Shepherding the Flock of God

1 Peter 5:1-5 Shepherding the Flock of God Introduction: “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.” -Napoleon Bonaparte "A leader, according to it's simplest definition, is someone who commands a following. To lead is to go ahead, to show the way and to inspire other people to follow. Leaders are needed in every walk of life. Leadership is not restricted to world statesmen, national top brass, the opinion formers who dominate the media and the senior executives of multinationals. Leaders can also be influential in their local community: teachers in the school, students in the university, parents in the home and many others. Leadership is a word shared by both Christians and none-Christians alike, but this does not mean that their concept of it is the same. on the contrary, Jesus introduced into the world a new style of Servant-leadership. He said, “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.” ….....Jesus Christ has evidently intended from the beginning that his Church should be shepherded, or have pastoral guidance. So from the first missionary journey onward Paul appointed elders in every church, and he later instructed Timothy and Titus to do the same, giving instructions as to what kind of people pastors should be." - John Stott, Basic Christian Leadership Now obviously men throughout the centuries have taken advantage of God’s church, and ruled it heavy handedly, more like a dictator and less like a shepherd. But this is not the model that scripture has given us. And in one sense this is one of the reasons Christ came... 1. Elders (Peter and Elders in General) a. “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.” i. Peter the Apostle identifies with these Christian leaders, telling him that he also is an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. ii. Peter was an Apostle, one commissioned personally by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel and establish the early church. But you will also remember that Peter was specifically commissioned by Jesus to tend his “sheep”. Literally to shepherd or pastor. 1. “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.” - John 21:15-17 2. Peter was also a witness of Christ suffering. Often this is seen as the fact that Peter witnessed Jesus persecution and death, but I think Peter means more than that. Peter is identifying with these suffering Christians. I think what he’s really saying is that he is not exempt from the sufferings that they are going through, he also is a witness of the sufferings, and will also be a partaker in the glory that will be revealed. Peter has the true heart of a Pastor here, he is sympathetic with his audience. He knows what they’re going through and he has written to them out of love, care, and sympathy. b. Shepherd and Exercise Oversight. c. Peter gives the same command to these Elders that the Lord Jesus gave to him: Shepherd the flock. i. Throughout the Bible, and mostly because of Israel’s agrarian culture, the relationship of leaders to their charges was described metaphorically as a shepherd like relationship. As Shepherds cared for their flocks, so ought the leaders to of Israel to care for the Israelites. This was all rooted in the description of God as a Shepherd to his people. Besides the well known Psalm 23, there are many other uses of this image in the Bible. Isaiah 40:11 Pictures God relationship with israel like a shepherd and his sheep. Jeremiah 23:1-4 concerns Israel’s corrupt leaders and says they will be replaced by good shepherds. Also Ezekiel and Zechariah use this Metaphor and then when we come to the NT we find that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep. d. These two terms describe the function of the Elders.They are to lead, feed and watch over the flock. Elders have the dual responsibility to care for and lead the people of God. e. What this means is that Elders are to exercise leadership and congregations are to follow their lead. 2. The Spirit or Heart of the Elder a. “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.” i. An Elder is to have: 1. A willing heart: not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you. 2. A pure heart: not for shameful gain, but eagerly. 3. A loving/serving heart: not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ii. Why do I serve God’s church? 1. As I was reading through the list of do not’s and do’s that Peter lays out for Elders, I had to ask myself, Why do I serve the Church as an Elder? a. Jesus b. The Bride of Christ c. The Crown of Glory 3. The Chief Shepherd a. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” i. God’s Pastors/Elders are simply under shepherds, waiting for the day that the Chief shepherd will appear to reward his people. On that day they will hand over their stewardship and give an account of how they have shepherded the flock of God. 1. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” -Hebrews 12:17 4. The Congregation (Peter’s and Ours) a. “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." i. Peter seems to be addressing the younger generation of Christians in these churches. ii. First, history is littered with humans who abuse authority. iii. Secondly it is a characteristic of youth to be suspicious of and to reject authority. 1. Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. -Hebrews 13:7 2. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” -Hebrews 13:17 3. Never follow a pastor or a leader who does not practice what he preaches. Never follow a pastor or leader does not care for you with a belief and understanding that he will give an account for God for his care over you. b. The So Called Shepherding Movement i. “The Shepherding Movement (sometimes called the "Discipleship Movement") was an influential and controversial movement within some British and American charismatic churches, emerging in the 1970s and early 1980s. The doctrine of the movement emphasized the "one another" passages of the New Testament, and the mentoring relationship described in 2 Timothy. ii. The movement gained a reputation for controlling and abusive behavior, with a great deal of emphasis placed upon the importance of obedience to one's own shepherd.[citation needed] In many cases, disobeying one's shepherd was tantamount to disobeying God.[citation needed] A few of these criticisms were exaggerated, but many lives were damaged.[citation needed] One such testimony can be found in the book Damaged Disciples by Ron and Vicki Burks. Noted Baptist evangelist Bailey Smith, for example, in his work "Real Evangelism" mentions having collected a very large number of testimonies of people he had encountered who were damaged by Shepherding teachings. iii. One devotee said, "If God Almighty spoke to me, and I knew for a certainty that it was God speaking, and if my shepherd told me to do the opposite, I would obey my shepherd." -Wikipedia c. The Refuge Elders i. When I read about perversions in leadership, it pains me, I am righteously ticked off, when I hear of shepherds using the church of God for their own selfish agenda. I think of the exhortation of Paul to the Ephesian elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” ii. It is our desire that each of you would grow to full maturity in the faith, that you would fully embrace the call that God has on your life, that you would walk in the freedom of God’s grace. It is in no way our desire to “rule” over you, but to humbly lead this church into the blessings that God has for us. d. The Elders of Refuge Christian Fellowship Covenant: e. To appoint elders and deacons according to the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4). f. To prayerfully seek God’s will for our church community and steward her resources to the best of our ability based on our study of the Scriptures and following the leading of the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). g. To care for the church and seek her growth in grace, truth and love (Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:15-16 Colossians 1:28; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4). h. To provide teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture (Acts 20:27-28; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1). i. To equip the members of the church for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). j. To be on guard against false teachers and teachings (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 John 4:1). k. To lovingly exercise discipline when necessary, for the glory of God, the good of the one disciplined and the health of the church as a whole (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20) l. To lead by setting an example and joining members in fulfilling the obligations of biblical church membership (Philippians 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7-8; 1 Peter 5:3).