Shepherded by Design: How God Designed His Church to Be Led

In this message, Pastor Rodney begins the **Shepherded by Design** series by asking a foundational question: **How has God designed His church to be led?**

Rather than beginning with tradition, preference, efficiency, bylaws, or organizational structures, Pastor Rodney challenges the church to begin with the **Word of God**. As we examine Scripture together, we see a consistent biblical pattern of shared spiritual responsibility and a New Testament picture of elders who oversee, shepherd, and care for God’s people under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Beginning in **Numbers 11**, we see Moses reach the limits of what he can carry alone. God’s response is to surround him with recognized leaders who share the burden of caring for His people. Moving into the New Testament, passages such as **Acts 14, Acts 20, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5** reveal a developing pattern of plural elders entrusted with shepherding and overseeing local churches.

But this conversation is about much more than church structure or leadership titles. At the heart of it is a crucial truth: **the church belongs to Jesus.**

Jesus purchased His church with His own blood. He is the **Good Shepherd** and the **Chief Shepherd**, which means every pastor, elder, and spiritual leader ultimately serves beneath His authority. Biblical leadership is not about ownership, domination, or unchecked power. It is about stewardship, godly example, shared responsibility, and faithfully caring for the people who belong to Christ.

As First Castroville begins this important conversation, Pastor Rodney encourages us not to simply accept his convictions—or immediately reject them—but to search the Scriptures ourselves. Before asking, “Is this what I prefer?” we must be willing to ask a much more important question: **“If this is what God’s Word reveals, are we willing to follow it?”**

Our prayer throughout this series is that Jesus would teach us to recognize His voice, shape our thinking through His Word, give us humility when we have questions, wisdom as we seek understanding, and courage to follow wherever He leads.

**Scriptures referenced in this message include:**
Numbers 11:11–17
Acts 14:23
Acts 20:17, 28
Titus 1:5
1 Peter 5:1–4
John 10:11

Open your Bible, study these passages with us, and join us as we seek to understand what Scripture teaches about leadership, shepherding, accountability, and Christ’s design for His church.

**Scriptures open. Hands open. A desire to say: Jesus, lead Your church. Teach us to follow.**

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