1 Peter 5:1-5 • Elders

This morning we are going to get into what for some of us might seem like a less than exciting idea topic concept here in first feeder and his letter to those who were receiving at 10 yet at the same time. It's something that truly is incredibly vital and important for us to understand collectively as a church for us to understand also individually as to why we have Elders leadership in the church. And it would be extremely foolish to skip over something this great importance for all of us in the word of God. It only takes God to say something once for it to have meaning value and importance right yet in this new testament section of scripture. We see the author of Hebrews. We see Luke the author of actually The vast majority of what he actually wrote and Luke and acts talk about Elders. We see also Peter here and obviously what we read this morning and 1st Timothy. We saw this section were Paul is writing about these characteristics of an elder and so it's something that comes up over and over again in scripture. And for that very reason. I find it incredibly important for us to begin to as a church to understand this concept in what's going on in leadership. So this morning we're going to look at who and after that who there's calling and character we're going to look at what's and what they actually do and we're going to look at how and how they do it. But first we're going to read in 1st Peter chapter 5 Peter says so I exhort the elders among you. If you were here with us last week, we covered chapter 4 1 through 11 a few months back. Had a guest speaker Ryan. I thought I was actually going to be all the way to chapter 4 back then he covered 12 through this 19 Section. And so I'm obviously way way behind and that's why we're skipping this but in that section Peter is talking about this persecution this trouble that's going to come your way and he says so this idea because of you being followers of Jesus and he saying look at yourselves he saying 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 exercise and oversight not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you not for Shameful game but you're really not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock and when the chief Shepherd appears, you'll 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 forgot opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The basic conviction that persists over the church that has come onto the scene from the moment that Jesus was resurrected was that pastoral oversight was always a part of God's plan now probably about 18 years ago you guys if you were in the church may remember a movement that kind of swept through and actually has faded very quickly and I would think it was a movement to probably pops up on the radar every so often but there was groups of people who are incredibly disenfranchised with the church. Maybe you are part of groups like this. And so what did again to do was deconstruct the church and there was possibly some healthy things that come from deconstruction. In fact, Jesus would constantly deconstruct the ideas and thoughts of the Pharisees, but he never left it with a voice. He always filled it with true. Himself, these people are part of what they called the emergent Church movement. It's really just a blip on the radar now and there is some postmodern thought that crept in from that however, they didn't want to just simply disrupt or deconstruct worship form meaning like 50-60 years ago. Maybe there would have been a big organ and there would have been no way we would meet in a school cafeteria. Okay, so it was so some of that is okay to do just a look at the meeting place doesn't matter worship form is going to change a little bit. We have guitars and not organs and you might go to Africa and they have drums and they have more repetition in their sausage some of that kind of stuff can be deconstructed and replaced with something that's very culturally relevant, but then they begin to look at it and go we're going to go a little bit further. Why why does it have to be leadership in a church? It's like why do we even know each other The Way We Gather on a Sunday can't me and my buddies get around a couple of beers and just hang out at the table at the mountain and we'll call that church and deconstruct the Very organization that God gave to us. And in so doing you saw a lot of people fall, prey to these Concepts and ideas. Laundering and they're broken because with the lack of leadership, it's created a massive void. It's pretty this vacuum. Where is now nobody saying this is true north. This is the direction we ought to go and everybody just kind of does what they feel is right in that moment. Took this idea of church leadership is incredibly important and there's some looseness. in Scripture with some of the structure and how it plays out but it is a very very clear that there to be Elders leaders that are guiding providing beating protecting lays out how their own lies or supposed to look at you really relate the importance of what we're talking about Paul and Barnabas on that first missionary journey, they take right around 12 when they go out. What do they do they go and they have tanked pastors Elder leaders in those churches that were budding and growing and that have started. This is not purely a human Arrangements in Ephesians 4 Paul writes and talks about how Christ himself Apostles he gave Vangelis he gave pastors and teachers. If the holy spirit is still a signs overseers to God's flock.

See, this is not just a construct of a few people in the church that said we need to fulfill this role. But Paul just instruction to Timothy and to Titus a we need to raise up Elders. He said for this very reason Titus that I leave you in Crete of all places to appoint Elders in every town. So we have to two words in the New Testament that get used to this idea of Elder one is Presbyterian, which is the word Elder and it's Hebrew is Jewish an origin and every synagogue had these elders and episcopus, which is Bishop. It's the Greek form of the word and one of that definitions was it was used of Municipal officials supervisors of subject cities and indicated the superintendent nature of the pastor's Ministry. And the whole idea really comes to consummation in the word Pastor, which is a far more generic term that we used to this day. It's just me. Look at this today. I want us to see that God has given us the structure and is truly important for the vitality and health of any functioning Church. It's why I personally believe we can't just get together a few of us sure. We can have a nice Bible study and that's wonderful. And that's great and we can begin very small in the beginning to plant start a church and watch God multiply and add to it. But take away this leadership aspect and you're messing with God's design of how church ought to function. At our church first and foremost you believe that Jesus is the chief Shepherd says any fusions 523 this plays out Christ is the head of the church his body and himself its savior Colossians. 1:18 Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body the church. He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that and everything. He might be pre-eminent now Ephesians 4:15 through 16 is accorded earlier grew up in every way into him who's the head into Christ from which the whole body joint and help together by every joint which it is equipped when each part is working properly makes the body bodily growth and build itself and love and previously probably been talking about how I gave you teachers of Christ giving teachers and teachers.

Cap just messed up should try went home. So here's the deal. We've been given this structure. Now, we believe that Jesus and his house first and foremost plays out is Lord over our lives and in here's what this means we're submitting ourselves to his rule to his kingship. I guess what we're doing. We believe that were to follow after him to submit to his word. We believe that Jesus has the final authority over our lives. We believe that this is the very word of God which speaks that truth into our lives. And so when we go, you know what I've got something I think I should be or can be doing even though it's contrary to what God has said my mind gets to Trump whatever it is that sin scripture cuz we're so much more modernized and advanced than these archaic people.

I'll see to believe it just because it's old it's not as good. That is the modern myth of millennials. Everyone I get rid of ancient things. We have this truth being spoken into our lives and we don't get to stand above. It will become underneath of it. And this plays out in so many ways we were obedient to the things that the scripture say were faithful to what God has written and given to us. We spend time in his word. That's how we show and portray that truly. He is the chief Shepherd of this church. We stick to the scriptures. We stay in the word as truth from our lives. We believe that Christ is the head of the church not myself. Not any other Pastor that might rise up someday. Not a team of Elders, but we are seeking the hearts and we're listening to the voice of God for our church. And this is really important today because there's a lot of organizations. I think that somehow they become the focal point and The Voice. Even if it's different than scripture and what they say has some sort of final authorities how we get these offshoot Colts that have what weird books like the Book of Mormon and you have other variants and you have other offshoot groups that stemmed from some kind of Evangelical the beginning but what really real quick. They don't stick to truth. How do we demonstrate that Jesus is the head of the church? We demonstrate that Jesus is our Authority in frosted has that great implication of that. We're going to continue to preach and teach the word of God. You don't I don't know if you guys listen to a lot of sermons throughout the week. Maybe that's just like a total Bible nerd thing that I like to do. Listen to other preachers not needed in a comparison aspect, but just to take in for myself. But you can go out there and the vast majority of evangelicalism can feel like a TED Talk anybody ever listen to a TED talk. So she just like 15 minutes very very well put together a highly enthusiastic a deeply informed and it makes you feel pretty good when you take in that talk. How many churches discredit the very word of God by saying all we're going to do is kind of read a scripture and then just talk about some fruity things in life and how to feel better about yourselves and they can stray from the gospel. My wife was showing me this Facebook speed of a friend who is a hairdresser and she had this person who is new to town and then band and was asking for a church and its hairdresser. I don't believe goes to church but wanted to be able to give some information. And so she said what church would you send somebody to and then and why? House of and the one that stood out to me most was there is dr. Church. It has the best atmosphere and the best worship. And that's why I would go to church there.

Atmosphere is great ours is terrible idea that there's butterflies in here. Like I'm aware of that if the cafeteria and having great music is fantastic and awesome. And I loved her church is just growing in this area. I can tell you a million other places to go get great music and great atmosphere in Jackson's Corner puts on great concerts in Bend and there's other places we can take in music. And I hope with Terraza what captures our hearts? Is it the very word of God is working and moving in US creating this new work in our lives and is drawing us together as a family. This is my heart's desire for our church. And that would come under his authority and it's not just a worship experience to better Our Lives.

But that we are a church that is calling men and women and children to repentance to follow King Jesus. He alone is the head of our church yet in scripture where to place a Godly men in leadership. Until we see in 1st Peter. We have one Chief Shepherd. The rest are under Shepard. And this one Chief Shepherd. He's not on my staff. Let me tell you that I couldn't afford him. He is the chief Shepherd everybody else who serves in this role of Elder is an undershepherd know. What's interesting about the chief Shepherd. I want to read this to you and John 10:10 1 through 11. I don't think it's going to be after he says the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I came that may have them that they may have life and it abundantly I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep. The Good Shepherd is Jesus, but Paul gets an invitation Peter gives an invitation to eldership and it's so interesting because he has the worst record. Dirty tactics ever. He says I have suffered for the gospel Paul write this Peter just got done talking about suffering for the gospel and they say sign up for eldership. That's what I'm calling you to to be the church door mat. Just what a great honor bro privilege to suffer to be called into that and it's the suffering of Jesus that Peter son a scent authenticated that very message of Jesus that he would actually lay down his life that he is the Good Shepherd. He's calling us into that. So who is who is called to be another one Acts 20 verse 28 gathers the fusions together the people of Ephesus and he begins to chat with these leaders and elders and he says take careful attention to yourselves and to the flock. I wish the Holy Spirit who the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Michelle again in Wichita, Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the Church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Elders are called by the spirit. how to hear that I'm just some man-made construct. But there's an actual calling a pressing that is placed on their life to volunteer. Who else would want to do that who else Elders are called to watch themselves and then the flock they're called actually examine their own heart their own lives every year. In September at our year-end meeting I get together with our elders. Can we walk through this and I say look, we're not perfect Nanny all walked on water this year. We actually had hard conversations in a been involved in each other's lives and it's healthy. We know we're not perfect. But let me ask you this. Are you continuing to walk in this calling? Are you growing and are you looking after your own by car? Is there any reason why you may need to step down from this position? Because he can't look after your own life. How are you going to care for the sheep that are in the church? Because why the value of the sheep was purchased by his own blood Peter says in 1st Peter 1:19 ransomed by his blood the value of the ransom corresponds to the value of what has been ransomed mainly Christ Church. Who is called in 1st Timothy he goes on to say that only those that have been called by the spirit, but if any man aspires to the office of an overseer. Mystical magical event that happened when we began to talk with Tim about being an elder we didn't send him into the woods are some peyote to find a vision. All right. Don't worry. We didn't go there with him. You know, we didn't make him fast for 40 days to see if you'd have some sort of Spirit come to him. but we took a note of in our body is that people are already recognizing him as a leader leading community group and he was teaching and he was helping with some Administration in we noticed that he actually desired to do this and he involved himself and even some of the problems and the mess is a people's lives didn't call me up and go you got a problem. We have a problem. How can we work through this pressing on them? There's an intense draw a desire to Shepherd God's people this calling is necessary. But calling alone does not make somebody an elder because there are people with great intentions, but desire to Elder but all went on to write there's some character things, but also need to follow And here's what you need to understand about this character thinks the only way these actually happen in a person's life is when they're spending time with Jesus. Try to live out 1st. Timothy Chapter 3 1 through 7. without knowing you Jesus is Hospitable don't be greedy a lover of money. I mean look at our society today, it's me mine myself. That's what life is about special. What we're actually seeing is that these people are called the elderly people who are called to lead who are engaging in his countercultural world to what the world actually is. We're saying look this is what their characters should be like first and foremost. How do they relate to God? Do they have relationship with God? Is there evidence? Is there fruit in their life that they know God's have a desire for God's word engaging with others. If they're married, how do they relate to their wife? Are they Faithful Men? Staple in that area. How do they relate to their children? Do they rule their household? Well, not as a dictator with an iron fist knot just loosey-goosey and the kids are everywhere. But if they can't lead in that capacity how they're going to lead in this capacity. We finally talked about how are they thought of amongst Outsiders other people those who they do business with how's the world the community speak of them? Because it would be easy to just fake it on Sundays till you make it. I'll tell you what my wife. She's the best and the absolute worst in me. My kids see the best and the absolute worst in me. The one place that I could probably hide it the best would be up here on stage. And so what? All those in 1st Timothy is this idea of what do others who are extremely close to you think about know about you with a process that walks through this within our own church. So you see this character that's to be developed in an elder. Chivas calling. You see the Holy Spirit pointing towards the not want to point something out in 1st Peter chapter 5. I want to look at verses 2 through 3 one more time Shepherd. The flock of God that is among you exercising oversight not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you not for shameful game, but he's really not domineering overdose and in your charge for being examples to the flock he Compares and contrast three things here three postures and attitude of a Shepherd. These aren't just random warnings at Peter's like my life is neutral on out. There is a real threats to church leadership three warnings that constitute three very common areas that spiritual leaders often fail in Or she says want to warn you against laziness. I'm going to warn you against when it gets hard. Just throwing in the towel and getting up. Elders are called to roll up their sleeves and much like firefighters and everybody's running from the house that's burning there to be running towards the house. That is burning. Bad bad for elders are supposed to do. Now I'm not running into a burning building today. I haven't got firefighters. Tell you what your lives will catch fire sometimes and I'll be a ton of messages. And I'm not mr. Fix-It, but I certainly want to come and sit by your side and Shepherd you in that process our elders want to run towards you when you experience hurt arm death, whatever. It is abuse in your life. And we want to come and stand beside you you were not burdening us because we willfully not under compulsion what you served in this manner and the way that Christ would have us

One of my favorite things I've told church. Is that where available?

I step down there and our Elder sit amongst you and I want to serve you. You don't have to be afraid to pick up the phone and to call us or just send a text that we had opportunity to sit up bed sides. Be there in the hospital room to sit through people that are going through difficulty in their marriages and not promising that we're going to work things out for them and it's going to be great, but we're sure going to sit through the mess with you. If you're willing and you want us to come alongside of you wait, mind-readers, and we're not going to do it through gossip. So somebody says something to ask. We need to wait till you come to us and I'll tell you what first things and issues and problems. This is what we're here to serve you in willingly. You're not causing us to drag your feet and kick and scream along the way we want to run towards the problems. Some things get hard and I know that in our church right now. We're in a good healthy seasoned. Thank you off of friend. But something is always coming down the road with his large-scale corporately or just individually in your lies, and we want to run towards that there's a warning against greed in here for pastors. He says shameful great. It's not a warning against pastors. You have no right to cuz you're plowing the field. You're feeding the flock to take from that. But if it's a shameful game, this is Reid get out. And as I said the last 3 weeks Jesus talks more about greed than sexual sin, pretty eye-opening and we're far more blind to our own read that anything else enters a warning here. Usain are you using the Sheep are you using the people for your own gain or to serve them we all need to be on guard against greed but greed is one of those areas that it constantly comes up when they're talking about ownership. Say watch out how many people how many pastors have fallen because of money issues? are Warrenton look out for this the third warning against Pride misuse power is a real Temptation in Ministry.

Pastor of days radio really poor job and I know that but but I also that sprays that comes this way. How is your awesome? You're great. You're doing a really good job. I can be very dangerous and self-serving. The pastor of people that come to me and ask me, how should I invest this or do that or should I date them or should I move there? Should I take that job? I'm like, you're trussing a 35 year old with all this well done and to be very easy to manipulate and twist for self-serving purposes. Peter acknowledges that and he says don't go there watch out for your pride because your pride will wreck ruin and destroy you I've heard of just as many pastors falling because of the pride of sexual sin or even greed they were just so puffed up the stage couldn't even hold their ego anymore and they just fell right through it. So to speak thank you Babylon bee for that one. So true he warns against this. What's the opposite of those things exercising oversight willingly? Did you know there has to be bigger than well? Somebody's got to do it. That's terrible. And that's not the Elder that you want. Somebody who's not under compulsion that I have to do this cuz somebody's got to do it. But I desire to do this as God would have you using your leadership to bring him glory better idea than is willingly. Not for shameful game. They adopt the servant-leader mentality. Need to welcome being this idea of a doormat not the beautiful steeple on top of the church. Willing to serve and willing to see inconveniences as opportunities.

This one's for y'all.

inconveniences as opportunities

at your job your neighbors the bug you ask you to do something. You got plans you'd rather not was inconveniences turn the opportunities begin to build friendship which opens doors to hospitality which opens doors to sharing the gospel. listen, our life is riddled with these we have these little moments in these little decisions to make so much even so for elders and I'm speaking to my two others that are here right now Perry's in Costa Rica leading that team is idea of your going to be inconvenienced turn that into opportunities to minister and to serve and it's not an inconvenience because it is an opportunity and we don't do this domineering it's actually servant leadership and this inward motivation impacts our outward Behavior. So if you got Elders or never present, never around and not involved. weathering In word problems going on. I need to be addressed if they're not wanting and willing to be available because that's exactly what we're called to be. This is the kind of stuff that Jesus was teaching a markten 40 Stewie says, you know how the Gentiles Lord it over when even Jesus outcomes come about by Cesar mean so many Authority and Power Authority motivational structures. What we're doing is we're not actually producing Jesus outcomes. We may think we are but we are not when you ruin a domineering aspect. A beautiful experience this in your own home. Or maybe your father or your mother was a domineering parents and they got you to take out the trash and they got you to do things in a very unhealthy Caesar Escuela. Oh my goodness. It doesn't produce the Jesus outcomes that we desire at the end of the day.

Elders are to be servant leaders. They set the course that guy that guy that protected us a few things. I want to share on this when it comes from the third thing that pertains to elders. Gifting and 1st Timothy 5:17 process let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor and preaching and teaching of the elders who rule well those who labor in preaching and teaching this is important because it gets down to the nuts and bolts of what your elders actually do. Yes, we're running to the fire. We want to help we want to be there. What are we called to do? They're called to rule absolutely that word has this negative connotation often in our culture because we were first out of rebellion as a nation, right? We're dumping tea over there in Boston and hopefully Boston gets dumped again today. Amen. Man, it is Super Bowl Sunday. That's all I'm to win and Tom Brady will go out on top and we're done with him. So so here's the deal. First got a rebellion wheel of rebellion, you can't tell me what to do. You can't direct my life. We don't want that authority over us until we have this negative connection to the idea of rebellion on a fascinating conversation with a friend who talked about the colonization. Thanks Bill for that of the eastern states and all this stuff. Basically just talking about this idea in general how to even affects people's mindset to this day in various ways. Birth of a rebellion. We hate the idea of being ruled over it here at saying those who Rule and they rule by teaching they rule by breaching. It's not a dirty word a world without order is a world of chaos. God himself was calling the chaos actual en to order how our elders to ruin the church. They shepherd the loaded term agricultural term. When does lost in our society for the most part? We do have some people with animals in this church and I got a great animal story for you is goats and they are on the left side of our past year and last summer we had my parents over for dinner and as we're sitting in our backyard getting dinner served up. We see this mama. Is teenage dear? I don't know what you call that and then a doe like tiny baby deer cute baby deer printing from our back neighbor's property hopping the fence into our property. What is going on? Look up and there is this Doberman Pinscher Doberman Pinscher lying down chasing these deer. And the old adage is true. I don't have to be faster than the dog. I just got to be faster than the slowest animal. And we can laugh we know how this is going to end this dog that poor dough had no chance caught up to it took it to the ground and my dad, Maryland. Shoot right up. I've got goats over here that kids playing in my backyard and my dad was running around was a canal that separates is strong rocks at the dog. He's trying to get the dog off. The deer to Deer is done that thing has been trained to do his job the tear was done and he's throwing rocks and throwing rocks at this dog, and we finally hit it and it starts to take off but it doubles back and again I'm faster than my dad. So I got out and around.

Healing a thousand years old now.

Millimeter so I run upstairs and I'm on the phone in one hand. I'm calling the police. I get my gun and this dog has my dad was at the cycle run in his fence on this side canal on this side. He's not often that and then it's more fence back this way. He's got a big stick and just winging this stick and it was getting I don't know how close it got to you. I don't know if you actually even Whack Him in the nose, but I cannot with that gun and I'm standing there like a swing and the dog runs off and then the police show up and we start having this conversation. Killed that deer like animals like they're safe and my kids are safe, but I'm just worried about it coming back again, don't you do you shoot the dog? NACA Channel. Coming back you got to protect your family Elders. One of the things that they're called to is to protect is to shoot the boss. Paul warns about this any fusions are choosing to the Church of Ephesus. He says and acts they're going to rise up amongst you those her going to teach false Doctrine and they're going to try to lead you astray. I'm not physically going to take somebody down or high. But three times in ten years as Passion of the fellowship at Bend we had a false prophet from Christmas Valley. He was gnarly crazy long hair. Told me that he called down the Hailstone the hell Stone storm back in my 2004 because Ben wasn't repenting right that wasn't you. God protect the church with people like this another guy forgot done preaching told me that he was Jesus and that he wanted to speak also told me he was sitting at the same time and he's the same person. The guy on Callaghan spreading the nice gentleman. Love them. Saw him make a confession of Faith get baptized serve in the church, but then decided that our church wasn't Jewish enough and that we needed to follow feasts and festivals and status. I need to get to hand out paraphernalia. And we said we love you we care for your heart we care for your soul. We want to restore you we can't have you doing this here if that doesn't work. You can't keep coming here because you're sharing this with people and you're leading them. Astray. It's another aspect but Elders do I'll tell you what if I teach false Doctrine up here. These guys are going to get a hold of me. Because you can't talk with me. We're going to have a nice long conversation and we'll see if I'm working here still or not because it's that important. I'm not talkin open. The shepherd's family. I'm going to close out with just a few more things. So please hang in there with me. We need a thority to lead us Jesus as the ultimate Authority but think about this if you deconstruct your organization of the church, if Jesus just simply deconstructed the religious lay of the land in that day and what they believed I didn't step in that place and say I am the way I am the truth. I am the life, but if he just broke it down people we've been incredibly lost and frustrated hits where post-modernism leads you to friends house idea that we can Live and Let Live and be in everybody's right in their own way. And this world in the western culture is sick and miserable aren't they depressed found out everything that rhymes that working? But hey don't judge me to fill my life up with that makes me happy, but you're not happy. You're not satisfied. Moving to a new city I go to a new city and I get the sweats because I hate driving in them in my whole back or get out of the cars and drenched. I got to pack another shirts kind of sweats into a new City without a map or a iPhone to tell you where to go. You going to get angry and frustrated and mad you get lost? That's what many people are doing spiritually today the Church of terrible. They're awful. Find a church that speaks truth. That's God the eldership and appointed lead you to the direction you need to go. Otherwise, you're going to be a lost twiddling your thumbs broken walking away from what God has for you. Jesus said make disciples teaching them to observe all that I have commanded that's part of the role is to teach and to train equip mobilize and pray. I'm going to pick up with that next week and we'll get to the gospel party father.

Thank you for the lot of time. to get through at least half this

got to pray that you would. What does Shimmer on our hearts? in our minds May we be encouraged by your words a day. Got maybe D rowing because you are teaching and training us leading us into Who You Are. Godly community that desires to seek your face we give the rest of this time to you. We thank you. We Praise You In The Name of Jesus?