But maybe, Jerry, maybe from what Lance said, we could launch a little bit farther into this idea of the biblical mandates, uh, even the, the biblical examples, uh, just convictions from the Scriptures that would drive your thinking about pastoral ministry being a personal shepherding ministry.

Sure.

Uh, the, the-- there are...

In-- What comes to my mind are several fronts.

Clearly, um, both are commanded.

In fact, it's interesting, in 1 Timothy, the classic pastoral letter, uh, to a young shepherd about the flock, wherein he is told by Paul to give attention to the public reading and preaching of the Scriptures.

Um, he also is writing a letter about private encouragement, personal admonition throughout the whole letter, and mentions in several different kinds of ways, uh, that Timothy ought to be about encouraging the young men, the older men, the young women, the older women.

What would your guys' response be to a pastor who would make that claim?