Leading & Following
Notes
Transcript
Context
Context
We take a break from our series in the gospel of Luke this morning. When I spoke with Pastor Josh about this, he was glad he would have at least one more week in Luke than he expected. If you have been here on Sunday morning for the past month or so, you know that God is at work among us. Many have been baptized and last week, we welcomed thirteen people into membership. We rejoice and praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us. If we pull back further to the past year, you will remember that we sent out part of this body to plant a church on the west shore. It was a year ago on Mother’s Day that Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church gathered for a worship service for the first time. Again, we rejoice and praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
We are growing. Bible studies, small groups, various discipleship ministries, Sunday School classes, evangelism, missions and more, I’m sure, I am not aware of occur through the ministry of this church week-to-week. To be clear, as much as we see the fruit of God’s grace in our church, we know many people who call Grace their church home struggle. Many are facing hardships and disappointments. We are not unaffected by sin, and so we strive in the strength of the Lord to bear one another’s burdens and pray.
As we grow, what we notice are not only the joys associated with that growth but challenges as well. We notice the limits of our church building. As we noted during the announcements, our sanctuary renovation project begins this week. We are excited for this work to begin, but as it stands now, this is not an expansion project. You may notice on Sunday mornings that we are hard-pressed to fit everyone some weeks. Not only here in the sanctuary, but in the classrooms during the Sunday School hour. If you have ever been here on a Wednesday night, you know that this building is used to its maximum. As the saying goes, that’s a good problem to have.
Another challenge associated with growth concerns leadership. I refer specifically to elders. The elders of the church are responsible to lead and care for the church body. We are to teach, lead, provide counsel and guidance. We are to visit those who struggle for various reason, we are to meet together to pray for the church and discuss the business of the church… to make sure that all of the shepherding needs are being addressed. The words found in Hebrews are particularly sobering for us:
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.
Elders are to keep watch over the souls of those who are under their care. And we will give an account to God for how we handled this responsibility. There are seven men on this church’s elder board. Three of those seven are focused on our church plant. That means that four of us are focused here on Grace. Now, I want to make clear that this will not be a plea for more men to consider being elders. My aim this morning is to show that faithful shepherding (the responsibility of the elders) and being shepherded (members and people of the church) is fundamental to the church’s existence. The Bible makes clear that for a local church to be properly constituted, there must be qualified elders in place who are seeking to shepherd the flock. What does this look like? What does faithful shepherding and be shepherded look like? This lies at the heart of what we will consider this morning in 1 Peter 5.
Now, before I read the text, the churches Peter was addressing were suffering churches. Peter writes
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
So, the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia were suffering. Much of their suffering occurred by the hands of those outside the church. But when we get to chapter five, Peter shifts his focus on the relationships within the church. You see, the suffering and persecution faced by believers, though imposed from without, puts a strain on the community of the church. Peter addresses how the church must respond. Let’s look at the text.
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. 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.”
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, I had the privilege to attend the Banner of Truth Conference with ten other brothers from our church. The theme of the conference was A Lifetime of Ministry. It addressed topics like starting out well in ministry, continuing strong in ministry and finishing well in ministry. In addition to some of the challenges I mentioned earlier, the subject matter of serving faithfully in the church inspired my desire to address the subject of church leadership this morning.
If you know anything about Banner of Truth, you know they are all about books. A phrase they put on a t-shirt is, you are what you read. During the conference, a fairly large book display is available for the conference attenders to walk through, and of course buy books. One book that was promoted or referenced more than once is an autobiography by missionary, John G. Paton. John Paton was a Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific (now The Republic of Vanuatu). He ministered there from 1858 until the end of his life in 1907. I did purchase this book, but have not read it yet, so I looked up a few articles on Paton to wet my appetite. We were told that the ministry of Paton was extraordinary. Many conversions to Christ in a place that was so obviously spiritually dead and corrupt. Canabalism and other horrible ways of life were common on these islands. But here’s what one article said about Paton’s ministry:
Paton built his ministry around the local church. He labored to see real conversions as well as elders being raised up to shepherd God’s flock. He understood that elders were critical for the missionary effort. At one point, Paton wrote, “when I saw the diligence and fidelity of these poor Aniwan Elders, teaching and ministering during all those years, my soul has cried aloud to God, Oh, what could not the Church accomplish if the educated and gifted Elders and others in Christian lands would set themselves thus to work for Jesus, to teach the ignorant, to protect the tempted, and to rescue the fallen!”
I look forward to reading Paton’s story, but just from this one quote we have insight to how he thought about his ministry and the church. Apparently, Paton established elders from among the people, and he desired other elders who were more educated and gifted to come and train the elders from the New Hebrides. Paton was convinced of the essential role of elders in the church. For all the challenges that Paton faced. All the hardships (I do know that he lost his first wife on the field) he faced, the difficulties associated with this ministry, having elders in local churches was not irrelevant to those problems for Paton.
Peter looked upon the people of the suffering churches and gives two exhortations:
To the elders he says in verse 1:
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;
and to the church in verse 5
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders…
Leading and following. We often struggle with both of these don’t we? But the prescription for the church to endure through hardships and persecution is to be the church, and being the church includes relating to one another as Peter describes here.
In the time we have left, I want to focus on two propositions:
Sheep need shepherding (1-4) - a call for elders to shepherd
Sheep need to follow their she[herds (5) - a call to the church
Sheep need shepherding (1-4)
Sheep need shepherding (1-4)
The presence of elders (1)
The presence of elders (1)
When I say presence, what I am trying to get at is the kind of presence that the men who serve in this office should convey. What Peter says in verse four orients us to this idea of presence.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears…
The presence of the elders of a church must be one of humility. The exhortation in verse to is to shepherd. This clarifies much of what an elder is. He is a shepherd. And shepherds lead… but our responsibility to lead is never a justification for pride. In identifying Jesus as the Chief Shepherd, Peter reminds the leaders that they are fundamentally servants. The position of leadership is a responsibility not of privilege by which to advance their own status. As shepherds, elders serve under the authority of the Chief Shepherd, seeking to do His will rather then theirs.
But notice in verse one, Peter refers to himself as a fellow elder. He does not refer to himself as an apostle. Would Peter be guilty of pride by referring to himself as an apostle here? Paul often began his letters by referring himself as and apostle. What is Peter doing here?
Well, certainly Peter is identifying with the leaders of the churches, but perhaps even more so, Peter’s understanding of the office of elder is coming through here. He is mediating, as an elder in the church the shepherding care of Jesus to God’s people. This is a significant way by which that Christ shepherds His flock today… through local church elders.
So to my fellow elders and to all who are part of this flock, the presence the elders seek to convey to this body os one of humility. We are shepherds under the authority of the Chief Shepherd, so as we strive to lead well and faithfully, what must ground our efforts is our responsibility to mediate the shepherding care of Christ.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Peter says in verse one that he was witness to this. He was witness of the sufferings of Christ. It is possible that Peter saw Jesus on the cross, but what I think Peter is making clear here is that he bears witness to the sufferings of Christ. As he strives to shepherd the flock with the shepherding care of Christ, he bears witness to the fact that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep.
This us what we want from our elders. This is what we need from our elders. To bear witness to the sufferings of Christ. We do this as we sacrifice for the sheep, teach the sheep, guide the sheep. If we are praying for more elders, we need to pray for such men.
The last phrase in verse one concerns the hope of elders and all the church. We will come back to this soon.
Sheep need shepherding. Sheep need a certain kind of presence in the elders. But Peter also addresses
The pledge of elders (2-3)
The pledge of elders (2-3)
This refers to the way elders are to commit to carrying out their responsibilities. The commitments men are to make when they assume the office of elder are described by three contrasts in verses 2 & 3. Now before we work through these contrasts consider what Peter says at the beginning of verse 2:
Shepherd the flock of God (2)
Shepherd the flock of God (2)
Notice, Pater describes how this shepherding is to happen.
exercising oversight
not under compulsion
Make no mistake, eldering is hard work. Getting involved in people’s lives, pointing them to Christ, bearing responsibility for their spiritual health is significant to say the least.
Why would elders need to be commanded to shpherd the flock of God that is among them? They’re already elders. Keep in mind the churches they were leading were facing persecution. The elders would have been targets in these churches.
This is what Peter said in the previous chapter:
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?
This is directed to everyone in the church. God’s judgement will begin with the household of God. And suffering to bring about deeper maturity. Peter seems to treat the idea of God’s judgement with respect to the godly, not about their destruction or condemnation but about their refinement and purification.
And peter follows up this idea of judgement that facilitates the maturity of the church by saying, therefore I exhort the elders.
We may not be experiencing persecution like the believers were in these churches, but they are plenty among us who are facing significant difficulty. The exhortation of the elders is to be engaged with the church with the aim of pointing them to Christ. Urging them to see their hardships as a means of maturity. This is the role of a shepherd.
OK, so now the three contrasts.
not under compulsion but willingly as God would have you (2)
not under compulsion but willingly as God would have you (2)
Peter’s exhortation is to not shrink back from shepherding, especially when the church is faced with hardships. Shepherding the flock can be strenuous work, thankless work, taxing work.
But elders are to do their work whole-heartedly, which is the idea behind willingly.
This saying has become cliche, but what’s worse than not having enough elders is having the wrong elders. In other words, having men who are qualified according to 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1, and men who aspire to the office… who are in it for the glory of God and the good of the church.
The next contrast is also in verse 2
not for shameful gain, but eagerly (2)
not for shameful gain, but eagerly (2)
shameful gain is a reference to greed.
This might especially apply to those who are vocational elders. Those men who make their living by serving as an elder. But whether it is lay elders are vocational elders, greed cannot be a motive for men to take a leadership position. Peter is saying that in such a case, men will resort to dishonest gain in some way.
The same term is used in
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
Paul’s warning to Titus was that when it comes to appointing elders, don’t allow men who display a desire for dishonest gain. This may seem overly obvious, but there is due caution here. When we are in places of influence and authority, we must be vigilant to not allow any inclination to self-service or selfish ambition to prevail in our drive to do what we do.
The contrast to this is to do the work eagerly. The word eagerly is another way of saying willingly. Elders do not serve because they have to or out of some hidden motive. Their eagerness or willingness to serve is fueled by a desire to express the shepherding care of the Savior… by their love for God and His church.
The final contrast that the describes the commitments men are making as elders is in verse 3
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock (3)
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock (3)
This is a warning against an abuse of power. Elders are not to function as oppressors but as examples. Remember what Jesus taught concerning certain Gentile rulers:
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.
Jesus was telling His disciples not to behave this way towards anyone under their care. Elders are not to enter the ministry so they can boss others around, but so they can exemplify the character of Christ to those under their care and charge.
There have been studies published over the years claiming a certain percentage of pastors are also narcissists. The studies are suspect however, so we need to be careful how much credibility we give them. But it is no surprise that people who hold positions of authority can fall into this posture of dominance towards those under their care.
So, sheep need shepherding, and elders are to be the shepherds of God’s people in the church. Elders are to be a certain kind of presence among their people, characterized in large part by humility. Elders also take a certain pledge to exercise their care by certain standards most clearly exemplified by Christ. But elders should also remember
The promise to elders (4)
The promise to elders (4)
This is where we also return to the end of verse one, where Peter says he will be a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed.
In several places in Peters first letter, glory is connected to the future reward either that believers will receive or that Christ received after His sufferings.
For example:
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
And consider one more reference that emphasizes the sufferings of Christ preceding glories:
11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
This seems to be the pattern we see in 1 Peter 5. Suffering first then glory. This was Peter’s hope, and this is the hope he holds forth the the elders of the churches… and it is the hope of every Christian.
And again, note the designation of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd in verse 4. Jesus is caring for His church. He is caring for the elders of churches and the rest of the body.
Just a few verses down, Peter encourages his readers with these familiar words:
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.
Elders, church members, Christians… Your Savior cares for you today. Part of how He cares for you is through the shepherding care of elders, but we know elders are in need of shepherding. Rest in the fact that Christ our good shepherd cares for us.
And the crown of glory mentioned in verse 4 will not fade. Probably a contrast with the leafy crowns bestowed in the Greco-Roman world to athletes or soldiers. Those crowns faded.
The elders of churches are engaged in work of eternal weight.
Visiting the sick, teaching a Sunday School class, leading a prayer meeting, praying for the church, shepherding people in moments of anguish, expending energy and time and making sacrifices with little acknowledgement… all of this, while not necessarily valued in this world, possesses eternal value.
So to be the church, we relate to one another by acknowledging that sheep need shepherding. This is the call of elders. But we also need to acknowledge that sheep need to follow shepherds.
Sheep need to follow shepherds (5)
Sheep need to follow shepherds (5)
Perhaps a quick note of clarification is in order here. Sheep need to follow their shepherds. Churches have elders. Paul directed Timothy and Titus to appoint elders over specific churches. This church has elders. So the sheep of this church need to follow the elders or shepherds of this church.
OK, but notice the shift in verse five. Peter moves from focusing on elders to those who are younger. The word younger might create some confusion. Instead of concluding that the previous four verses were addressing a position of leadership, are to to understand them to be referring to older people?
In short, no. Why? The first four verses are tied quite closely to verse five with the word likewise in verse 5. It is clear that Peter has been addressing the responsibilities leaders among the churches in these regions have to those churches, so it is natural to understand Peter now referring to the responsibilities the people of those churches have to those who lead them.
It could be the the younger are those who are young in the faith and maybe literally younger who Peter reasonably assumes could have certain tendencies towards hasty decisions and even rebellion.
What do we want in someone who we follow? Peter answered that question in verses 1-4. Those kind of men are who we should want as leaders in the church. This may challenge some of our other preferences like certain personality types, teaching styles, mannerisms, fashion choices…
But what describes how church members are to relate to their elders?
Submissive
Submissive
Notice the command in verse 5: be subject to your elders.
God has granted men who serve as elders authority. And again, we want to be mindful that elders are to mediate the shepherding care of the Chief Shepherd.
We understand that elders are not infallible, but they have been given the responsibility to lead, and those who are under their care are to be subject to them.
And submitting is not a blind acceptance of everything an elder does or says. But we must always maintain a posture of respect. We might say to our elders:
What did you mean when you said that in your sermon or SS lesson?
Why are we doing this as a church?
Can you help me understand why you reacted that way?
There’s no question that these are hard issues and questions, but it seems to be a big part of being submissive to our elders is to express our concerns and even disagreements with respect.
Elders are not here to tell you what car to buy, but we do care about the exercising of faithful stewardship. Sometimes, elders have the hard task of inserting ourselves in the lives of their sheep even when the sheep did not invite them.
If there is a concern of a sinful pattern in the life of one of the sheep, it is important for the elders to not make hasty assumptions and do our due dillegence of communication, but it is known, elders have the responsibility to go to those individuals in love to call them to repentance.
Church, pray for your elders that we would be men who love God and love the church with love of Christ, but pray for yourselves that you would welcome the shepherding care of your elders even when you may not be inclined to receive it… That you would have enough humility to consider the validity of the expressed concern before writing it off as none of their business.
And there’s also a call to
Humility
Humility
clothe yourself, all of you with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
This is applicable to everyone in the church.
Elders may be vulnerable to abusing their authority in some way. Why? Ultimately because of pride.
Church members may reject the shepherding of their elders. Why? That is always connected to pride.
We are to clothe ourselves with humility. Bind ourselves to it. Wear humility constantly. This is how we are to relate to one another.
Peter grounds his exhortation to be humble with a citation from
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
Believers should heed the injunction to be humble because God sets His face against the proud, but He lavishes His grace upon the humble. A sobering truth. God opposes the proud.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So church, we are to be the church by embracing the facts
sheep need shepherding
sheep need to follow their shepherds
And not loosing sight of the fact the Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, we take comfort in the words of the familiar Psalm:
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
With just four words (in Hebrew) we have the LORD as our LORD. There is a clear relational intention in these words. In fact, literally the Psalm is saying the the LORD is the one who is shepherding me. And the one who is shepherding His church is sufficient. Christ is all we need. His shepherding care is enough. But, what Peter has said to us today is that Christ extends His care to His church, in part, through the ministry of elders. So:
Pray for your elders: pray they would persist in godliness. That they would be men of the Word. That they would handle their office as if they are mediating the shepherding care of their Shepherd.
Pray that our elders would not succumb to their pride or believe the subtle lies that would lead them to handle their office with self-serving ambition or for selfish gain.
Pray for the humility of the congregation to, out of a love for Christ and His church, it would receive the shepherding care of the elders with joy and humility. That we would seek to encourage those who serve us for the glory of God.
Pray for God to raise up men who can serve as elders. We do not want to hastily put men into this position, but we do recognize that having more qualified men to serve would be helpful.
