Elders, 1 Peter 5:1-5 (Including Shepherd Qualifications)

INTRO:

VULNERABLE, UNSAFE FEELING (The first night your teenager drives alone; Leaving your newborn with a babysitter for the first time; sending your kid on the bus for the first time, etc.) — but who do you trust there to assist? Bus driver, caretakers, etc.

Usually that vulnerable feeling is there because in our minds even though 99% of it is no cause for worry, we know that something incredibly important to us.

God’s people are often referred to as His “Sheep”.

We’re not talking about sheep as God’s people being dumb! We’re not talking about dumb sheep. We’re talking about the need for dependence, sheep are something of value, and we’re talking about vulnerable sheep. Sheep who the world and the enemy wants to devour. But God wants to guide and care for, to protect and claim as His.

God calls himself the Shepherd, and us the sheep. It’s a relationship that shows we are dependent on Him for care and guidance. And Jesus, calling himself the chief shepherd in John 10:12-14 talks about how a hired out person who only cares about a wage has no concern or love for the sheep as the owner, Jesus does.

Sheep need caring shepherds. What type of shepherds do you want out with your sheep?

Not hired hands who run at the first sign of danger. Not men who are only interested when it’s easy or convenient. Not someone who sees the flock as a burden instead of a blessing.

And in the same way, God wants shepherds who love the sheep because they belong to Him. Shepherds who will :

endure the wilderness,

stand up to threats,

guide gently, protect courageously,

and stay present when things get hard.

Shepherds who see the value of the flock because they value the Owner of the sheep more than anything.

That’s why in seasons of vulnerability—like 1 Peter’s audience faced—and even in our own, God’s answer is clear: the flock needs faithful, godly shepherds to watch and care for His people.

The Context:

Over 10 times up until Chapter 5 of 1 Peter the writer has mentioned something about their trials and persecution and that they’re scattered because of it and are suffering. They are in a VULNERABLE position as the Church because the world is working against them and the enemy seeks their failure and destruction.

And part of the Holy Spirit’s answer, part of the solution to the problem to help the Church remain steadfast in the face of it all is the need for qualified shepherds to oversee the Church.

It’s no different today! We here aren’t facing that type of persecution, but the Church is under attack from many angles and we need strong capable men to shepherd GOD’s Flock!

The qualifications and characteristics that God looks for in men who are fit to do the job are NOT the same the world looks for in leaders. The world looks for people who are powerful, the ones who have no problem exercising their might and those that have greatness and success according to the world. But it’s not the same that God looks for, and tells us to look for in men who are fit to be shepherds in the Church.

We’re also not talking about perfect people. We have a PERFECT Shepherd in Jesus. And we as the Church are meant to have shepherds, elders or overseers, who aren’t perfect but are following closely to the perfect shepherd. We don’t need perfect people to shepherd us, that’s impossible to have, and Jesus does more than good enough at being the perfect shepherd. We need those who care for God’s sheep and strive to guide them to the owner of the sheep.

We need to look for those that are fit to shepherd God’s people.

1 Peter 5:1-5

V.1

“So/Therefore I exhort...”

The scattering...the sufferings...the persecutions...the great need for help to keep the Church a holy nation and strong spiritual house for God....

“...the elders among you...”

PRESBUTEROS – Elder. It means an older man. The dignity of the work requires older, wiser, experienced men.

EPISKOPOS – Overseer, that’s the best translation. After the 2nd century these overseers were called BISHOPS. A work by older men of overseeing the local congregation. No one would know the work of a bishop though if it weren’t properly translated at “overseer”.

POIMEN – is always translated Shepherd. Except for one time in Ephesians 4:11, the only time it is translated as “pastor.” Referring to one who pastors or feeds a flock of sheep.

Acts 20:17 & 28 — uses all 3 words as titles and job descriptions.

Paul asks the PRESBUTEROS from Ephesus to meet him at Miletus (v. 17). Then in v.28, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (EPISKOPOS), to feed (POIMEN) the church of God . . .”

There is no distinction between an overseer, shepherd, a pastor, or a elder – they’re not separate roles in the Church, they’re the same role, with different titles to describe the different aspects of the same role.

“...as a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed...”

(PPT) We need shepherds because the journey requires guidance today as we look to eternity. And shepherds work with double vision - eyes on the flock and eyes on the Lord.

APPLICATION:

Peter says I’m an elder, I also am a real witness to the living Jesus before and after the cross, I saw Him resurrected! I’m an apostle!...BUT we all get to partake in the same glory one day when He returns for us.

It’s not about status, it’s not about roles within the Church to fight for and brag over — it’s about working for the good of God’s people in whatever capacity I can! We’re working for one another’s good! And working for their good means working with the GLORY of ETERNITY in mind. The things I do and the things I say to you should be what guides and encourages you to that glorious eternal ending. There is something for all members of the Church here to imitate and that means we MUST know about the following words Peter speaks about shepherds of the Church.

V.2

“Shepherd the flock of God...”

Care for and feed

There’s more to a shepherds work than just feeding. Feeding is always used in regard to teaching. But caring for the flock goes farther than that. When he feeds the flock he is not through shepherding.

Isaiah 40:11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

There are many of us who don’t really have anyone in our lives to support us, or encourage us, or correct us lovingly. Many people have only experienced authority that pushes them, not shepherds who carry them.

But God built it into the Church to have these kinds of people involved with our lives, to have a godly presence with us — and each of us need that.

Shepherds are not bosses but guides. They’re people you’re thankful show up at the hospital. The people you’re glad to see when you’re discouraged. The people who will tell you the truth in the appropriate way even when you don’t want to hear it, because your soul matters that much.

They embody the care of the Chief Shepherd in flesh-and-blood form—right here, among us. Because they realize that this body of believers doesn’t belong to them, this is God’s flock! We need shepherds and leaders who remember this isn’t ours — so there’s no place for elders or any role who are self-seeking or self absorbed because it’s about caring for God’s people and possession.

Shepherds are meant to be about the chief shepherds business, about caring for brothers and sisters — caring for YOU when you’re sick, when you’re hurting…

And if you’re wandering away to a place you shouldn’t be they may have to come to you and remind you how much you mean to Jesus and what He’s done for you and that He loves you and that as elders we have an obligation to bring you home and tell you it’s not ok to be away!

We need men who can do that for the sake of someone’s soul and for the glory of God.

“...AMONG...”

See again in 1 Peter 1:1, all the different Peter writes to.

Every congregation is designed to be autonomous, self governed under Christ. We don’t have a headquarters or association that we’re meant to answer to.

“Why not? Wouldn’t that help things flow easier and keep things standard?” If one part is corrupt then they’re all corrupt. Christ built into His Church this safety for elders to only shepherd and oversee the local assembly that they’re in. AND...how could you shepherd without being among the sheep? You can’t.

Elders must smell like sheep, they must be very connected with them.

Remember how Peter is writing during a time of vulnerability and danger? Another reason that part of the solution to steadying the Church is that a Shepherd is there to protect, and act as a sheep door (John 10:7, Jesus saying I’m the door of the sheep) — guarding the pen of sheep against any threat, placing himself as the barrier.

Thats what a Shepherd does, he puts himself there between them and the danger. That means a shepherd can’t be a passive and double minded person who is afraid of hard times or difficult discussions and runs from them — but instead is willing to face it head on for the safety of the sheep!

“...exercising oversight...”

Our word/title of overseer, episkopos

“to look upon… to visit… to care for.” It’s not distant supervision. It’s intentional, watchful care, the picture of someone paying close attention.

(Ppt) Why do we need overseers? Because without someone looking carefully, we become vulnerable. The church needs men who see what others might miss—discouragement, drifting, false teaching, conflict, spiritual danger. Sheep without shepherds don’t just wander; they get wounded.

God designed elders to be men who “look upon” the flock, who know the flock, who visit and care for the flock. Oversight doesn’t mean standing above—it means looking over God’s people with love and responsibility.

That’s why God gave us overseers—not for power or position, but because the flock needs men who will see us, know us, and care for us with the heart of the Chief Shepherd.

“...not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly...”

The motive matters. Because the heart behind the work determines how the sheep are treated. Shepherding is not a job to endure— Shepherds shouldn’t feel forced into the role. The flock always suffers under reluctant leadership.

God cares about why men want to serve just as much as how they serve. The role must come from desire. You can’t have the wrong desire, but you do need the desire - the desire to see the Church succeed, the desire to please the chief shepherd and protect His valuable people

V.3

“....not domineering over those in your charge...”

“Domineering” means using authority to control rather than to care. It’s leadership that demands instead of serves…commands instead of listens…intimidates instead of nurtures.

We see this type of instruction all over the NT that anyone in any leadership to NOT lord it over people. Thats how the WORLD leads and exercises authority — but in God’s flock there’s no need or want for someone who is going to domineer or act like a master over someone.

“...but being examples to the flock.”

Whats the example, the kind of shepherds does God entrust His sheep to?

The world looks at someone asking how successful they are, can they run a buisness, have they proven themselves to be a success story. But that’s not how God and His word say that we should look for leaders.

Instead it’s more about “how does He treat His wife? How does he treat his kids? How does he treat believers and non-believers?”

(go read Titus 1:5ff)

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.”

These are a high bar, there needs to be to care for God’s special possession. AND the qualifications make sense - they are the evidence of someone who has protected Himself and his family against the dangers of the world, and show that they have the right vision in their own life to be able to do that for the Church.

They’re examples, a pattern for us to follow. Shepherds, those that qualify to be them, should be those that show a worthy example to follow in their love of scripture and truth, in their love and devotion to their family, in their service to one another, and in their repentance and humility before God!

V.4

Shepherds & candidates for them at some point might ask is it worth it all? What reward is there in being the door, sleepless nights at time for the sheep, doing the hard work of protecting and guiding?

The world says the title is the reward, the status is the goal.

Many times there isn’t appreciation for doing what God calls you to do, and that’s for everyone regardless of the role. And so whoever you are in the Church if you stop doing the right thing because of a lack of appreciation, I’d ask you to re-think your motives. There isn’t always glammer!

But there is this promise, “the unfading crown of glory” from the chief shepherd Himself! Thats who we’re doing it for ultimately!

We all have to remember that, shepherd or not, you’re doing something for the Lord, I hope! You have responsibility in the Kingdom of God! And as you fulfill your role in the Church you may not get praise from people or enough thanks or recognition at all. We should honor you. But, don’t let that be the reason or the cause for your working or else you’ll burn out and quit when people don’t see or act unappreciative.

Illustration: Jeremiah Johnson — Near the end of the movie after dealing with huge loss and terrible experiences, Bear Claw rides up, looks at all Jeremiah’s been through, and asks, “Were it worth the trouble?” to which he replies “…what trouble?”

Shepherd or not, it’s not for our own agenda or status or applause but to point everyone to the goal of being partakers in glory and to be pleasing to the Chief Shepherd!

V.5

Be a sheep, not a goat. Help the shepherds to do their job by being great at being part of God’s flock - not goats that headbut each other and run from the shepherd and get stuck in fences….

Humble yourself to God for the sake of one another!

APPLICATION:

But you won’t be the younger forever. Start on the path to being great for God’s glory, for God’s Church! Get off the bench, quit settling and giving God the scraps of your life, quit giving the Church the scraps and leftovers too! The Church needs to WIN at some point in your life! Too many of us are helping to world to win more than we are helping the Church to win. That’s ungodly!

Men, shape up to be amazing members of God’s Kingdom - Women, encourage your man because he needs his helper or he has no hope of doing it. Humble yourself to God for the sake of one another, that means put the world aside and invest in the Kingdom of God and the people of God — it means learn, struggle, and grow so that YOU can help him or her (v.1) be a partaker in the glory to be revealed!

CONCLUSION:

God gave us shepherds for our good, in fact Ephesians 4:11 Paul says they’re a GIFT from Christ to the Church. Our response must be to welcome their care, not resist it. Let them into your life. Let them encourage you, correct you, and walk with you. Don’t wait until you’re wounded to reach out—lean into the care God has already provided.

Aim to be a person fit to lead. Keep an eye out for those that can qualify! Humble yourself, lean on the shepherds here.