not to disqualify ourselves. He said, As followers of Jesus we need to “bring what’s in our hand”, that is, five loaves and two fish. To do the possible so that God can look after the impossible!” Cam added, “Stop saying you cant do it! Stop saying you’re not knowledgeable enough! Stop saying people aren’t interested in God’s wisdom. Stop saying people are too busy. Stop saying we don’t have enough money or resources to respond! That’s just us disqualifying ourselves like the disciples.”
The central question Cam left our service with is, “Who is your flock?” saying, “we all have community around us”. We need to see them as sheep without a shepherd. So, are we shepherding them? Or do we disqualify ourselves?
He added, “The objective of the Sheep for Shepherds stream course is to help our congregation move from identifying simply as ‘sheep’ to being ‘shepherds’ of the people or community God has put around them.” Further adding, “This course is all about providing some simple ideas and practical ‘how-to’ tools for our church’s mission .
To get Jesus’s mission correct requires us getting aligned with ‘his’ perspective of the community!
Pastor Jim said, “Make sure not to miss the coming 10 weeks!” However, if you find yourself missing a week or two please download the notes from our website at https://genesischurch.com.au/sheep-to-shepherds.