1 Peter 5:1-7 Keeping it together - the Elders
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Context:
Christians in the Roman empire
Christians are beginning a time of persecution:
Society finds them new and strange and offensive
Government is looking for scapegoats
Peter here is instructing based on his commission and education with Christ.
Peter is testifying of what he saw at the passion, and on the mount of transfiguration. "Feed the flock of God" = "Feed my sheep".
AD 60-64. Persecution of Christians. Need for community. Elders are key.
Key Questions
Key Questions
As we read this, questions: What is an elder? Why do we have them?
Who are they? What do they do?
Summary:
Summary:
Elders are to be revered and respected. They are a source of wisdom and leadership, because of their age and experience. Young people lack experience and the wisdom that comes from it. Leaders of the church or flock, are to serve, provide for, and protect the flock from harm from within and without.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Elders lead as Christ led
Elders lead as Christ led
Explanation:
Peter shares his experience with his fellow elders. He has trained for eldership at the feet of Christ, and seen His suffering first hand. Peter has earned the right to teach us. As an apostle, Christ commissioned him to feed the flock of God, personally, and he passes on this command to the elders.
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
What is an elder? Several different kinds. Refers to heads of households and those appointed in the Church to shepherd the flock. Teaching and ruling elders are appointed in the church as officers of the church.
The flock does not belong to the Elders, but to God. He has given them the privilege of shepherding. So, Elders need to shepherd out of love for the Saviour. Their reward will be from the Chief Shepherd, who commissioned them to shepherd the flock.
Jesus set the example for shepherding: John 10:11–12 ““I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”
So here, Peter is commanding fellow elders. He calls it an exhortation but it is an apostolic exhortation. He puts himself at their level
Similarly, Paul also instructed the elders at Miletus, as he was embarking to Jerusalem.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 20)
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Feed—Greek, “Tend as a shepherd,” by discipline and doctrine. Lead, feed, heed: by prayer, exhortation, government, and example. The dignity is marked by the term “elder”; the duties of the office, to tend or oversee, by “bishop.” Peter has in mind Christ’s injunction to him, “Feed (tend) My sheep … Feed (pasture) My lambs” (Jn 21:16). He invites the elders to share with him the same duty (compare Ac 20:28). The flock is Christ’s.
Shepherd the flock of God - an analogy to sheep. Sheep need to be guided or chastised when necessary. They need to be fed and protected. They are not very bright.
James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
2 Timothy 4:8 “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Illustration:
Elders were a tradition carried forward from the synagogue. The tradition of respect for authority comes forward from OT times
Gerontocracy: how they work.
Argumentation:
Contrasts for eldership:
Oversight voluntarily, not under compulsion
Not for sordid gain, but with eagerness
Watch greed
Not lording over, but setting the example
Pride is the sin to watch our for
Bad examples of elders:
Ezekiel 34:4–5 ““Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.”
Matthew 23:4–5 ““They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.”
Application/Exhortation:
Peter has given us examples of what to look for in elders.
Elders are critical to the well-being of everyone in the church - they have a lot of responsibility, especially to the Lord, and they are well equipped to carry it out
Look for and join a church with qualified, godly, biblical elders who understand their responsibilities in the Word of God.
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
The church out of humility submits to the elders
The church out of humility submits to the elders
Explanation:
Elders are to be revered and respected by the congregation. They are a source of wisdom and leadership, because of their age and experience. They are charged before God with the protection of the flock.
Like sheep, young people lack experience, knowledge and the wisdom that comes from it. Leaders of the church or flock, are to serve, provide for, and protect the flock from harm from within and without.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 4)
But He gives a greater grace. God seeks to strengthen the church through its elders and congregation. Humility becomes a key characteristic to promoting unity and avoiding conflict. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
All of us are prone to stray, and drift away from our faith. Elders are part of God’s plan to keep us together and moving with His will and toward heaven.
1 Peter 2:25 “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
Illustration:
Scientific studies show that brains are not fully formed until a person is 25.
Maturity often comes with age.
Argumentation:
increasing trend in society to sideline or marginalize older people
Belief that their ideas are always suspect - old fashioned - out of date - incapable of grappling with new ideas
Ecclesiastes 1:9 “That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.”
Dr. Masters: If you come up with a completely new interpretation of the Bible - stop.
Application:
New ideas are not bad, but need to carefully consider if they are really new.
Listen to the elders. Wise elders will listen to the congregation. Trust the elders to do what is right, even if you don’t understand, yet
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Through it all, God is in control, and He cares for you.
Through it all, God is in control, and He cares for you.
Explanation:
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
God cares for you. He has appointed servants to help you, care for you, feed you, guide you, because He loves you. He loses no sheep to the wolves.
You will be anxious or afraid - give that fear over to the Lord. He loves you and cares for you.
Illustration:
When the martyrs in Rome, and Europe went to the flames, they kept their faith because they new they faced a better, and a more certain, and more permanent future.
Martin Luther held fast to his confession at the Diet of Worms. The leaders of the Roman Catholic church wanted him executed, and the Emperor was prepared to do so, if he refused to recant his teachings. Here was his response.
“Since your most serene majesty and your highnesses require of me a simple, clear, and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is clear that they have fallen into error and even into inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God's word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
Luther was sentenced to execution, but his followers were able to rescue him. God was absolutely in control.
Argumentation:
Many today believe the government is the final authority in all matters, and those in charge of the government are above question. They believe they are always right.
This was the case with Luther and with others, but those who stay true to the faith will receive that crown, even if they must pass through death to get there. God loves His people.
Application/Exhortation:
Jesus said: John 10:29 ““My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
When you face the trouble, and everyone does, and it seems that no one stands with you, remember that one does, and He cares for you.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The elders in the church are appointed and trained by Christ, through His apostles and elders.
Trust the elders in the church to guide and direct in times of tribulation - they are to do so following the example of Christ.
Young people should recognize their own limitations, and understand that God has provided helpers to shepherd them. They should swallow their pride, and humbly follow the lead of the elders.
When you are anxious, when trouble comes, cast your fears upon the Lord, because He cares for you. Remember John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
