Leading Youth by Example

Introduction

As future pastors and youth pastors, one of the most significant issues we will have to face is leading our youth and young adults by our examples. During high school, I played football and before every game we had a pre-game meal at a church. Before our homecoming game, an old coach of mine read a poem that had a lot of truth to it: "There are little eyes upon you and they're watching night and day. There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say. There are little hands all eager to do anything you do; a little boy who's dreaming of the day he'll be just like you." This poem can be applied to anyone within a leadership position. It's like the old saying "a student is usually a reflection of his teacher." When in a leadership position within a church, the leader is usually the center of attention, with everyone watching everything you say and do. Especially the youth, research shows that impressionability of youth and young adults are high compared to a middle age person. That is why our adolescences are more vulnerable to peer pressure and tend to be more impacted by the primary influence in their life. With the youth being the foundation of our churches future, it is essential for pastors and youth ministers to let their life be an example to them. One passage that comes to mind when leading by example for church leaders is : “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:  Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly;  not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.(CSB)”

“I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Before jumping into the text and breaking down the passage two things must be covered: Background and the context of the book. For this passage, we see the apostle Peter addressing the elders of the church. According to the New American Commentary, the term elder can sometime refer to the leader of the church. This verse also supports that the authorship of this book in the apostle Peter, because of the statement in verse one, a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ" (CSB.) In the next part of this verse, Peter says, "as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed"(CSB.) According to the New American Commentary, this future glory refers to the second coming of which is to take place. Therefore, the background and context is the apostle Peter is writing to the elders of the church to encourage them for what he is about to mention in the next verses.

Now it’s time to examine the encouragement that Peter is giving to the elder (or leaders of the church.) Peter says in verse 2-3, "Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

God resists the proud

but gives grace to the humble.,o