Chosen to Serve in Love (2)

Chosen to Serve in Love

Introduction

Greeting: “Good morning, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Incredible losses for both the body and community/ Bring the focus back to God where true comfort lies.

Verses Read:

1 Peter 5:1–14 “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, 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. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 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.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” ( may be seated)

I realized 1 Peter 5: a chapter that often receives little attention, but is crucial for this body of believers.

Personal background: Grew up in a Roman Catholic setting; reflection on abuses by priests/elders in the 1990s. Covered up/ if they read 1 Pete:5 it wouldn’t have happened or been covered up

Elders need to pay attention to 1 Peter 5 but so does the body

Key point: 1 Peter 5 outlines the requirements and motivations for eldership, Everyone Pay Attention

I. Eldership Responsibilities (1 Peter 5:1–3)

1 Peter 5:1–3 “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, 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.”

Key Points: Bombshell

Peter as a Fellow Elder-( people have abused this over last 2000 years)

Elders who abused this never should have been elders/ Peter means shared responsibility + inheritance not power and authority ( in a worldly way)

Scriptural Example of Responsibility given to Peter from Jesus

John 21:15–17 (ESV) “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, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him 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, “Tend 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Peter given immense responsibility and as fellow elder we share that responsibility

people have hurt countless sheep over misunderstanding this verse/ Peter said shepherd the flock

looked up what shepherd does to take care of sheep

Shepherding Responsibilities

Provide food and water /2. Lead and Guide them / 3. Maintain Health / 4. Shear and treat them / 5. Defend against Predators / 6. Defend against internal threats / 7. Stay Vigilant / 8. Know the flock / 9. Guide the flock as a whole. / 10. Rescue lost sheep

Reminder this is just for fluffy sheep

2. -Corresponding duties for elders: 1. Preach & teach the Word → spiritual nourishment/ 2. spiritual guidance/ 3. council/ 4. Pray with and for them/ 5.Protect against the world./ 6. Watch for wolves in sheep's clothing/ 7. Defend against false teaching/ 8. Knowing the flock/ 9. Lead by example/ 10. Rescue lost sheep.

lot of responsibilities/ elders should look at these as privileges/ Not going to do it perfect (only 1 perfect shepherd)

Not going to go deep on these ( maybe in Bible study with elders )

Corresponding duties for elders:

Preach and teach - Hopefully doing that right now

Provide spiritual guidance & counsel = Point to word of god to find his will + council on understanding of it. ( Not advice from within myself)

Know the congregation personally ( Not every detail ) to guide effectively during struggles ( the next 2 you can’t do without this)

Protect against worldly influence, false doctrine,+ watch for wolves in sheep's clothing/ Do not berate/ Help walk closer to Christ

Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” ( also applies in world)

2 Timothy 2:24–25 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,” ( world wants us to walk away from Christ)

We need guidance too/ We are sheep too/ Wolves can come from within the elders ( Scary)/Protect against wolves in sheep’s clothing/ find their way in and wreak havoc

Acts 20:29–30 “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” ( leads into next one)

Lead by example / when we are not we need to be guided back to Jesus/ Who are we to tell you how to walk if we are hypocrites/ it says in

Titus 1:7–9 “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, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 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.”

1 Timothy 3:2–7 “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.”

Please give grace/ If we are not striving for this we can’t tell you how to walk with Christ

Rescue the lost sheep + Pray with and for the congregation/ elders should run after lost sheep/ Can’t chain people to church/ Rest must come from God/ that's why Praying for and with your Brothers is the most powerful/ prayer from righteous person avails much/

Jesus is the good shepherd that gets lost sheep/ we are lucky to take part/ remember parable

Matthew 18:12–14 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Peter asking elders to do same thing he is doing in writing letter

Not done under compulsion/ Some churches vote in elders / some get eldership due to lack of service ( wrong reason)

Do not seek office for shameful gain or recognition. person who is proud or greedy can’t be elder

Elder is a position about service, sacrifice, and love, not authority or plaque on wall./ but striving to be elder is not inherently bad

1 Timothy 3:1 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”

Reasons behind seeking eldership are what's important

1 Timothy 6:9–10 “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.”

Elders shouldn’t handle money/ This can be dangerous/ ties Service with money/ Especially if elders handle the money/rich church example / Love of Money a root to all kinds of evil

Power is big problem/ absolute power corrupts absolutely/ God agrees

Peter said “ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

Power often abused by elders/This hurts the church most/Longtime patrons walk away/ The abusive elders don’t deserve it at time/ this one particularly egregious/ Long time before reconsideration

Jesus said to apostles who are elders

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.”” `

We are not to act like world in authority ( don’t Lord over)/ Rather heart of service and love/ Without this don’t be elder/

When i see hurt I hurt/ When i see doubt and struggle i want to exhort / Its a position of caring not authority/ Responsibility to love and keep us on path of Christ belongs to all technically/ Some have gift more than others

Every position in church is important/ Heavens biggest mansion belongs to little old man and lady praying in back who had faith to move mountains and never had authority/

II. Reward of Faithful Service (1 Peter 5:4)

1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

Elders are not autocrats/ Servants to the Chief Shepherd (Jesus)/ helpers

Faithful service is rewarded by Christ,/ Not because of superiority rather humble service to him and others/ remember authority of elder is not like earthly authority/ remember Jesus said

Matthew 25:14–21 ““For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Jesus rewarded faithful servant over little, but elders are over much/ If we hurt flock chief shepherd will not be happy!!

III. Humility for All Believers (1 Peter 5:5–7)

1 Peter 5:5–7 “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.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

First few words to everyone besides elders/ everything else is to everyone

I was surprised He does mean the young are to submit to elders due to likely rebelliousness/ Doesn't mean if you are older than elder you should say nananana i don’t have to listen/ Peter would call you a child

If we are acting properly as elders accepting guidance shouldn’t be a problem/ if we are doing it in love we will want what's best for you/ Makes it easier to subject yourselves to our guidance

he says ”Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Love how he says Clothe ourselves in humility/ Jesus served humbly so should we/ we are to keep that humility in every interaction/ God may be using you or me to bring knowledge of his will

Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34 “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.”

Wording different but makes sense proud scorn/ Grace means underserved favor/ I realized humility is easier with god/ We know he cares for us more than we do/ We can trust him/ makes it easier to humble ourselves before his mighty hand as peter says so we may be exalted at proper time

No matter what we are going through we can trust he wants what's best

Goes on to say cast our anxieties on him because he cares for us

Matthew 6:25–34“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Reason i can be humble before god/ God won’t abuse our humility/ If god is putting his heart in others to care like he does we should humble ourselves before them as well

If someone does abuse that humility They should be removed from that position of care

IV. Spiritual Vigilance and Perseverance (1 Peter 5:8–11)

1 Peter 5:8–11 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Peter calls to be sober-minded again/ This time its to be watchful for Satan

Devil’s activity: prowls seeking to destroy.

Job 1:6–7 (ESV) “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.””

We know what Satan did to Job/ Literally went to and fro and found poor Job

We are asked to resist like Job did/ He tells us other brothers are going through the same and holding on/ This help us hold on/ Plus we have Christs example of holding on in

Matthew 4:8–11 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

This is what spirit of Glory and God look like/ We will be able to resist+ reject Satan/God delivers us/ that's what he means by restore, confirms, strengthens, and establishes.

V. Closing Exhortations (1 Peter 5:12–14)

1 Peter 5:12–14 “By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

These verses get ignored too/ summing up letter/ Everything he said about trials and trusting is True grace of God/ Fathers ability to bring us through trials looking more like Jesus/ Stand Firm in it

Acknowledgement of faithful brother Silvanus shows Peters humility

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

Greetings from woman in Babylon, and John Mark his son/ letting them know they are praying for and thinking about them

Greet one another with kiss of love./ Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”/ we don’t have to kiss but must lead with affection + love

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” & 1 John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Conclusion / Application

Title reminder: “Chosen to Serve in Love.”/ But love above all else

Service and humility, guided by love, are the core of Christian life./ If you want that today i ask you to come to the cross where Jesus served you in humility

Closing prayer: in service and love.