Wolves devour sheep.
In my first few years as a pastor, I was struck by the Bible’s call to guard and defend God’s people from wolves. Fake shepherds, called “hired hands” by Jesus, don’t stand up to wolves—particularly those “wearing sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). In contrast to the Good Shepherd, Jesus tells us that these hired hands do not care for the sheep, and therefore “the wolf snatches them and scatters them” (John 10:12–13).
As under-shepherds, we must faithfully serve Jesus’ sheep in light of his coming and in view of the unfading crown of glory which we will receive on that day (1 Pet. 5:4). We must guard the sheep against wolves. For this reason, we must know how to build fences; that is, we must lead our church in practicing meaningful membership and discipline.
WOLVES, KEEP OUT!
Fences are good. Fences guard the spiritually vulnerable from attack. They maintain the purity of the church which displays the gospel to the lost world.
So how do we build them? How do we keep wolves out of the church?
1. Teach on the purity of the church and practice church membership.
First, preach God’s purposes for the church. Explain and define
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