The Elders (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Introduction

Early in my ministry, I had an elder who was once a preacher. He relished in telling me of when someone would call him "pastor." He would launch into a tongue-lashing about how he was a preacher, and the elders were the pastor.

He may not have been wrong, but I suspect the message would have been received better without the acid.

The bigger question is what elders are? We know who they are from the numerous sermons about the qualifications of elders. Yet, we continue to harbor misconceptions about elders. We put them on pedestals until we find out their humanity. We treat them like complaint departments or mini-gods who are to make the world we live in right.

We are not the first to do such. Peter writes in this lesson about elders and uses three terms to describe them. I like this passage because it is the one place where we can see all three descriptions in one place.

He calls them "elders," which signify insight and understanding. Then, he turns to the word "shepherd," which describes the tender care elders are to give. Finally, we come across the term "overseer" that emphasizes responsibility.

Yet, this passage comes from the agricultural world. The shepherd would tend sheep, making sure they were fed and cared for. He protected them. The gentle hand rubbing the wool of a sheep's back is the thread that Peter uses.

Yet, throughout the church's history until today, leadership has run in from different fields.

Imagine how this would be different had this been written from the political position. We would see an iron fist hammering Christians on their failings.

Or what if it used the image of business where the main concern is profits. We would see Christians as machines to serve the interest of the third quarter projection.

We have done that. When I was a boy, elders were appointed with an eye toward their business backgrounds. Successful businessmen became elders. After all, we need to run the church like a business, don't we? Or do we?

So Peter comes and says, let's go back to the pasture as he tenderly speaks to elders of his churches. He writes to encourage them, but Peter addresses three questions that float in our minds about elders in that encouragement.

Discussion

What Does an Elder Do?

Peter opens the fifth chapter not instruction but an exhortation.

1 Peter 5:1 (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:

What is exhortation? It leaves its tracks in almost every New Testament letter. It "comes alongside" to bolster. Instead of a wagging finger, Peter would rather put his arm around the shoulders of these men to lift them up.

Perhaps better than "exhort" is the word "encourage," for that is what Peter does.

Why would they need the loving encouragement of someone who has borne the same burden of souls under his care?

Because the people are suffering. They need someone to care for them when no one else does. No matter the time or circumstances, people need to know that someone cares about them as a person. Every person needs someone who knows their name and can feel their hurt. Here, if the Christians become only "members," persecution might drive them away.

The one truth that opens this passage is that shepherds need encouragement just as they need to give it. Serving as an elder is difficult. They become complaint departments. And then, they are expected to fix every problem and whim.

The constant drip of water on concrete creates a whole. In the same way, the problems of leading wear a hole into the soul of an elder. They need someone to help deflect the drip.

Discouraged shepherds result in abandoned sheep.

I know the power of discouragement. When I was in my first full-time work, the church I served was a backbreaker. It wasn't the work but the atmosphere. It was a family church, and every issue was a family squabble. I had not signed up for that! (At least that's how a 23-year-old thinks!) I was seriously considering walking away from ministry.

I came home for Christmas, and there was a man at Waterview who had taught my teen Bible class. He was loving and caring, and he wanted to visit. As we talked, he recognized the dejection. He looked through me and said, "don't quit because you have too much ability to give up. We need you." And today, 43 years later, I am here because someone was an encourager.

And if elders grow discouraged, the church is damaged because sheep need a shepherd. Jesus saw that. In a world of theological experts, the people needed something more.

Matthew 9:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

It is in the best interest of all Christians to have healthy elders who have someone to bolster them.

So, Peter takes the tone of the helper, not the lecturer.

He speaks to them with words of great personal significance.

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

2shepherd 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;

He tells them to "shepherd the sheep." Read between the letters of the word "shepherd," and you see a man who cares for the sheep. He knows when they need to rest and when they need to move. He leads them to pastures and protects them from wolves. You could never find a more personal word for service than this.

And Peter knew it only too well. Jesus spoke these very words to him. After the resurrection, Peter still felt gun-shy. After all, he had denied knowing Jesus, not just one but three times with gusto. How could he ever go back and be what he was?

In John 21, he is eating breakfast. Jesus sits down and starts asking him uncomfortable questions. "Peter, do you love me?" How do you answer that? He did but did not know if Jesus could ever believe him. Jesus peppered him with this question.

After the second affirmation that came from Jesus' mouth, he received a particular command.

John 21:16 (ESV)

16He 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."

Tend my sheep. Word-for-word, it is what Peter tells these elders. On Pentecost, he had to lead people in a new way. He had to help guide his fellow apostles as they faced explosive growth and the problems that threatened to rend the fledgling church in pieces.

He knew. But now, he tells it to the elders in this passage.

Care for people. Tend their wounds. Feed them when they are hungry. Make difficult decisions when they are in jeopardy. This was the task of a faithful shepherd.

He expands the concept of shepherding sheep in the phrase "oversight."

Sometimes, we are tempted to put the Roman view of "supervisor" on the word. That's much too authoritarian for the Jewish idea of oversight. In the agricultural context, it applies to what a shepherd does. He is watching over the flock, paying attention to needs.

When David reflected on his own experience as a shepherd, he said:

Psalm 23:1–2 (ESV)

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He watches the flock to know their wants. He cares when they are fatigued so they can rest. He watches for panting tongues and brings them to a pool of water to drink.

He is paying attention. Such is the task of shepherd.

In short, shepherds care for the sheep so much they sacrifice themselves for their needs.

The second question that arises in this passage is why does an elder do his task?

Why Does an Elder Shepherd?

Motives count. Our motives propel our actions. If you know what drives a person, you will understand their behavior better.

Jesus made this observation.

Luke 6:45 (ESV)

45The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

It is out of the heart that actions flow. Good actions never flow from an evil heart, and a good heart will overflow with healthy actions.

What is in the heart of an effective elder?

Peter says he is not driven by some things.

He is not compelled to be an elder. An elder does not see his service as an unpleasant duty to get over.

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

2shepherd 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 puts a word in this text that no other inspired dare use. It is coercion and obligation.

If you make an elder serve, he won't do it well. Do you do well with things you just despise?

It happens. I have seen it in smaller churches that have few choices. Elders need to be appointed, and only two can be found. One of them seems as old as Methuselah. The fear is that, with one death, a church will be without elders.

So someone not qualified and who does not want the responsibility gets strong-armed into the job. "If you don't, this church will die." The manipulation is laid on thicker than mustard on a baseball game hotdog.

And if he serves, he doesn't help the church but hurts that congregation. Such is the problem with compelling men to serve.

Peter says they also do not do it for "shameful gain." The term is an unusual word in the New Testament. Other Greek writers use it for obscene speech and to describe a cheap, chintzy, and self-centered man. He is only looking out for himself. Some men would go to the theater only if someone else bought the ticket. They would eat means and expect someone else to pick up the check.

Inevitably someone out for shameful gain is going to look out for themselves and what they can get. The church will never figure into the equation.

Instead, Peter describes the positive reasons a man becomes an elder.

He does it "willingly."

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

2shepherd 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;

These are intentional and well-considered reasons. He wants to serve.

We meet the word in a negative context in Hebrews 10, where people turn away from the church. There, the Hebrew writer describes their behavior using the same word as Peter.

Hebrews 10:26 (ESV)

26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

They sin deliberately, knowing full well what they do.

That same kind of deliberation is apparent in the choice of a man who serves as an elder.

He also serves "eagerly."

This is not rubbing your hands in glee. They don't say, "If I ever get to be an elder, I am going to straighten this church out." I have heard that phrase in other places.

Instead, it is "zeal for the future." An eager man sees the possibilities and opportunities as an open door in front of him. Its opposite is the word we use in death—posthumous. That is looking backward with fondness at a life. Peter says an elder is looking forward with eagerness to his task and his privilege to serve. He has the heart to help and serve and care.

One last motive peeks out in verse 3.

1 Peter 5:3 (ESV)

3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Peter says that the people are "in his charge." When we encounter it in other places, it is a word that seems not to describe the work of an elder.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the soldiers "cast lots" for his clothing. They were seeing who would get this exquisitely handmade robe.

And Peter uses it here to describe the people under an elder's care? Why?

It's because of another use. Paul uses it with a different sense in the Colossian letter.

Colossians 1:12 (ESV)

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

An "inheritance" is something you get because it is a gift from someone else. I have been blessed by the inheritance of parents who gave what they earned. I know that it is nothing more than theirs is given by grace and love to me.

An elder sees the church as God's granting him the privilege to help and build people. It is not an office held over people's heads or a superior position, but stewardship. A capable elder knows that the Lord has placed the flock in their hands and expects him to take care of it as God himself would.

It is a high bar to clear.

But Peter doesn't leave without talking about the method of an elder's leadership.

How Does an Elder Lead?

The history of the early centuries of the church showed a disturbing departure from the New Testament agricultural model of leadership. Instead of a shepherd over the flock, it began to mirror the organizational chart of the Roman government.

Soon, the concept of shepherd disappeared. Instead, it was bishop, archbishop, and pope. It mirrored the Roman senate and the Roman emperor.

And with that change of paradigm came a different way of leading, one that remains in place today, even though the structures are different.

There is a definite way not for elders to lead.

1 Peter 5:3 (ESV)

3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Again, Peter is emphasizing one of the cardinal principles of the kingdom Jesus himself stated.

Matthew 20:25 (ESV)

25But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

He rejected the method of "lording over." Both Jesus and Peter employ the same term.

It was how the Gentiles or the world did things. It is leadership at the end of a spear.

Everyone in Palestine knew the rules. If a Roman soldier threw his pack at your feet, you were expected to carry it. If you declined, your life was threatened, so you reluctantly accepted it. It was the picture that is behind the picture Jesus paints of loving enemies:

Matthew 5:41 (ESV)

41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Today, command and threat replace the spear. And Peter says no elder should demand compliance simply because he says so. It is not a power position that can coerce and punish.

Even if you can get compliance, it will not last. Instead, there is a different way to lead:

1 Peter 5:3 (ESV)

3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Example replaces command. The elder shows how to live, how to worship, how to teach. They demonstrate care in their care. You can look at what elders do and see what the church will become.

After all, human beings do not follow instructions. They follow examples.

Peter already said you need an example in suffering, and he pointed them to Jesus. He did not tell them how. He let Jesus show them how.

Peter draws a contrast in two forms of leadership.

There is leadership that flows from the position. It makes people do things. Don't you do that? You are driving 70 in a 60 zone, and you see a car that looks like a police car. What do you do? You hit the brake. Why? Because they have the power of the law to compel compliance. And once you go by and are out of sight, you go back to your old ways.

I like the creative approach of an owner of a private beach in Florida. Instead of posting the regular "No Trespassing Sign. Violators Will Be Prosecuted," he posted a sign that said, "please do not feed our sharks. They love swimmers."

The second form of leadership is the leaders of influence. It doesn't rely on threats to command compliance. Instead, it inspires and provides a good reason for doing what is right.

It is best illustrated by Dwight Eisenhower.

Dwight Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and two terms as the American president. After all of this, Walter Cronkite went to his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to interview him. In the interview, Cronkite asked him, "what his secret to leading men was."

Instead of answering directly, he fished a string out of his pocket and laid it on the table. He said, "if you take this string and push it with your finger, it doesn't go anywhere."

But then, he stopped and said, "but if you take that same string and pull it, it will go wherever you want it to go."

When leaders go first, people will follow them. Elders have authority, but it doesn't come from their position but because of their influence. They don't tell people what to do...they take them by the hand goes with them...and usually, they have gone first.

Never underestimate the power of example. People watch elders and will do no more than they are willing to do.

The Reward of Leading

Even though we do not expect to be rewarded, no one will keep doing something for no reason. It is like banging your head against the wall until your ears bleed.

Some want extrinsic rewards. Some want the acclaim and adoration of the crowd and grow petulant with criticism.

But some are motivated by intrinsic rewards such as a job well done or personal satisfaction.

Peter says that elders who serve well will be rewarded. On judgment day, they will be awarded the victor's crown.

The winner of the games would have a laurel wreath placed on his brow and paraded through the city. Yet, this special symbol of victory would soon wither and die. It is short-lived and forgotten quickly.

Instead, Peter elevates the role of elder by the reward given.

1 Peter 5:4 (ESV)

4And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

The crown doesn't fade. It is never forgotten and always praised by God. Faithful elders may receive little on earth, but they will receive something more substantial—the recognition of the chief shepherd. They have recognized they are a shepherd who only serves another shepherd. And it is that shepherd who gives the nod of worth.

It is worth so much more.

Conclusion

Our lesson this morning emphasizes the importance of leadership. Without it, the church wanders until it finds its grave.

It is vital because the church rises…or falls…to the level of its leaders. It will not exceed them. Without godly men who care for the needs of the people, the church grows cold, becomes dormant, and a distant memory of what once was.

Peter encourages elders. We should follow his lead. But how do you encourage an elder?

Understand they are only men.

One of the great misconceptions is the elders are something better than we are. And yet, they are men with emotions and feelings. They get depressed and beaten down.

Treat them the way you would like to be treated. Recognize they have families and jobs. Cut them the slack you want others to cut to you.

Talk to them, not about them…and tell the truth.

One of the most challenging things about serving as an elder is the criticism. Mostly, the criticism is silent. People many times just gripe about things.

Instead of talking about elders, talk to them. Tell them if you have difficulties or if you have questions. They will talk to you.

But also, tell them the truth. In my experience, people tend to avoid telling elders precisely what they think. I have known people who leave churches for a particular reason, and if an elder inquires, they don't tell the real reason they left.

Elders cannot serve well if they don't have adequate information. You don't have to be ugly, and please do not be accusatory. But be frank to them, not about them.

Much of their work is never known and many times not appreciated. But it is not unnoticed.

I listen to songs that inspire me. And one keeps me going. It is a song called Thank You. It describes what happens to the unseen when they get to judgment. The final verse says:

One by one they came,

As far as the eye could see

Each one somehow touched

By your generosity

Little things that you had done, sacrifices made

Unnoticed on the earth, heaven now proclaims

And I know up in heaven

That you're not supposed to cry

But I was almost sure

There were tears in your eyes

As Jesus took your hand

And you stood before the Lord

And He said my child look around you

For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave