The Responsibility of Elders

Introduction

Those who lead Christ’s Church must:

A. Serve faithfully

B. Serve willingly

C. Serve selflessly

D. Serve through example

E. Serve in humility

Initial Ideas to Notice

A. Exhort means to urge or strongly encourage, as one who walks alongside.

B. Peter identifies himself as a fellow elder.

C. Witness does not just mean a spectator to an event, but also one who has endured similar treatment.

D. He has endured, and exhorts the elders to endure, trials and suffering because of what he knows awaits them: the glory that will be revealed, Jesus Christ in all His glory.

I. Serve Faithfully (vv. 1-2)

A. Why the shift in the letter?

1. God’s judgement, His evaluation, begins with His people, but more specifically with those to whom they have been entrusted: the pastors.

1 Peter 4:17 (NASB95)

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:6 (NASB95)

6 “Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.

Q: What do you think the greatest threat is to the church in our generation?

A (Paul Washer): It’s pastors. Honestly … God has given three offices, I believe, to the Church: evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Wherever you see a weak church, you see these weak men. Either they are non-existent, they are unbiblical, or they are unconverted. And all this talk about the judgement on our country because of its immoralities … never forget judgement begins with the household of God. And I am astounded at the lack of the fear of the Lord, and the lack of biblical knowledge, among those who would call themselves the ministers of Christ.

B. Faithfully Serve Christ

1. Therefore … shepherd

We are quite like sheep, even if we don’t like the connection.

Sheep are highly sociable animals. They fare better in numbers. Sheep on their own will get distressed and potentially die. Since sheep have no way of defense, gathering together makes it more difficult for predators to pick them off.

Sheep are natural followers. They will follow the leaders of a herd, even if it results in disastrous consequences.

Several years ago, 500 lambs died in Turkey as a result of one sheep trying to jump down a 80 foot cliff.

Sheep need direction towards food and water. Even if they have direction, they need someone to take them to new pastures when all the food has been eaten.

Drawing the connection between Peter’s conversation with Jesus in John 21.

Oversee the Church: Each topic Peter has written about so far comes to a head in chapter 5. Peter indicates it is the responsibility of the elders to feed and guide God’s sheep by expounding upon His word.

2. Flock of God

The flock is God’s not the shepherd’s, which means shepherd’s are held to God’s standards, not their own.

In one of my college classes, we were having a conversation about planting churches as opposed to ministering at established churches. During that discussion, I said something along the lines of, “I have considered church planing, but I am not sure if God has given me the gifts to plant my own church.”

This is why James issues this warning:

James 3:1 NASB95

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

II. Serve Willingly (v.2)

A. Elders are called by God to serve, not forced by God to serve.

Elders must choose to accept God’s call. They do not accept the role simply because it exists, nor view it as just another job or means of income. They willingly accept the call, and with urgency they pursue the call because they recognize the need to feed, direct, guide, and protect the flock of God.

III. Serve Selflessly (v. 2)

A. Sordid gain

Sordid means filthy.

It means shepherds who are looking for ways to exploit their flock for their own advancement.

Greed, influence, and power should not be the motive for pursuing ministry.

The shepherd is not to look for ways in which the sheep can give back to him, but how he can be poured out for the betterment of the sheep.

Peter is not saying the church should not financially support their pastor.

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NASB95

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Instead, elders are to serve God eagerly. In other words, because of what God has done in an elder’s life, they excitedly share the message of Christ and expectantly look for the Holy Spirit to move.

Secondhand Lions salesman example: difference between a salesman who sells only because the product can earn him a profit, and a salesman who truly believes in the product and recognizes the needs of the consumer.

IV. Serve Through Example (vv. 3-4)

A. Nor as being lords over

Elders in the church have significant authority and must be careful not to abuse that authority.

The word for being lords or ‘domineering’ almost always involves bringing under subjection through force (i.e. politically, militarily, or physically)

Elders must remember they too are sheep in the care of the Chief Shepherd.

B. Those entrusted to you

This is the same word used for ‘lot’ or ‘allotted’

The shares or portions of responsibility before God.

C. Lead as an example

Notice how the early Church expected their elders to live with such character that they could be imitated by those around them.

1 Corinthians 4:16 NASB95

16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

1 Timothy 4:12 NASB95

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Titus 2:7–8 NASB95

7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

This means those who lead Christ’s Church should be examples of Christ throughout the week, not just in the pulpit or classroom on Sunday morning.

D. What example should elders set?

That the primary motivation for serving the Lord is to here the words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant,” and to receive the unfading crown of glory.

And that through modeling this goal, others will desire to imitate it as well.

V. Serve in Humility (v. 5)

A. If Elders humbly submit themselves to Christ, the Church should humbly submit themselves to their direction.

Younger people refers to the entire body of Christ. Those who are ‘young’ are specifically mentioned because it is generally younger individuals who struggle with submission to a higher authority.

Submit implies submission to authority, not just someone of increased age.

Clothed literally means to put on so as to be identified.

VI. Conclusion