Shepherds Do Your Job 1st Peter 5:1-15
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Shepherds – Do Your Job
Shepherds – Do Your Job
We come to the final chapter of the first letter by Peter to the churches started by people who were in attendance at the first church meeting in Jerusalem after Pentecost. This is a difficult passage for Church leadership as it puts some pressure on us and how we lead. So, let’s dig into the text this morning.
(ESV)
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:
(ESV)
Paul begins this paragraph by linking it to the previous paragraph which ends with:
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
(ESV)
(ESV)
Peter was discussing suffering because of following Jesus and he reminds his readers that in doing so we entrust our souls to the creator/sustainer who is faithful.
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:
(ESV)
As a result of that he has instructions for the elders in the church. He identifies himself as a fellow elder, as well as a witness to the suffering of Jesus.
As a result of that he has instructions for the elders in the church. He identifies himself as a fellow elder, as well as a witness to the suffering of Jesus.
I love the next phrase in verse 1. Not only had Peter been a witness of the suffering of Jesus Peter also says that he is also a witness to the future glory which will be revealed. Notice the direct link that Peter is making between suffering for Jesus and seeing His glory. If you are a follower of Jesus, you will experience suffering for Jesus and you will be a partaker in the glory that comes at the end of our salvation. Peter makes the statement as a matter of fact. This is not Peter hoping, this is a definitive statement that it will occur. It is a done deal.
Also notice that Peter is writing this exhortation to the elders, plural. I looked at this and consulted many commentaries and language helps to determine if there is any indication that this is plural for each church or plural because Peter is addressing multiple churches.
(ESV)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter is addressing individual churches in a joint letter. He is not addressing them as a whole but a collective of individual churches. If we apply that back to 5:1 if would mean that Peter is speaking of multiple elders in each church.
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter is addressing individual churches in a joint letter. He is not addressing them as a whole but a collective of individual churches. If we apply that back to 5:1 if would mean that Peter is speaking of multiple elders in each church.
(ESV)
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:
We know that the apostle Paul gave instructions to Timothy to appoint elders, plural, in every church he was in. We see in the book of Acts that elders, plural, we appointed in every church Paul started. It seems to me that Peter here is following the same guidelines and addressing the multiplicity of elders in each church. We don’t have time to dig into the multiplicity of elders but I think it is important that we recognize here that Peter was following the Pattern that we see with the Apostle Paul and Timothy concerning elders.
We know that the apostle Paul gave instructions to Timothy to appoint elders, plural, in every church he was in. We see in the book of Acts that elders, plural, we appointed in every church Paul started. It seems to me that Peter here is following the same guidelines and addressing the multiplicity of elders in each church. We don’t have time to dig into the multiplicity of elders but I think it is important that we recognize here that Peter was following the Pattern that we see with the Apostle Paul and Timothy concerning elders.
(ESV)
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;
So, verse 1 is the beginning of Peter call to the elders, verse 2 is the command he gives.
So, verse 1 is the beginning of Peter call to the elders, verse 2 is the command he gives.
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you. The word “shepherd” is a verb and not a noun. The elders are being told they are to serve the Lord through the action of shepherding.
When we look through Scripture we see frequent reference to the actions of shepherds. describes a shepherd’s actions better than anything else.
(ESV)
A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Look back at .
So, let’s take this from the fields of the Old Testament to the church in America in 2018. If the church is to have multiple elders, what are the elders to do?
Using the 23rd Psalm as a guide Elders are to:
1. Feed the Sheep which means teach the Word of God
2. Provide water that the Sheep will drink which means providing a safe and secure, comfortable environment for care and feeding to occur
3. He is to restore the soul of the believer which means to encourage and lift the believer
4. Lead in the paths of righteousness which means the elder is to be righteous and lead the way for the church to follow
5. The elder is to protect the flock from external and internal harm. That means fighting the problems and preventing the problems that always come
6. My cup flows over is an indication that the shepherd gives more than is required. As elders we are not to do the least we can to get by, we should do way more than required to get by. We should as a normal course of our actions go above and beyond.
Look back at .
(ESV)
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;
Peter tells the elders they are shepherd by exercising oversight but not under compulsion. I had to look at this verse a little to see who the compulsion referred to. It refers to the Elder and not the people. Elders are to serve willingly and not under compulsion. Elders can’t be forced into serve it has to be done voluntarily. There are all sorts of ways that men attempt to serve under compulsion. Some serve because they come from a family of preachers. They may want to be hockey players, or dentists, but dad and grand-dad and great grand-dad were preachers so he has to be a preacher as well. That is not they way it is to work. Then there are the preachers who are preachers because they can’t do anything else. They went to seminary but have no other skill set so they become preachers. There are lots of ways that someone can be compelled to be a church leader. But Peter says that is not how it is to work. But the qualifications do not end there, there are more.
Peter tells the elders they are shepherd by exercising oversight but not under compulsion. I had to look at this verse a little to see who the compulsion referred to. It refers to the Elder and not the people. Elders are to serve willingly and not under compulsion. Elders can’t be forced into serve it has to be done voluntarily. There are all sorts of ways that men attempt to serve under compulsion. Some serve because they come from a family of preachers. They may want to be hockey players, or dentists, but dad and grand-dad and great grand-dad were preachers so he has to be a preacher as well. That is not they way it is to work. Then there are the preachers who are preachers because they can’t do anything else. They went to seminary but have no other skill set so they become preachers. There are lots of ways that someone can be compelled to be a church leader. But Peter says that is not how it is to work. But the qualifications do not end there, there are more.
As God would have you reflects a god given internal desire to serve as an elder. Through the work of the Holy Spirit leading and even other elders asking a man feels the call from God to serve in the role of elder in the church. Being an elder is something that the man must feel the call for.
Peter also says that being an elder should not be done as part of your get rich scheme. Peter is not saying that elders and pastors should not be paid. He is saying that receiving pay is not to motivate the elder.
(ESV)
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Peter goes on here in verse 3 to tell elders that they are not to be domineering over the church but an example. I think this injunction here is one of the reasons that there is to be a multiplicity of elders. It is difficult for multiple people to be dictators at the same time. God has ordained that churches be led by a team or men to prevent one man from being a dictator.
Peter goes on here in verse 3 to tell elders that they are not to be domineering over the church but an example. I think this injunction here is one of the reasons that there is to be a multiplicity of elders. It is difficult for multiple people to be dictators at the same time. God has ordained that churches be led by a team or men to prevent one man from being a dictator.
Look what Peter says here. Elders are to lead and not be domineering. This fits with the Shepherd analogy perfectly. Sheep cannot be driven very well, they actually have to be lead. The shepherd needs to walk in front of the sheep to lead them from place to place. The elders of this church need to go before you doing what we tell you that you are to do. That means when we give you a challenge to gather people we need to be busy gathering people. When we tell you to read your bible every day we need to go before you and read our bibles every day. I can’t stand up here and drive you to do something, I must walk in front of you being an example. It is like the Apostle Paul said that the people should follow him and he follows Jesus.
Now Peter moves from instructions to the Elders to motivation for the elders.
(ESV)
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
There is a condition in Peter’s direction to the elders. When the elders shepherd the flock by being willing to serve as called by God to serve, and not domineering over the flock but being an example to the flock, then when Jesus returns the elders will be rewarded with an unfading crown of glory.
There is a condition in Peter’s direction to the elders. When the elders shepherd the flock by being willing to serve as called by God to serve, and not domineering over the flock but being an example to the flock, then when Jesus returns the elders will be rewarded with an unfading crown of glory.
The word translated as crown here would be better translated as wreath. Like the wreaths given to Olympic victors in the original Greek Olympic games. It was a wreath of bright green laurel leaves. But the wreath Peter mentions here is made of amaranth flowers which were bright small flower that lasted a very long time. This wreath was given to the overall winner of the Olympics. The wreath stayed bright and fresh for weeks after, thus never fading or unfading. Of course, this is just a symbol or analogy of the reward to be received. It will be something that does not go away that reflects the approval given by the chief shepherd. That is my motivation for leading this congregation. It is not money, it not fame or control. I am motivated by a desire to receive from Jesus when He returns His approval and his seal of recognition of doing it right. I want Jesus to see my work and tell me well done good and faithful servant. I want that unfading wreath upon my head.
But Peter does not end there. Look at the next verse.
(ESV)
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.”
Peter here links those who are not leaders. Specifically, the word used speaks of New Believers who can take the principles applied to the elders and apply them to their own spiritual life. Many commentators took Peter’s statement “you who are younger” to mean not the elders, kind of play on words. The elder lead that youngers follow is kind of the idea here. So, if we take this in general terms Peter is addressing the church membership here in verse 5.
Peter here links those who are not leaders. Specifically, the word used speaks of New Believers who can take the principles applied to the elders and apply them to their own spiritual life. Many commentators took Peter’s statement “you who are younger” to mean not the elders, kind of play on words. The elder lead that youngers follow is kind of the idea here. So, if we take this in general terms Peter is addressing the church membership here in verse 5.
He says in the same manner church members be subject to the elders. As we have already seen in Peter’s letter subject or submission is a military term which means to place yourself in proper rank order. Peter is directing the church to get behind their pastors and elders and allow them lead. In order to lead there must be followers and the job of the follower is to follow. Not make up their own direction but to step in behind the leader and go the same direction as the leader leads.
Next Peter says for the members to clothe themselves in humility. This is kind of a strange statement. Clothe yourself suggests getting dressed for duty. If we follow the military example of submission then the members of the church are to get dressed for the action the leadership leads them into. That means that the church members are to be suitably prepared to go into battle and then follow the leader into that battle.
Peter then closes this paragraph with a quote from . Literally what Peter is saying here is that when our actions are out of our own pride God will stand against us and when our actions are out of submission to God and God’s ordained leadership in the church God will grant favor to it.
For what ever reason Peter abruptly breaks the paragraph here. He continues on in the same general thought in verse 6 which is where, the Lord willing, we will pick up next week.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Peter begins this paragraph with an exhortation or command that he equally gave to himself. He identified himself as an elder in verse 1 not an apostle. He placed himself on the same level as those he was giving the command to. This give weight to the command because he was also willing to abide by the command.
He reminds us that if we are followers of God we will suffer, and we will also partake in the blessing of what comes when Jesus returns. Peter then tells the elders how they are to lead the church and how the church is to follow.
Peter reminds the elders why they should be leading the church, to receive approval from Jesus and not for any other reason.
Churches must be led by men focused on serving and following Jesus Christ the Chief Shepherd. A church led by men that are not focused on Jesus Christ is a church that people should not attend. As I was studying this I questioned why Peter would be so open about his instructions to the elders. One reason I think that he writes it this way with instructions to members right next to it because as member you have responsibility to follow men that are following Jesus. That means you need to know the difference and do something if we are not following Jesus.
I have always insisted that we have a multiplicity of Elders here at Friendship. To help keep me straight. We wrote into the constitution right from the beginning that the elders can fire the pastor without input from the congregation. It is their job to keep me straight. It is your job to keep us all straight. I love the tension that creates. At least in me it creates a tension that I have to do my job to your satisfaction as well as the satisfaction of Jesus. Sometimes, even in a small church, that burden is heavy and I need to then turn back to Jesus the chief shepherd and get recharged. God has placed Godly men in my life, like our elders, like Tony Webb, Matt Wheelock, and other men from our District to encourage me and ground me.
I am grateful for this body of believers who challenge me to continue to grow and develop. To continue working on getting better and leading better. Seeing you respond to teaching, seeing your spiritual growth is almost like catnip for a cat. Thank you all for following me as I follow Jesus. Let’s Pray!