What’s the Difference? Shepherding vs. Disciple Making

Clarity breeds brevity. Lack of clarity leads to lots of words. Our churches today lack clarity on disciple making. That confusion is evident by the long list of words used interchangeably such as discipleship, coaching, mentoring, disciple making, and shepherding. Unfortunately, these words aren’t synonyms. Instead of clarifying the call to make disciples, they complicate and confuse.

Many pastors view their life, ministry, and calling primarily through the lens of a shepherd. This makes sense. After all, Jesus called Himself the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). In His last conversation with Peter, He repeatedly says, “Feed my sheep,” (John 21:15-17). Even the word ‘pastor’ derives from the Latin word that means ‘shepherd’. The tie is clear and Biblical.

So why is it that while Jesus was both the Good Shepherd AND a Master Disciple Maker, most pastors shepherd without making disciples? Let’s dive into the differences…

Since shepherding is both Biblical and Christlike we must be careful in how we unpack this. Shepherding is a part of disciple making, but it’s not the same. The problem of using the terms interchangeably is two-fold:

First, it makes shepherding bigger than it ought to be.

In other words, it’s a problem of emphasis, not inclusion. The shepherding image doesn’t stand alone in Scripture because the motif breaks down from certain perspectives. For example, Jesus shepherded His disciples, but they were also His friends because they knew the Master’s affairs. An actual shepherd wouldn’t share the master’s business with the sheep, because that business ends with the sheep being slaughtered! And while real sheep never became shepherds, it was a clear goal that Jesus’ disciples become shepherds in the future (Luke 6:40).

Second, our cultural understanding of a shepherd’s role is vastly different from Jesus’.

What comes to mind when you think of someone who has “a shepherd’s heart”? For most, it’s a person who is marked by gentleness, care, and comfort. All godly attributes, but ones that Jesus balanced with direct speech, challenge, and rebuke. We can’t escape the influence our culture has on our values. We value comfort over character. Jesus presents the Shepherd motif primarily to highlight the character and commitment of the Shepherd, not to show how to comfort the sheep!

Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, 14-15)

3. Shepherds focus on satisfying the sheep, disciple makers focus on stretching them.

Shepherds believe that peace and satisfaction yield growth, but Hosea 13:6 illustrates the problem of satisfied sheep: “When I fed them they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Satisfaction isn’t wrong, but it can be dangerous. Instead of yielding growth, satisfaction often leads to movement away from God, not towards Him.

Disciple makers know that grow this often the result of stretching circumstances and experiences. So, the disciple maker’s first reaction to difficult times isn’t to fix. Instead, the disciple maker seeks to prayerfully walk alongside and help the disciple lean into what God is doing.

4. Shepherds focus on growing the flock, disciple makers focus on flowing the flock.

Shepherds believe that a healthy flock will grow. As the sheep are content they will invite others in, who will invite others in. This often happens, but the focus misses the aim of the Master for the flock.

Disciple makers believe that mature sheep are ready to be sent out to others. Developing a flow movement from here to there provides opportunity for sheep to become shepherds. They go out to find lost sheep, connect them one to another and begin to shepherd them towards maturity. As time goes on, they are sent out to do the same.

Let’s not forget, a full-bodied perspective of Jesus’ ministry includes both shepherding and disciple making. Jesus was the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for the sheep. He knew them intimately and sought to grow them so they too would be shepherds. He was tender with them, but He was tough, too.

Do you shepherd like Him? Are you focused on the sheep’s comfort or development?

Written by Justin Gravitt

Justin Gravitt is the Dayton (Ohio) Area Director for Navigator Church Ministries. Read more from Justin at his blog, “One Disciple to Another,” where this article first appeared.