Untitled Sermon (3)

1 Peter 5:1–4 “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.”

P.O.P.

The elders in the local church are called to shepherd God's people, through an exemplary life, faithfully until Jesus returns.

Kids

God calls the elders of the church to teach people about Jesus and point people to Jesus until He returns.

Introduction:

Calling into ministry

Missions - a chance to build a biblical church from scratch

(Felt called stateside) church planting - a chance to build a biblical church from scratch.

(begrudgingly felt called to rural ministry) traditional/rural revitalization - a submission to God’s will

(clearly work of God) extreme rural replanting - submission to God’s will as long as He has me

Peter is giving an exhortation to the leadership in the church.

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you.

Elders established: Acts 14:23 “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Role of elders: Acts 6:2–4 “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.”

Qualifications:

1 Timothy 3:1–7“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

Titus 1:5–9“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

The men called to be elders in the church are not simply leaders, CEOs, or bosses, they are to be shepherds. This contains feeding and caring for those whom God has put under their care.

Feeding - teaching, counseling, ministering

Guarding - protecting against false teaching, guarding against falling into sin

Leading - Gently guiding to the place of rest/nourishment

2. exercising oversight

The role of shepherd assumes a role of authority over the flock given by God.

The role of the elders is to watch over the lives of the congregation for the purpose of caring, ministering, and feeding.

Acts 20:28 “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.”

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

I. Elders are called to shepherd with desire.

Those who serve in this role desire to serve and do not see this as just another job.

James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Serving merely out of compulsion or a sense of duty will not be able to stand the test of ministry.

Elders serve because it is their calling and a calling placed by God, not because they want to.

II. Elders are called to shepherd focused on their calling.

Pastors can either go into ministry with the wrong motives or develop the wrong motives over time.

Elders should not seek ministry for money, fame, platform, or recognition.

they should stay focused on their calling to feed, care, and minister to the flock.

III. Elders are called to shepherd with humility.