1. "'Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!' saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; 'Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings,' saith the LORD ... 'And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking,' saith the LORD."

   -- Jeremiah 23:1-4

2. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

   -- Acts 20:28-30

3. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

   -- Romans 16:17-18

4. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

   -- I Corinthians 2:13

5. "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

   -- Galatians 1:10

6. "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained ... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

   -- I Timothy 4:6,16

7. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

   -- I Timothy 5:17

8. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

   -- I Timothy 6:3-5

9. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

   -- II Timothy 2:15

10. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

    -- II Timothy 3:1-6

11. "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake ... They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

    -- Titus 1:9-11,16

12. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever."

    -- I Peter 4:11

Bringing Disciples to Maturity

• Church leadership focuses more on attracting new members and increasing church revenue than discipling the sheep under their care.
• Church leadership lords over rather than guides the flock, stifling liberty and leaving little or no room for a lay member to move in the gifts of Holy Spirit. This "lording over the laity" is known as the doctrine of the Nicolatians (see Revelation 2:6), and Jesus hates it.

1. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

   -- Matthew 5:48

2. "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

   -- Luke 8:14-15

3. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

   -- Ephesians 4:11-16

4. "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

   -- Colossians 1:26-29

5. "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

   -- Colossians 4:12

6. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."

   -- James 3:13

7. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

   -- I Peter 5:10