But there were also false prophets among the people. In the same way, there will be false teachers among you. They’ll secretly bring in wrong teachings that can destroy you. They’ll even deny the Lord and Master who died to pay for their sins. So they will quickly destroy themselves.
Keep watch over yourselves and all the believers that the Holy Spirit has made you leaders over. Be shepherds of God’s church, which he bought with his own blood.
The hired hand isn’t the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. So when he sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
When Jesus and the disciples had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care. Watch over them, not because you have to, but because you want to. That’s what God wants you to do. Don’t do it to try to get money in dishonest ways, but because you really want to serve.