We Are Sheep vs. We Are Shepherds

 

We Are Sheep vs. We Are Shepherds

An Important Principle

In our identity, we are forever the Lord's sheep; in our function, we are shepherds entrusted by the Lord to shepherd others.

Being sheep is our position in life; being shepherds is the function that issues from the growth of life.

The better sheep we are, the better shepherds we become.

Table 1. Integrated Comparison

Item	We Are Sheep	We Are Shepherds
Meaning	We receive Christ's shepherding, feeding, leading, and preserving.	We minister Christ to others and shepherd God's flock on His behalf.
Reason	Fallen mankind is unable to care for itself and needs the Shepherd.	God desires the mature to care for and perfect the younger believers.
Position in Life	Forever the Lord's sheep.	Representatives of the Chief Shepherd, never replacing Him.
Source of Life	Receiving life from Christ.	Supplying the life we have received from Christ.
Illustration	Sheep feeding on green pastures and following the shepherd.	Shepherds seeking, feeding, healing, and protecting the sheep.
Need	To be shepherded.	To shepherd others.
Supply	Receiving the supply of life.	Ministering the supply of life.
Direction	Following the Lord.	Leading others to follow the Lord.
Explanation	Christ is the life of the sheep.	Christ shepherds His flock through mature believers.
Experience	Enjoying Christ daily.	Ministering Christ daily.
Spiritual Reality	Abiding in Christ.	Living Christ out to others.
Result	Growth unto maturity.	Building up others in life.
Goal	To grow into Christ the Head.	To build up the Body of Christ.
Ultimate Consummation	Mature sheep.	Faithful shepherds under Christ.
Permanent Identity	Sheep.	Still sheep before the Lord.
Present Function	Being cared for.	Caring for others.
Spiritual Principle	Receiving grace.	Dispensing grace.
Spiritual Cycle	Being fed → Growing.	Growing → Shepherding others.
Overview of Related Scriptures	Christ the Great Shepherd             Hebrews 13:20 Christ the Good Shepherd             John 10:11, 14–16 Christ the Chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4 Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls    1 Peter 2:25 Jehovah Is My Shepherd   Psalm 23:1–6 The Parable of the Lost Sheep     Luke 15:3–7 One Flock Under One Shepherd John 10:16 Feed My Lambs; Shepherd My Sheep   John 21:15–17 Shepherd the Flock of God According to God             1 Peter 5:1–4 Overseers Appointed by the Holy Spirit            Acts 20:28 Paul's Pattern of Shepherding     Acts 20:17–38 Perfecting the Saints; Building Up the Body    Ephesians 4:11–16 Christ Nourishes and Cherishes the Church     Ephesians 5:25–29 The Lamb Will Shepherd Them   Revelation 7:17 The River of Life and the Tree of Life     Revelation 22:1–2

 

Table 2. Spiritual Sequence of Life

Order	Spiritual Progression
1	The Lord seeks us (Luke 15).
2	We become His sheep.
3	Christ shepherds us.
4	We enjoy His life supply.
5	We grow unto maturity.
6	The Lord commissions us to shepherd others (John 21).
7	We shepherd God's flock (1 Peter 5).
8	The Body of Christ is built up.
9	The New Jerusalem is ultimately consummated.

Spiritual Formula

Being Shepherded → Growing in Life → Shepherding Others → Building Up the Body of Christ → Consummating the New Jerusalem

Table 3. Spiritual Relationship

As Sheep	As Shepherds	Spiritual Relationship
Receive life	Supply life	The same divine life flows.
Follow Christ	Lead others to Christ	The same Shepherd is expressed.
Receive shepherding	Shepherd others	The same cycle of shepherding.
Feed on Christ	Feed others with Christ	Christ is the pasture for all.
Drink the living water	Lead others to drink	The same river of life.
Hear the Lord's voice	Speak the Lord's word	The Lord continues speaking through His members.
Abide in Christ	Express Christ	The same Christ is manifested.

 

Table 4. Major Ministry Revelations (Watchman Nee & Witness Lee)

Revelation	Explanation
Christ Alone Is the Chief Shepherd	No human shepherd can replace Christ.
Every Elder Is First a Sheep	Leadership is not a higher class but a matter of life.
Shepherding Is a Function, Not a Position	Shepherding issues from spiritual maturity rather than official status.
Enjoy Christ Before Supplying Christ	One cannot supply what one has not first experienced.
Shepherding Is Life Supply, Not Administration	The essence of shepherding is ministering life.
Shepherding Is Love, Not Control	Genuine shepherding cherishes and nourishes people.
Shepherding Means Ministering Christ	Bringing people to Christ instead of drawing them to ourselves.
The Best Shepherding Is Living Christ	Others meet Christ through our living.

 

Table 5. Biblical Examples

Person	As Sheep	As Shepherd
David	"Jehovah is my Shepherd." (Psalm 23)	Shepherded Israel as king.
Moses	Followed God's leading.	Shepherded Israel for forty years.
Peter	Restored by the Lord.	"Feed My lambs... Shepherd My sheep."
Paul	Shepherded by Christ.	Shepherded the churches with tears.
Timothy	Shepherded by Paul.	Shepherded the church in Ephesus.
The Lord Jesus	As the Son of Man, lived in submission to the Father.	The Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

 

Table 6. Practical Application Today

As Sheep	As Shepherds
Enjoy morning revival daily.	Feed others with Christ daily.
Pray every day.	Visit and care for believers.
Read the Bible daily.	Minister God's Word to others.
Follow the Lord's leading.	Lead others to follow the Lord.
Receive the Lord's shining.	Strengthen the weak and restore the fallen.
Enjoy the divine life.	Dispense the divine life.

 

Table 7. Ministry Burden

Burden	Explanation
Everyone Should Be a Sheep	No believer ever graduates from depending on Christ.
Everyone Should Shepherd	Every believer can participate in shepherding according to life.
Everyone Should Enjoy Christ	Enjoyment is the source of ministry.
Everyone Should Feed Others	This is God's ordained way.
Everyone Should Build Up the Body	Shepherding fulfills God's eternal economy.

 

Table 8. Prophesying Guidance

Item	Guidance
Opening Burden	Christ first shepherds us and then commissions us to shepherd others.
Truth Emphasis	We are eternally the Lord's sheep, yet through growth in life we all become shepherds in function.
Life Experience	The more we receive Christ's shepherding, the more we spontaneously shepherd others.
Practical Practice	Enjoy Christ in morning revival, visit the saints, nourish new believers, and minister Christ.
Building Up the Church	Mutual shepherding builds up the Body of Christ.

 

Table 9. Conclusion

We Are Sheep	We Are Shepherds
Identity	Function
Receiving	Supplying
Being shepherded	Shepherding others
Growing in life	Ministering life
Following Christ	Leading others to Christ
Always depending on Christ	Always representing Christ

One-Sentence Summary

Our eternal identity is that we are the Lord's sheep, while our spiritual function, through growth in life, is to shepherd others under Christ's authority; by continually receiving the shepherding of Christ and faithfully shepherding God's flock according to God, the Body of Christ is built up and ultimately consummates in the New Jerusalem.

Overall Spiritual Vision

The Christian life begins with being shepherded by Christ, grows through enjoying His life supply, matures into shepherding others according to God, builds up the Body of Christ through mutual shepherding, and reaches its ultimate consummation in the New Jerusalem, where the Lamb eternally shepherds His redeemed people.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Memorial Day Special Conference theme: The Urgent Need for a New Revival, Part Six: Shepherding According to God.