Shepherds and Flocks

Introduction

While many of us can probably list more than a few pastors and Christian leaders who have “fallen from grace” through an affair or some other sexual sin, it seems recently we are seeing more Christian leaders being removed from their roles due to

In July 2011, C. J. Mahaney, former president of Sovereign Grace Ministries, took a leave of absence after confessing to “expressions of pride, unentreatability, deceit, sinful judgment and hypocrisy.”1 In April of 2013, he resigned from his role.

Steve Timmis, former Acts Twenty-Nine CEO and pastor of The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK, resigned in February 2020. “Fifteen people who served under Timmis described to Christianity Today a pattern of spiritual abuse through bullying and intimidation, overbearing demands in the name of mission and discipline, rejection of critical feedback, and an expectation of unconditional loyalty.”2

And in August 2014, Mark Driscoll, founding pastor of Mars Hill and co-founder of the Acts Twenty-Nine church-planting network, was asked to leave the leadership of Acts Twenty-Nine. He was also forced to resign from Mars Hill in October 2014. In his resignation letter, he confessed to “past pride, anger and a domineering spirit,”3 as well as admitting to paying a company to purchase his book from enough key markets to get him on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Perhaps this all comes as a natural result of:

Church as a business organization

Pastor as a CEO

Ministry success based on the number of butts and budgets

The celebration of mega-churches as “more successful” than smaller gospel-faithful communities

Synchrotization of Evangelicalism with American culture and even politics

Just plain sin nature

Whatever the case, it seems that many modern churches have become the prime environment for prideful pastors domineering Christian leaders

in a word: they are leaders leading exactly opposite of how Jesus led and taught his followers to lead.

No wonder so many have denounced the American church or deconstructed their faith.

Humble leaders with humble followers stand firm and advance God’s kingdom.

While the title is Shepherds and Flocks, the passage really describes four peoples and groups:

Humble leaders

Humble followers

A Hungry devil

An all-powerful God

1 Peter 4:17 (ESV)

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

Look to humble leadership.

1 Peter 5:1–14 (ESV)

1 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: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you,

Christian LEADERS are first Christ FOLLOWERS.

by example and by direction.

Peter exhorts ELDERS

Elders were (and are) leaders in the church called by God and the church, affirmed through their godly character to lead, care, and direct the local church.

Paul gives Timothy and Titus instruction on how to identify men whose character would make godly elders, and he calls on them to appoint them in local congregations.

Fellow elder

Peter appeals to the elders of the churches to whom he writes as a fellow elder - not as an apostle - He is not telling them where to go - he is going with them.

Peter describes how these elders are to lead:

exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

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

Peter uses the metaphor of a shepherd

protect from dangers

feed

find

keep unity in the flock

individually care

correct

lead, guide

Ezekiel 34:1–11 (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 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? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6 they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. 7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: . . . Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

Elders should lead:

willingly (not out of compulsion)

They should lead because they have a call from God not the pressure of the congregation

eagerly (not for gain)

I’m not sure who thinks being a pastor or an elder will make them rich, but I have seen some who use being a pastor to be lazy

humbly (not domineering)

Matthew 20:25 (ESV)

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

Pastors are not to lead like CEOs of corporations

Being examples

Notice how none of these qualifications are skill - financial, administrative, etc. They are character qualities.

Living a life worthy of imitation is not an option for church leaders.

5 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.”

Pursue humble followership.

If it is true that the pastor of a church should not resemble the CEO of a corporation, then it is also true that church members should not resemble disgruntled employees.

“Nobody takes pride in our culture in being a follower. We associate it with weakness.  You never hear at a funeral, “They were trend followers. They knew how to line up behind good leadership. They knew how to follow so well.”

We live in a culture that devalues the art of good following.”

Not a call to blind following

We have come to see following as the lesser and leading as the greater.

We come to Christ and stay with Christ by being good followers.

“younger” - this is not just for those who are younger in age. It is more likely that a younger person would rebel, but the call to submit to godly leadership is for all in the church.

The call to be wrapped up in humility is for all in the church.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

casting all your anxieties and cares on God is a way toward humility

Keeping anxieties and cares is the opposite of humility

(when we cast our cares, it doesn’t mean we don’t feel them, etc., it simply means we aren’t intentionally keeping them)

You can cast your cares BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU!

How’s your followership?

to Jesus?

to the church?

You can’t expect God’s grace if

you resist his leadership

you want your way

you’re unwilling to forgive

Practice humility as demonic resistance. (8-9)

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Humility and spiritual warfare go together.

Humility is how we come to Christ. Humility is how we live like Christ.

“The person engaged in spiritual warfare should simultaneously possess humility, perfect attentiveness, the power of rebuttal, and prayer. He should possess humility because, as the fight is against the ‘arrogant demons,’ he will then have the help of Christ in his heart, for ‘the Lord hates the arrogant’ (c.f. Prov. 3:34 LXX).”

— seventh-century monk from Sinai, St. Hesychios the Priest

Wanting your way instead of God’s way is giving way to the devil’s way.

Humility in submitting ourselves to God fights against the most basic of all sins - pride

James 4:6–8 (ESV)

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Be sober-minded; be watchful.

The devil would love nothing more than for pride to enter into the church through the lives of her leaders and followers.

Think about one of the examples form the beginning of the message or one you may know personally. Think about how pride wreaked havoc on the ministry of the church - if any viable ministry was left.

knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

I wonder if Peter is pointing this out as if this is the devil’s excuse for you to not be humble or stand firm in your faith - because you believe you shouldn’t have any suffering,

Success is Faithfulness!!

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Remember, God will bring restoration.

suffered “a little while”

Peter bookends his letter with the same idea he had at the beginning: we may suffer for a little while on earth, but the eternal glory that await believers gives perspective.

1 Peter 1:3–7 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

How’s your humility?

Jesus was derided by the Pharisees for socializing with the poor and those of lowly state. Our culture is very status conscious and people naturally want to socialize upward. Resist the temptation of being partial to those with status or wealth.

What cares are you holding on to?