Faithful Pastors, Faithful Members, Faithful Church

Introduction

TIMER: Good morning please open in your Bible’s to 1 Peter 5:1-5 that is 1 Peter 5:1-5. The text for this morning will be found in page 1016 if you are using one of the Bible’s spread throughout the chairs. As we have made our way through 1 Peter we have had sermons that have addressed only wives and husbands and today we have a text that primarily addresses pastors. The question is, if today’s text is for pastors and the pastor is the one preaching the sermon, why are we even doing this? Shouldn’t I just go off somewhere and preach to myself? I could let the rest of you take the morning off and you could be first in the buffet line after church. Why even preach a text to church members about pastors?

Well, because in order for our church to be healthy we must all know what a healthy pastor looks like. Pastors are called and ordained by their local churches. And local churches are made up on church members. If the members do not know what a faithful pastor does, how the pastor is to do it, and why the pastor is to labor then how can the church choose faithful pastors and keep faithful pastors. The question: of who are the human leaders of God’s church is a essential. Without godly leadership a church cannot hope to be healthy. And an unhealthy church is a dying church.

It is through Christ’s church that he will glorify his name in the world. The church is God’s plan A to reach a lost world. You see the world needs healthy churches and so the world needs faithful pastors. This is a part of your responsibility as a member of God’s church. How will you know if you are lead faithfully if are not taught from God’s word what faithful pastoral ministry looks like?

Therefore we look at 1 Peter 5:1-5 together and ask what are a pastors to do, how are they to do it, and why do they labor? Let’s read 1 Peter 5:1-5.

Pastors Shepherd v. 1-2a

1 Peter 5:1–2 “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…

Peter begins chapter 5 by focusing on church leaders and it can seem as if this is disconnected from the rest of the book. However, in chapter 4 we were told that the judgement of God would begin in with the household of God. We must remember that Peter is writing to a persecuted people and he reminded them in chapter 4 that those that persecuted Christ’s church and did not repent would be judged by the wrath of God. He addresses pastors here because it essential for the church to be lead well if they are to endure persecution.

The failure to endure, and by endure I mean remain faithful to Jesus, will result in God’s judgement. God’s means of keeping us in the faith is through His church, preached word, and the empowering of his spirit. If these means are to have their full effect then pastors must be faithful even in the midst of high pressured situations like persecution.

So, he exhorts pastors or elders here in this text. But he doesn’t do it as a someone who thinks highly as himself. He doesn’t approach these pastors from a position of arrogance but rather explains that he is a fellow elder. He is in the fight with them. Peter is a brother in arms. He comes alongside pastors to encourage them. He does not exhort them from a position of arrogance. He tells them he is a witness of the sufferings of Christ. Now, what kind of witness of Peter to the sufferings of Christ.

Not a very good one. Peter is the one who denied Jesus three times. He promised to stick with Jesus to the very end, even if he had to die for Jesus. Peter is admit about his own loyalty to Christ. Yet, when a slave girl confronts him he denies Christ three times and curses. The rooster crows, which Jesus predicted would happen and Peter weeps. And where do we get this detailed account of Peter’s denial? From the book of Mark, which source was Peter himself.

Now, the book of Mark may have been written after the book of 1 Peter, but the stories of the apostles experiences with Jesus were common among the early church. Peter did not hide his shortcomings in Mark’s gospel. I doubt he hid them with these churches. Peter writes to this pastors encouraging them to remain faithful through persecution though he faltered under the similar kind of pressure.

He is not a hypocrite because through Peter denied Jesus three times he was also redeemed by Jesus. In John 21 Jesus speaks with Peter after his resurrection and after Peter’s failure. He asks, Peter three times, do you love me. Peter responds of course I love you. And Jesus tells Peter, then care for my sheep. Peter, if you love me pastor or shepherd my people.

Peter saw himself in the light of the redeeming grace of the gospel. He was a fell elder, a witness to the sufferings of Christ, albeit not a very good one. And we was also a partaker of the glory that was to be revealed. Now, who is a partaker of the glory to be revealed in Christ? According all who endure for the sake of Christ.

He writes of this truth in 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Peter encourages pastors as a fellow pastor, he encourages pastors as one who was with Jesus (which meant failure and restoration by Jesus), and encourages them as a Christian. Pastors must minister primarily out of their identity in Christ.

Pastors and aspiring pastors who are first and foremost called to Christ long before you are called to an office. Peter sets the tone for pastoral ministry by referring to himself in a humble manner as a fellow pastor, a witness to Christ suffering, and as partaker of the glory of Christ like all Christians are.

He then exhorts them to shepherd the flock of God among them and to exercise oversight. Pastor are to shepherd the people of God. What do pastor do? They shepherd.

The job of the pastor is not to perform a series of task, but is to care for the people of God through the teaching, preaching, and counseling of God’s word, they are to pray for the people of God, and they exercise oversight over the church.

A quick explanation why I am using the word pastor, though the text uses the word elder. You see, pastor is the common term that westerners use to refer to the men that God has called to lead his church and that the church had ordained as those leaders. The word pastor is a Latin term that means shepherd. In our text to today the elders are told to shepherd the flock and Jesus is called the Chief Shepherd.

The terms in the Bible used for these men, or more specifically this office in the church, are elder and overseer. The word overseer can also be translated bishop. From verses like the one before you I would argue that these three terms are synonomous terms. Pastor, Elder, and Overseer all describe the same office. You can see that here in that elders are told to shepherd (pastor) and exercise oversight. In Acts 20 Paul calls for the elders of the church Ephesus and he tells them to in 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.” So again, overseers, elders, and pastors are the same thing. These titles describe one office.

The other thing worth mentioning is that in every instance of the mention of elders or overseers in local churches they are always plural. It is plural elders that are called for from the one church in Ephesus. The plural elders form a council for the one church in Jerusalem etc. So, while this is a circulatory that would have went to several churches throughout Asia Minor the evidence in the NT would suggest that each local church was governed by multiple pastors/elders/overseers.

Now, you might thinking… what about our church. We only have one pastor, you. And I would say you are correct. In the NT we do see church plants or new churches might have one or zero pastors in their early stages. But eventually, they do get a plurality of pastors. Titus 1 would be an example. Titus is sent to Crete to appoint elders. The fledging church didn’t have elders, but it did need them. We hope to appoint elders as our church grows and matures.

And we have been walking slowly through that process with Jimmy. He and I have walked through some documents together provided by our provisional board. We have read many books together about pastoral ministry over that last few years to ensure we are of the same mind about things like what is a pastor. It is our hope that he would become a pastor here. But we are moving slowly and intentionally. Why?

Because of what it means to be a pastor. If Jimmy or others become pastors at Redemption Hill they’re primary task isn’t to perform various duties. Though I am sure they will perform task for the church because all Christians should be willing to serve their church in the way she needs us too. She is the bride of Christ afterall. But the primary call of the pastor is to shepherd the flock of God. And what see in the NT is that men do that as a team. There might be varying gifts on the team and an elder might take the lead over a specific ministry of the church, but the elders function as a group keeping watch over the souls of the flock.

When it comes to the task that are necessary for the function of our church. And they are necessary. It is the members of the church who are to be the hands and feet of the church. Now, our church overall does great! at this. But I want to mention this because I want us to continue to be great at this.

The main job is to pray and teach the word. Whether the teaching is corporate like preaching or individual like counseling and everything in between. This is what Pastors do. They shepherd the flock of God and exercise oversight.

T/S - that is the what but is the how?

Pastors Shepherd Willingly v. 2b-3

1 Peter 5:2–3 “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.”

Peter explains how a Pastor is to shepherd the flock by making a negative statement of what not to do then following it with a positive statement of what to do. So, They are not to exercise oversight as under compulsion. They are to do it willingly as God would have them. A man should not become a pastor simply because no one else will do it. He should not become a pastor because the church really needs a plurality, and without him there will not be one. Rather he is do want to do it as God would have him. In 1 Timothy 3:1 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” The pastor is to aspire to the office. Now, there are some who are convinced that they should be pastors, but the wise people in their lives do not see it the same way. These men can do foolish things like try to become pastors though they should not. But it is also true that a man that is to pastor should be a man who longs to pastor. I do believe that God places in a man the desire to pastor, but God affirms that desire through healthy local churches. This is the process that we call ordination. To ordain a pastor is to say that we as a church affirm the man’s calling (internal aspiration) to pastor and also long for him to pastor us. This is why we would vote on a new pastor and me and other pastors would first nominate the man, but when it comes time to vote. My vote is one vote, just like everyone else. A pastor of RHC would also be my pastor, but the decision is ultimately our decision.

The pastor is to desire the office but the motivation for that desire cannot be for shameful gain. This would include the desire to pastor for money or notoriety or power. The desire for pastoral ministry must be for the glory of God. A pastor must desire to pastor because he longs to serve the Chief Shepherd when he appears.

1 Timothy 6:3–10 helps us see why motivations matter. “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Paul is referring to false teachers who desire to be rich. There desire for “shameful gain” has led them to fall into temptation that leads to their ruin and destruction. This can be the temptation of financial gain, but it is also the temptation of respect and power. A pastor who longs for shameful gain is a pastor primed for failure. He would be a pastor that is tempted toward sin from the very beginning. Therefore, he cannot long for the task for the sake of shameful gain, but instead desire the task eagerly as a means to glorify God.

Finally, a pastor cannot be domineering, but instead must be an example for the flock. Being a leader always comes with the temptation to use your authority in a manner that is domineering. It is easy for any human to let power go to their head. However, Jesus reminds us, Mark 10:42–45 “And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “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.”” Pastors cannot lead like the world. Pastors set an example as to how to lead. They are like Peter. He did exhort the elders from a position of domineering power. Rather, he came alongside the pastors of these churches and exhorted them to shepherd their people.

At the end of the day, a pastor is simply a man who you could say, I want to follow his example as he follows Christ. Paul says 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Can you say that about your pastor. That is the litmus test of qualification for a pastor. Can I follow him as he follows Christ?

The how of shepherding isn’t about pastoral skill, it about a man’s character. God wants men who are like His son in character. Listen to the qualifications that Paul gives for a pastor in 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.”

There is only one skill listed, able to teach. Everything else is about his character. This is what matters most to God. Which should cause all Christians to pause. What does God care most about your life? If in the life of his leaders he cares most about their character rather than skill what does he care about for you?

Where do you and I find our identity? Is it the office or position we hold? Or do we see ourselves like Peter does. Fallen and broken people. Failures who run away when our Savior suffers though we promised to die with him? Yet, still partakers of the glory to be revealed on the last day. Partakers because we know that Christ restores and redeems those who belong to him. We could all use the challenge to more concerned about our character and less concerned about our position.

T/S- Because what sustains us through trials? It is our identity in Christ. It is the fact that all we do we do for the glory of Christ.

Pastors Shepherd for Christ v. 4

Why does a pastor labor? Is it to see his church grow? Is it so more people get saved? No. It is to live in a manner worthy of the appearing of the Chief Shepher. 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

This is a humbling verse for pastors. It is a reminder that the church does not belong to us. Rather, we are simply under shepherds laboring for the chief shepherds. We are stewards of the house, but it is the household of God. It doesn’t matter how much we give, serve, or sacrifice for the church. It will never belongs to us. This is the Lord’s church. And the pastor that understands that is the pastor that is the pastor who will receive an unfading crown of glory.

Now, this unfading crown isn’t just for pastors. I believe this is a metaphor for the righteous life lived by the Christian. Those who live for Christ will be given a “crown” in heaven. In 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth 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.” Now a crown of righteousness isn’t a literal crown. It isn’t a crown of gold. It is Paul’s way of saying that those who love Jesus will receive their reward in heaven. In James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” God promises the crown of life (metaphor) for all who remain steadfast under trial and for those who love him. Loving Jesus above all else and enduring as Christian to the end results in us receiving a crown. This crown is a symbol of the reality that we will be rewarded on the final day. Like an athlete that completed by the rules in the greek games of the day would be given a crown for their victory so will the Christian that lives faithfully.

The pastor who shepherds and exercises oversight willingly, eagerly, and lives and example for his people will also receive that crown because this what faithfulness looks like for that man. The man called to be a pastor is called to pastor this way. In living this way he fulfills his calling not just as a pastor, but as a Christian.

Even if you are not a pastor, you are to live a life that glorifies Christ. In enduring under trial or loving the appearing of Christ you obtain your inheritance. You live out, what Christ has supernaturally done in you by living faithfully. Our faithfulness does not save us, but it is the evidence of our salvation. So, the man called to pastor must pastor faithfully as the evidence not just as he call to pastor, but more importantly as the evidence of his call to Christ.

Now, what happens with these metaphorical crowns. Well in Revelation 4 we read of these 24 elders. I believe they are also a metaphor for the church. The redeemed people of God. And these elders are gathered around the throne of God wearing golden crowns and what do they do in Revelation 4:10–11“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””

This is the motivation to live faithfully, we live in order to bring glory and honor to Christ! We cannot live for our own glory or shameful gain whether we pastor or not. Instead, we must live for the sake of Christ.

What should a pastor think of himself? I believe Psalm 40:17 sums it up well. “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” And in that sentiment I urge to imitate me as I follow Christ. Do you see yourself as poor and needy, but also as one whom God has given thought to. Yes I am poor and needy, but I am also richly blessed! The Chief Shepherd is coming and when he does I will be a partaker of his glory and be awarded and unfading crown. A crown that I will joyfully cast at his feet and say it was all for you and because of you!

T/S- So were does that leave us? How are we to act as church members if we have pastors like this?

Members Submit to Pastors and are humble toward one another v. 5

1 Peter 5:5 “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.””

Peter continues to speak of pastors here and encourages the younger to be subject to them. He also encourages all to clothe themselves in humility. And Hebrews 13:17 makes it clear that we are all to obey our leaders. “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.”

Can I encourage with something? Use your pastors. Now, we are to submit to our pastors like all submittence in 1 Peter. We submit to them as means of submitting to and trusting God. But one of the ways we submit to pastors is by letting pastors into our lives so they can speak words of wisdom from God’s word. In culture that is less and less Christian and in world where information is so easy to obtain I am watching pastors be under utilized by people all of the time.

Are you more likely to ask Google for parenting advise than a pastor? Are you more likely to go to facebook group about your pain than a pastor? Do social media influencers (even Christian ones) hold more sway in your life than a pastor? God gave his church pastors and it true your pastor might say something don’t want to hear. But algorithms give you exactly what you want. And that is dangerous!

I am claiming that I have all the answers, but I am claiming that pastors in the flesh are one of God’s ordained means of gaining wisdom in this world. I do not say that to make much of myself. In fact, I humbled at the thought of speaking God’s word into your life. It terrifies me when I consider that you might actually listen to what I say and live in light of it. But that fear keeps me close to the word of God and keeps me humble so that I exercise oversight over your life that isn’t under compulsion, for shameful gain, or that is domineering. And here is why, because I will stand and give an account for your soul one day. That induces fear, real fear, that keeps me faithful.

That celebrity pastor, TV personality, life coach, and even in some cases that therapists and I not against therapy. But they will take your money and your prestige but they will not have to give an account for your soul. The church is a special grace given to Christians and her officers are a special grave given to her as well. Don’t under utilize you pastor. You’re leaving grace of the table when you do.

So, be subject to pastors. And as I preach this text I am well aware of all of inadequacies and well of aware of our need for more pastors. So, will you pray for me? Will you pray for more godly men to join me?

I believe that Peter calls out the young hear, because young people are most likely to ignore God-given authority, but in a culture that has allowed to young to rule the day. Perhaps we all should take heed of the command.

And as we do, all of us, including pastors must clothe ourselves in humility. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Is there is a better reason than that!? Your pride and my pride will bring about the opposition of God Almighty! The Creator of the heavens and the earth looks at the prideful and says its on! You are against me! No thanks, that’s a fight you will lose every time. But he gives grace to the humble.

Conclusion

I pray for our church. I pray for you. I long for us to be healthy church where people walk in and know that something is different. Where our love for one another is tangible and expressed, where people are welcomed as Christ has welcomed us. I pray that we would be a church that is aware of one another’s burdens and willingly helps to carry those burdens. And I also pray, that I and the others God calls to lead us will be faithful pastors who shepherd the flock among us. Please pray for your pastor and pray that we would have more pastors as God intends for each local church to have.