Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?(ESV)
⚓ Floatie: Samples Aren’t Suppers
A sermon isn’t a meal. It’s a sample. If the only time you’re fed is on Sundays, you’re already starving. A healthy church doesn’t just feed you—it teaches you how to eat.
✒️ Forge: Apostolic Equipping, Not Dependency
In Ezekiel 34, God rebukes the shepherds for feeding themselves but not the sheep. Jesus echoes this when He restores Peter: “Feed my sheep.”
But feeding isn’t the only goal. Discipleship is. And that means teaching people how to feed themselves.
- Hebrews 5:12 condemns spiritual stagnation—“you ought to be teachers…”
- Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 calls for rightly dividing the Word—not just quoting it.
If your pastor gives powerful sermons but never equips the people to study the Word, you’re being entertained—not trained.
The apostles didn’t stay behind to hand out weekly messages. They taught truth, planted leadership, and moved on. They trusted the Spirit to grow what had been sown. Modern churches that require constant pastoral presence to sustain the people have built dependence—not discipleship.
The apostles taught people how to fish. Today, many pastors just keep handing out fish to stay needed. That isn’t ministry. That’s spiritual codependency.
⚒️ Anvil: Starvation in the Sanctuary
Hold this to the light:
- Does my church teach how to read Scripture—or just what to believe?
- If my pastor vanished tomorrow, could I still grow in truth?
- Am I becoming dependent on a personality instead of becoming rooted in the Word?
- Are we building followers of Christ—or followers of preachers?
Churches that do not teach discernment will eventually produce deception. It doesn’t matter how good the music is or how many people attend. If the people don’t know how to walk with God apart from the stage, they’re spiritually malnourished.
🔥 Ember: Followers or Family?
There are pastors who preach well but starve their people. Not because they’re malicious—but because they’ve built a following instead of a family. A healthy church gives you tools, not just takeaways.
And yes—there are people who like it that way. Because real discipleship is slow, inconvenient, and costs your comfort. But that’s the only kind that changes anything.
You can keep coming back for spiritual handouts, or you can learn to gather your own manna. Only one of those paths leads to maturity.
🌿 Covenant Triumph: Equippers, Not Entertainers
Jesus never said, “Sit and listen.” He said, “Follow me.” A faithful pulpit points beyond itself—toward the Word, toward the Spirit, and toward personal responsibility.
If your church feeds you, be grateful. If it trains you to feed yourself, stay and grow. But if it only entertains while your Bible stays closed, it may be time to find a new table.
Because God is still raising up shepherds who don’t just fill bellies—they equip saints.
[⚓ Floatie] [✒️ Forge] [⚒️ Anvil] [🔥 Ember] [🌿 Covenant Triumph]
This post follows the Forge Baseline Rule—layered truth for the discerning remnant.
Walking With Christ 
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