27 Bible Verses about Shepherds, As Church Leader

And when the sovereign Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an unfading crown of glory.

And therefore He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; to qualify holy men for the work of the ministry,

and He appointed twelve to be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach the gospel,

And when they had appointed them elders in every church, praying and fasting, they recommended them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

And God hath placed you accordingly in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miraculous powers, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, and various kinds of tongues.

Now when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, dost thou love me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yes, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

And when Jesus came out of the ship, He saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion towards them; because they were as sheep without a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.

He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, dost thou love me? Peter was grieved, that He said to him the third time, Dost thou love me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for ye were not hitherto able to bear it, nor yet are ye even now able.

For whereas ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have need again of some one to teach you the first rudiments of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not of solid food. For every one that wanteth milk, is unacquainted with the doctrine of justification; for he is an infant: but firm food is for persons come to age, who by habit have their senses exercised to a discernment both of good and evil.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, dost thou love me? He saith unto Him, Yes, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.

I was naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye took care of me; I was in prison, and ye visited me.

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the holy Spirit hath appointed you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with his own blood.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

It is certain, if any one is desirous of the episcopal office, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave,

he sought for me the more diligently, and found me.

For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not passionate, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain:

Pure and uncorrupt religion before God and our Father is this, to take care of orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

taking the episcopal charge of it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for shameful lucre, but with a ready mind:

For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

And beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entreth not into the sheep-fold by the door, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

nor as lording it over the people, but being examples to the flock.

Be ruled by those that are your guides, and submit to them: for they watch for your souls; (as those that must give an account) that they may do it with joy and not with uneasiness: for this were unprofitable for you.

Even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

About that time Herod the king exerted his power to distress some of the church. And he cut off James, the brother of John, with the sword. And seeing that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also, (in the days of unleavened bread:)read more.
whom he seized and put into prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending, after the passover, to bring him out to the people.

But Paul answered, What do ye mean, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.