Shepherds and Sheep - 1 Peter 5:1-5

1 Peter 5:1-5 Shepherds and Sheep Intro Elder = Overseer = Shepherd/Pastor Prespeteros = Episcopei = Poimainō Given the context, the work of a Pastor is extremely important. This exhortation follows a section devoted to encouraging the Church to trust God while they suffer for His sake. 5:1 - "So..." In light of the realities of suffering & the fact that we must entrust our souls to God... Pastors must fulfill their calling! Q: Why would Peter be so concerned with this office? A: John 21:15-19 - Peter was charged by the Good Shepherd to feed and shepherd His sheep. Peter was commanded by Jesus to pastor the flock of God - The Bible paints a picture of Peter being the first pastor after Jesus Peter probably meditated on that moment many times after the ascension. I'm positive Peter meditated on this moment while also meditating on Jesus returning. Peter would want to see Jesus pleased with how he shepherded in Jesus' place. This is a very serious and sensitive topic for Peter. Main Idea "Motivated by his pastoral heart, Peter exhorts pastors to shepherd their Church faithfully and for everyone in the Church to relate to one another in humility while they wait for Jesus' return." Notice that Peter doesn't say "Elder" or "Pastor" in the singular. He speaks to a plural group. There may be some here in our Church who can fulfill the roll of pastor in a layman way. What to Expect I really want you all to notice that while this has something to say about the younger men submitting to leadership and for everyone in the Church to practice humility, there is a greater emphasis on the elders/pastors. In fact, please notice that this is not a private exhortation to pastors. It is a public one. Peter intended for EVERYONE in the Church to understand the expectations that Peter had for Pastors. Outline I. Pastor Peter's Humility (5:1) Notice that Peter doesn't say "Elder" or "Pastor" in the singular. He speaks to a plural group. "The Elders among you" There may be some here in our Church who can fulfill the roll of pastor in a layman way. I've served at Churches that had both full-time pastors and Lay-elders. It's not unheard of. Its actually Biblical and healthy for there to be more than just one or two pastors who shepherd and set the vision for a congregation. Honestly, shepherding 60 people is a hard task even for just two people. At times, I've even lamented the fact that I just don't seem to have the time to fulfill all of what Peter lays out in this text for every single person here. A. When addressing other Pastors, He did not Appeal through authority (5:1) 1. I'm also a pastor - He was the first charged with the task to shepherd. He is the one who led the Church after our Lord ascended. He could have said: I was one of the twelve. I was in the inner circle of the three. I preached a sermon and 3,000 got saved. I always led the other Apostles. 2. I'm also preaching the same gospel - Peter abandoned Jesus during His suffering. Though there is disagreement, some commentators say that Peter could have meant: a) I was a firsthand witness - But, he only witnessed some of it according to the Gospel accounts b) I am sharing in the sufferings of Jesus - Based on the statement in the last chapter about sharing in Christ sufferings and then sharing in His glory. - But this says "witness" - Martyr - The same thing Jesus said they would be when he sent them out in Acts. c) I am preaching the same Gospel you are preaching - this is most likely what Peter meant given the context and how he says it. 3. I'm also waiting for glorification - Peter was saved by the same grace given through the same message that promised the same destiny! II. The Local Pastor's Responsibility (5:2-4) A. Willingly live among the other sheep (5:2-3) 1. Shepherd them - feed, encourage, protect, etc a) I sensed the call to pastor when I was fed, encouraged, and protected by my former pastor. "I want to do that for others!" 2. Oversight = keep them within your gaze - Be aware of what they are going through. a) Don't have to be forced into it but do it because you actually want to. If you don't want to, go to God with it! (1) I GET TO PASTOR! IT IS A PRIVILEGE!! b) Don't do it only when you get something out of it but be eager to shepherd even if it costs you something! c) Don't do it like a slave driver but do it as a fellow sheep! B. All sheep wait for the good shepherd (5:3b-4) 1. This is His Church not yours 2. You are a sheep in his Church III. The Whole Church's Attitude! (5:5) A. The young men should submit to the Pastors! 1. Young = Under 40 - There is a higher temptation for the young to think they know everything! 2. I personally have struggled with this. I can't tell you how many times I second guessed my pastor when I was just starting ministry @ Webster Baptist Church B. All of us should wear Humility like clothes 1. This is something that you have to be active in. The language here is describing something that we have to do to ourselves. It's not going to be something that is a natural reflex. It's something that we will have to do everyday. Holding our tongue, not doing something only for ourselves, not thinking only about ourselves a) Most people have a misunderstanding about humility. Humility isn't just thinking less of yourself. It's also thinking of yourself less. (1) Pride is self concern - Humility forgets itself (2) Pride is easily offended - Humility easily forgives b) Pride also prevents us from seeing who God is. Humility is a bending of our very souls in reverence towards our creator. (1) This culture wants you to have an unrealistic view of who you are in two ways. On one end of the spectrum, the world wants you to think that you are the bees knees and that you need more self-esteem. If you are depressed, you just need to have a better and higher view of yourself. On other end of the spectrum, the world wants you to think that you are insignificant and that you only exist because of chance and your life is meaningless because there is no God and everything just accidentally happened. The same people share these two contradictory ideals. (2) The Bible teaches us that we are significant only because we were created by the most significant being in all of existence. He gave us value. We tainted it with sin. But then he sent his son to redeem his image in us. Realizing this great fact will produce in you Biblical humility and enable you to put on this biblical humility towards one another. (a) Peter practiced this Biblical humility when he opened this section. He didn't Lord over the other elders. He didn't seek to make himself big. He identified with them because he is just like them (b) Jesus is the only person to walk this earth who had any right to think super highly of himself. Jesus could have looked down on us because he is God! But he didn't. He humbled himself to the point of death even death on a cross. All that Peter knows of humility, he learned it from Jesus. Peter was the opposite of humble when he met Jesus. C. God's warning 1. Pride thinks "I can do it". Humility is able to receive a free gift. 2. Without humility we are unable to receive grace.