Spiritual gifts
The Spiritual Gift of Shepherding (Pastoring)
Caring for souls over time
The spiritual gift of shepherding, often called pastoring, is patient care for people's souls over time, guiding and guarding them toward maturity in Christ. Ephesians 4:11 names pastors among Christ's gifts to the church.
“Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.”
What it is
The word pastor comes from the Latin for shepherd, and the Greek word behind "pastors and teachers" in Ephesians 4:11 also means shepherds. A shepherd knows the sheep, feeds them, and goes after the ones who wander. People with this gift care how others are doing with God over months and years.
The gift and the office overlap. Scripture gives qualifications for elders and overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), and churches differ in how they fill those roles. Plenty of believers with a shepherding gift care for people without any title, leading a small group or checking on a family that's had a hard year.
Where Scripture shows it
After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him, and each time He gave Peter a charge, including "Shepherd My sheep" (John 21:16). Years later Peter wrote to elders, "Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you" (1 Peter 5:2), reminding them that Christ is "the Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4).
Through Ezekiel, God condemned Israel's shepherds because they had not "strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost" (Ezekiel 34:4).
What it can look like
- You remember what someone told you last month and ask how it turned out.
- When someone stops showing up, you reach out that week.
- You'd rather walk with a few people for years than speak to a crowd once.
- You care whether people are growing, and you'll have a hard conversation when it's needed.
What to watch for
- Forgetting that the people you care for belong to Christ, the Chief Shepherd.
- Lording it over people or making them depend on you (1 Peter 5:3).
- Neglecting your own soul. Paul's charge to elders begins with "Keep watch over yourselves" (Acts 20:28).
- Avoiding conflict when someone needs to be warned.
Ways to serve with it
- Lead or co-lead a small group, and follow up with members between meetings.
- Disciple one newer believer, meeting regularly to read Scripture and pray.
- Pray through your small group list by name each week.
- If your church sees a call to eldership or pastoral ministry in you, pursue training.
Related gifts
Holy habits that fit this gift
These practices can help you steward this gift over time.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to be a pastor to have the gift of shepherding?
No. Plenty of people with this gift care for others as small group leaders, mentors, or friends without holding a church office.
What's the difference between shepherding and mercy?
Mercy moves toward people who are suffering. Shepherding looks after a person's whole walk with God over time, which includes teaching, guarding, and sometimes correcting.
How do I know if I have the gift of shepherding?
Ask yourself who from last Sunday you're still thinking about. People with this gift tend to carry others on their hearts for weeks, follow up without being asked, and pray for them by name.
Take the free Spiritual Gifts Test
Answer questions about how you like to serve, and see which gifts your answers point toward. It takes about 6-7 minutes, and no email is required.
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