1 Peter 5:2-4, A Willing Servant

Marcellus A Wesley

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1 Peter 5: 2-4, A willing servant

Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

Introduction...

if someone knows about being a willing servant it is surely Peter...

if there is anyone in here that has opened their bible, i am sure that you have heard the story.

over in Matthew chapter 4, as Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee, it reads.

Matthew 4:18–20 “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

they left everything willingly...TALK, PREACH.......

Pastor Gates, i don’t know your story but if i could use my imagination for a second.......

I am sure that Deacon Gates was enjoying that office of deacon but one day,...TALK, PREACH......

and then i am willing to bet your father in the ministry, like mine, instructed you on some things...

be faithful to the ministry and the ministry will be faithful to you..

these are God’s folks, we are just the under shepherds, they are not ours

you not gonna get rich doing this but the Lord will provide...

it’s gonna be some good days and bad days but stay obedient to the will of the one that sent you...

May not be exactly what he said but something along those lines...

preaching and pastoring, is an obligation, a committment that has to entered into willing by the one God has called...

you do know that there are some out there that willing called themselves, but i will that alone, but there are signs....

Now this passage that Peter has written is for Pastors but other church leaders could also use this advice...

if God has put it on your heart to be a leader in the church, do it willing and not for a power struggle...TALK, PREACH.......

Pastoring is a tedious task but if done willing and according to God’s plan there is a reward...

i hear Peter over in Matthew 19:27 “Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?””

and Jesus response...

Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

church there is an eternal reward for willingly following christ and being a willing servant...

Pastor, the headaches, the late nights, the tears are worth the reward...

continue to be that willing servant that Lord wants you to be....

Let’s look at the text....

Story...

the first epistle of Peter, written to the strangers through out...1 Peter 1:1,

he was writing in context of his time to those that needed to hear a word from God and to be encourage by the word of God.

and this same word is good for us today in 2025...

and here in the 5th chapter Peter covers a few items, such as the duties of the elders or ministers v1-4, the duties of the believers v5-9 and also the suffering of the believers v10-14...

please go read and study for yourself, Peter surely gives us some help here in this chapter..

however for today’s lessons we are looking at v 2-4, concerning the pastors..

this is a personal message from Peter to the elders and ministers of the church...

we may be in a different time but the same temptations are here just as them and Peter helps with those temptation...

Peter listed some personal qualities that make for a successful Pastor...

1 Peter 5:2–3 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;”

and beth elder, i do believe that you have one that has the qualities...

and then Peter gives us some good news in verse 4, 1 Peter 5:4 “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

a crown, a reward that does not fade away....a eternal reward in the heavens...

i even like what Paul said over in 2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

as a willing servant there are some qualities that should be shown and that servant should know that there is a reward waiting when stay in obedience with the plan of God...

Let’s go deeper into the text...

Points....

Let’s break down the qualities....

Shepherd the flock...

A spiritual shepherd does his job in two main ways. The first job is to feed the sheep. Jesus emphasized this to Peter in John 21:15-17. Another aspect of the job is to tend the sheep, which means protecting, guiding, nurturing, and caring for the sheep.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 5

Pastors’ duties included feeding, leading, encouraging, discipling, guarding

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

Sometimes the sheep do not like it when their shepherd rebukes or warns them, but this ministry is for their own good.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

If a sheep is too rebellious, the shepherd may have to discipline him in some way. If a sheep has a special need, the shepherd might carry it in his arms, next to his heart. At the close of each day, the faithful shepherd would examine each sheep to see if it needed special attention. He would anoint the bruises with healing oil, and remove the briars from the wool. A good shepherd would know each of his sheep by name and would understand the special traits of each one.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

It is not an easy thing to be a faithful shepherd of God’s sheep! It is a task that never ends and that demands the supernatural power of God if it is to be done correctly

serving as overseers,

For Peter the job of being a shepherd could also be understood as being an overseer. This word for leadership comes to the church from Greek culture, and it meant someone who watches over, a manager, or a supervisor

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

The word bishop means “overseer, one who looks over for the purpose of leading.”

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

The effective pastor needs both relationships. He must be “among” his people so that he can get to know them, their needs and problems; and he needs to be “over” his people so he can lead them and help them solve their problems

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

There must be no conflict between pastoring and preaching, because they are both ministries of a faithful Shepherd. The preacher needs to be a pastor so he can apply the Word to the needs of the people. The pastor needs to be a preacher so that he can have authority when he shares in their daily needs and problems.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: How to Be a Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1–4)

He is a shepherd who knows his people and seeks to help them through the Word.

not by compulsion but willingly..

Shepherds should not do their job by compulsion, as if they were being forced into a task that they really hated. Instead they should serve God and His people willingly, from a heart that loves God’s people as a shepherd loves sheep and wants to serve them.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 5

your motivation should not stem from someone relentlessly badgering you, but from the internal call of God.

Matthew 12:50 “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.””

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ...

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

How much better to be eager to serve. Eager is a strong term meaning “with enthusiasm, with energy and excitement.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

it is an indispensable characteristic for pastor-leaders to model.

now

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

One of the most inappropriate shepherding motivations is highlighted next: serving because one is greedy for money.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

Peter did not suggest that pastors should not be paid a salary for their shepherding ministries. The New Testament is very clear that generous remuneration for pastors is incumbent upon the churches (see

but that shouldnt be the only reason you want to pastor...

nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;” ....

Shepherds should not do their job as lords, because the sheep do not belong to them. The sheep are entrusted to them. Therefore shepherds are to serve by being examples, not dictators.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

The words leading and lording should not be confused because they are distinctly separate in meaning and tone. “Lording it over” people means to rule forcefully.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

Godly leadership in the church that can serve as examples to the flock involves sensitivity to peoples’ needs, affection for people, authenticity of life, and enthusiastic affirmation, without deception, greed, flattery, or authoritarianism.

1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”

Finally,

1 Peter 5:4 “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Peter reminded shepherds in the church that they would answer one day to their Chief Shepherd, who will want to know what they did with His flock.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

The Chief Shepherd will honor those who have been faithful

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 5

If you’re an example—if you’re feeding people and caring for them—the day is coming when all of those things that were unnoticed will be greatly rewarded.

I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude A. Leadership in the Church When the Heat Is on (vv. 1–4)

A crown that will never fade away

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 5

And all faithful ministers will receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more honourable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the world.

Crowns are not only for shepherds, but also for everyone who was faithful to Jesus and who did what He called them to do