Church Matters: Servants That Lead, Part 2

1 Peter 5:1–5 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Today I want us to discuss the necessary skills unique to the role of being a pastor.

Peter wrote his letter to a time a people who were persecuted.

People who were confused.

People who were discourages by persecution.

People who were battled and beaten by the world.

Peter wrote to strengthen them in the faith,

to remind them of Jesus’ example for them,

and of the riches of inheritance coming to them.

A church that is struggling needs to hear the role of their pastor.

Shepherds serve the church by leading in the mission of God for the Glory of God by tending to the people of God through the Word of God and prayer.

Bible Centered Joy-filled pastors create healthy church.

Worldly joyless pastors create UNHEALTHY churches.

1 Peter 5:1 (ESV)

So I exhort the elders among you...

Exhorting these elders does not bear a commanding spirit.

Rather, he is “encouraging” these elders to the flocks he is currently writing.

Peter is assuming in verse one that there is an elder in their midst who is doing the task or at least capable of doing the task that he is about to encourage them toward.

1 Peter 1:1 ESV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

He says that he also is a fellow elder, or one who also shepherds the people of God with his apostolic role.

He serves as an overseer and witness of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

But he also oversees the people of God there in his local congregation.

Peter who serves as an Apostle and witness of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection and has written portions of the New Testament does what he exhorts others to do.

He serves as a fellow-elder along with the brothers in his local church.

This is a perfect distinction between UNIVERSAL Church vs. local church.

Peter serves as an Apostolic witness to ALL of the CHURCH.

But also exercises oversight in a local church.

Peter also was a person who knew and understood the grace of God in the gospel.

1 Peter 5:1 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

Peter denied the Lord Jesus and watched Him suffer.

But Peter also knows that there is a restoration.

We looked at who a pastor is last week.

What does a pastor do?

Necessary Skills

What does a pastor/elder do? (1 Peter 5:1-3)

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you...

“Shepherd the flock of God among y’all” (1 Peter 5:2).

Now the word “pastor” is the latin word for this word here for shepherd.

You will not find the word pastor in the Bible, but the concept is all over the place.

To “pastor” is to “shepherd.”

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,

The chief activity of a pastor/shepherd is to exercise oversight.

Shepherd the Flock of God

Exercise Oversight

What does it mean to be an overseer?

A good definition for an overseer is one who keeps watch over people’s souls.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

This includes a responsibility as well as an authority

Example of a Shepherd’s Staff

A shepherd’s staff can actually serve as a helpful illustration to explain the role of a pastor.

Crook - At one end you have a curve that would be used

Goad - At the other end was something known as a goad.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 ESV

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.

The end of the staff was used to direct the sheep

It is intriguing to note that the Bible gives more attitudinal dispositions more than strategies.

If I was writing the Bible I would have called it, “Five tips for being a good pastor...” but praise God that I didn’t write the Bible.

The Bible gives a more leveling and searching job description of the pastor.

The Bible fences the pastor in by giving several attitudinal approaches toward overseeing the flock of God.

Peter qualifies the kind of oversight that a pastor/shepherd should have.

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;

Willing Oversight

Guarding against Laziness

It is willing oversight.

Compulsion is a kind of “twisting someone’s arm.”

Arm twisting is what we do to people who don’t really want to partake in something and this is NOT characteristic of pastor/shepherds.

The kind of spiritual oversight is one of willing oversight.

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight....not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Eager Oversight

Guarding against Greed

The other qualifications for oversight is eagerly.

This is not a pastor who are seeking their own gain rather they are seeking the welfare of others.

A pastor is eager to meet the needs of others.

This is exactly what Paul is talking about when he says to the Thessalonian believers.

Paul was delayed in coming to them because Satan hindered him...

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 ESV

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.

Of all the things that Paul could say is his joy.

He loves the position God has put him in.

He loves the pay he is receiving.

He loves the perks of being an apostle.

NO.

His joy is the believers.

His joy is seeing them progress in greater Christ likeness.

So it is with every faithful pastor.

1 Peter 5:3 ESV

not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Exemplary Oversight

Guarding against Power

The oversight is further elaborated by being exemplary oversight.

Rather than domineering or “lording” it over the sheep, the pastor is to set an example for the flock.

Jesus talked about this kind of domineering leadership when He said that, Mark 10:42-45

Mark 10:42–45 (ESV)

“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“That’s great, but why are you saying that a pastor is to lead the flock of God?”

The pastor takes his cues from Jesus Himself.

If Jesus was willing to serve by giving his life as a ransom then the pastor must follow the same path.

But he does so by leading the flock.

Notice where Jesus was at when he redefined

Mark 10:32 ESV

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,

Jesus was walking ahead of them and He was walking to His death.

Jesus was walking ahead of them and He was serving them, but He was doing so by leading the way.

He was leading the way and in that moment being the MOST servant minded He could have been.

Mark 10:33 ESV

saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.

The pastor is to serve as the chief example among the people of God and when he does so, he leads the flock of God.

It’s also interesting to note the way Peter speaks of the role of being a shepherd/pastor.

1 Peter 5:3 “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

The phrase, “those in your charge” comes from an idea of casting lots.

Those in your charge are those whom God has providentially placed in your charge.

Those whom God has placed in your sphere of responsibility.

I am not Keyser’s pastor.

I am not responsible for all of Keyser.

I am responsible for all those who are committed and agreeing to be a part of this body of believers.

What dpes it mean for a shepherd to carry around a staff?

What is the staff itself?

Acts 6:1–4 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Tools of the Trade

How does a pastor/elder accomplish this?

People will sometimes ask, “Which is more important, prayer or the ministry of the Word?”

We should respond with, which wing is more important on a plane, the right or the left?

Without the Word of God, we become hyper-spiritual people not knowing what God requires.

Without prayer, the Word of God is preached without Spiritual power.

What authority does a pastor have in the life of members?

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God

The Authority to Care for the Flock

2 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Reprove - Examine carefully, or bring to light things that were

Rebuke - Speak seriously, or warn.

Exhort - Encourage and “call to one’s side”

When the Word of God is wielded by the shepherd, then the sheep grow more to be like the Chief Shepherd.

2 Timothy 4:3–5 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Humility Toward One-Another

The elders submit themselves first to Jesus Christ.

But they also submit themselves to the local body of Christ as a whole.

At the same time, all those who are a part of that body are to be subject or “submit themselves” to the elders of the church.

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

It should be stated again that an elder is not someone who is simply older in years.

They are older in their walk with Christ.

They are mature in their walk with Jesus.

Younger men have a tendency of being those who reject authority in their lives.

But if Peter can say that the younger men should submit to the pastor/elders, then it should be all the more true of everyone else.

Jude addresses it as well to those who reject authority and despise those over them...

“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.” Jude 1:8

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We should clothe ourselves with humility toward each other, when we do, God gives us grace.

This is one of the great warnings to the church of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Do you know what the Word of God does to such a person...

The Word of God levels them.

The Word of God humbles them.

The Word of God cuts them with the double edged sword, for wounding and healing.

Prayer

The Responsibility of Care for the Flock

Prayer is the aspect of the shepherd’s staff that tries to bring the sheep back.

Acts 20:28–32 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Protection Against False Teaching

1 John 5:16–17 ESV

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

Peter also extends pastor/shepherds a promise in verse 4.

1 Peter 5:4 ESV

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Hope for the Coming of Christ

What should we expect?

Promise to Shepherd’s

Unfading Crown of Glory

When the chief Shepherd comes. That is, the shepherd who commands all the other shepherds under His charge comes. Then we shall see Him as He is, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)

The unfading crown is the “the reward spoken of here is dependent upon exercising oversight in the appropriate manner (Achtemeier 329).” (EGGNT, 1 Peter).

The logical conclusion is that the elder/pastor will be the one who is held accountable for their actions to the chief shepherds.

This has several implications.

First it creates a somber awareness that everything I do will be answerable on the day of judgment, so it creates a humility in me.

Second, I know that some of you have been wronged by pastors and other ministry leaders and you wonder “how am I supposed to think about them?” and the answer is that they will one day give an account for everything they have said and done.

Thirdly, that a pastor is bound by Scripture, so by all means go to him with your requests of doing things differently but know that he is bound by Holy Scripture.

He will not move outside of Holy Scripture.

Shepherds serve the church by leading in the mission of God for the Glory of God by tending to the people of God through the Word of God and prayer.

The last element we ought not to miss for all the congregation

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Promise to Sheep

The Salvation of Your Souls