Submitting to Our Shepherds
Sanctified: Purified for a Purpose • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 36 viewsMost modern Westerners think very individualistically, even about our spirituality. When it comes to the church, we tend to think of the church in the same category as a business at which we are customers, an organization to which we are donors, or an establishment in which we have a membership in order to receive goods and services. We have to drastically change this way of thinking. We have to learn to think of the church as our family. One aspect of being in the church is having elders/shepherds to whom we submit ourselves as they teach and equip us to live sanctified lives.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
I remember the first time I saw defiance in my son’s eyes.
He was playing near an electrical outlet and I told him not to touch it.
He processed what I was saying and then decided to do it anyway.
I recognized the defiance, because I am defiant.
How about YOU?
Do you tend to resist or submit to authority?
Do you tend to resist or submit to authority?
Some of us might be more inclined than others to submit
Some of it may be personality
Some of it might be upbringing
But I think our culture tends to encourage
Autonomy
Being self-governing
Self-directed
Have it YOUR way
So, today’s text might make us somewhat uncomfortable
Because we are naturally inclined to be rebellious
Because we are the product of a culture that has told us to do our own thing
last week, we talked about elders
1 Peter 5:1-11:
1 Peter 5:1-11:
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, 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.
Not domineering
Not lording it over
Not bossing people around
Leading by example
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.”
“be subject to the elders”
a “voluntary yielding in love” (BDAG Lexicon)
“submit yourselves to” (NIV)
“accept the authority of” (NLT)
Practically speaking, consider what this and other passages are instructing Christians to do…
What does it mean to “be subject to the elders”?
What does it mean to “be subject to the elders”?
Follow their example (1 Peter 5:3)
If they’re supposed to “set an example”
Then we’re supposed to FOLLOW their example
Learn from their teaching/instruction (Titus 1:9)
Titus 1:9 “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.”
Encourage them as you would a father (1 Timothy 5:1)
1 Timothy 5:1 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,”
How a preacher talks to older men
But, if this is true of preachers, it’s true for all of us.
And if it applies to all “older men,” that includes those who hold the office of “elder.”
Ask them to pray for you (James 5:14)
James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Submitting to, being subject to, is about placing yourself under their care.
If you don’t tell them you’re struggling…
If you don’t tell them you need them…
If you don’t ask them to help you and pray for you…
Come to the elders AFTER things have are beyond repair
Obey them (Hebrews 13:17)
Meaning
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.”
“have confidence in your leaders” (NIV)
allow them to convince you / don’t resist them
Practically Speaking:
Obeying them is about being easily convinced that what they’re asking you to do is GOOD
service - volunteer
study - bible classes
support - life group / small group
participate in nominating men
Back to the text…
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.”
…all of you…
This applies to older and younger
This applies to elders and the congregation
clothe yourselves…with humility toward one another
Philippians 2:3–5 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
The only way the church functions
elders to be clothed in humility
members to be clothed in humility
all counting others more significant than themselves
all looking out for each other’s interests
practically speaking…
What does “humility toward one another” look like?
What does “humility toward one another” look like?
Respect the convictions of others, even if you don’t share them (Romans 14).
Give honor to others, rather than seeking it for yourself (Romans 12:10).
Like Jesus, consider yourself here not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:20-28).
submit names
This morning, one way you can humble yourself and serve this congregation is to submit names of men to serve as elders.
This morning, one way you can humble yourself and serve this congregation is to submit names of men to serve as elders.
Remember, Peter’s audience was suffering rejection and ridicule.
Suffering and struggle has a tendency to cause us to turn inward
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.
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.
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.
If this was our mindset, no matter what we’re going through, we wouldn’t resist HIS authority or the authority of our shepherds, because…
It’s not about ME, it’s about HIM.
It’s not about ME, it’s about HIM.
When it’s time to obey or submit…
When it’s time to serve others…
When it’s time
Invitation:
Invitation:
This is the life we are embracing when we are baptized
“The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Maybe you’ve made it about YOU, instead of about him and you need to recommit.
Maybe like these Christians, you’re suffering and you need prayers.
