27 Bible Verses about Shepherds, As Church Leader

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And when they had ordained for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of languages.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him, Yes, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my lambs.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

He saith to him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he said to him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith to him, Feed my sheep.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need of one to teach you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong food. For every one that useth milk, is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong food belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith to him, Yes, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my sheep.

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

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

This is a true saying, If a man desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but from a ready mind;

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

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

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

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread.read more.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.

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