8: God's Humble Flock (1 Peter 5:1-14)

DAD JOKES

You have to be careful when it’s raining cats and dogs because…you might step in a POODLE.

To the guy who invented ZERO…thanks for nothing.

A friend said we might go snorkeling this weekend, but I’m not holding my breath.

I was at a yard sale the other day and the guy was asking $50 for a TV, but the volume controls weren’t working. ..but at that price, I couldn’t turn it down.

Today we conclude this letter as the one whom Jesus commanded, “Feed my sheep” reminds God’s flock to live holy & humble, as we await the return of our Chief Shepherd.

1 Peter 5:1–2a (NIV)

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;

This Greek term presbyteros translated as elders sometimes refers to the older men.

But the term “elders” is also applied not to age, but to spiritually mature men who are appointed to lead the church after meeting the spiritual criteria (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9).

The practice of the 1st century church was to appoint multiple elders for each church (Acts 14:23) to be shepherds of God’s flock - to lead, feed, and protect His people - as Paul writes, to “direct the affairs of the church” (NIV) - including “preaching and teaching” 1 Tim 5:17-18).

Having grown up in a Southern Baptist church, this concept was foreign to me as it is not the typical practice in our denomination.

Most Southern Baptist churches appoint ONE ELDER, but we never use THAT term - instead we call him A PASTOR (Latin term for “shepherd” - as we see used in this text “Be shepherds of God’s flock”).

Larger churches might have a number of pastoral staff who serve in this task, while some churches ask volunteer leaders to help fill the gap to help lead the church. For example, Fellowship has a Church Council that helps give direction to the church. Our Church Council has the heartbeat of the Church, a love for Jesus, and a desire to follow and serve with our staff leadership.

Some Southern Baptist churches, wrestling with the Scriptures regarding “elders”, have begun the task of moving to an elder-led model.

Are WE open to changing our leadership model to being a multiple ELDER-led model? Does the Bible describe that or prescribe that? Those are questions we ARE exploring and will attempt to answer in the future.

Let’s get back to the text.

Long before this letter was written, the resurrected Jesus gave Simon Peter this final command sometime before ascending to heaven. Peter, “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:15-17) That command from the Good Shepherd forever rang in Simon Peter’s ears.

Peter calls himself a fellow elder, because Peter CONTINUED to watch over God’s flock, and now he reminds the elders reading this letter of HOW and WHY they should do the same.

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV)

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

The biggest danger of those leading AND those being led is the temptation to be PRIDEFUL rather than HUMBLE.

Peter knows this and he first reminds these shepherds to care for the flock rather than manipulate the flock. These shepherds are to serve, not out of DUTY - because they must, but out of DELIGHT - because it’s their privilege and they are willing.

Following the humble example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, these elder under-shepherds should be eager TO serve instead of looking to be served.

Just as Jesus inspired His disciples rather than intimidating His disciples, so these shepherds follow the Good Shepherd’s example as a humble servant - and in turn - these shepherds are to be humble examples to the flock.

And here’s why. While the majority of people in the church are NOT appointed elders/shepherds, these actions and attitudes ARE expected of all God’s people - and shepherds are to be examples for the flock to follow.

So, the shepherds are to BE examples, and the sheep are to follow the examples.

How are you doing on that?

QUESTIONs:

Where are you SERVING and WHY? Is it out of DUTY - because you have to - or do you serve out of DELIGHT - because you want to?

Who do you have influence over - children, teenagers, other adults? Are you caring for them or manipulating them, inspiring them or intimidating them, serving them or expecting to them to serve you?

So, if others follow YOUR example, will they be humble servants or prideful taskmasters?

Why does all this doesn’t matter? Simon Peter, as he has done throughout this letter, reminds his audience of the WHY (1 Pet 1:4–5, 13; 4:13).

1 Peter 5:4 (NIV)

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Jesus IS going to return. And when He does - will He recognize you as part of God’s Humble Flock - one of His shepherds or one of His sheep? If so, then you will be given a crown of glory that will never fade away - an idiom for ETERNAL LIFE.

Leafy crowns were given to victors in the Greco-Roman world for athletic victories or military conquests. Within a few days these crowns wilted and faded away. NOT SO for the believer - this victory reward is ETERNAL!

* Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 236.

That’s great news for those who have been faithful followers of Jesus...

But...WHEN Jesus returns and you HAVE NOT been faithful to Him, then you WILL NOT be given the reward of ETERNAL LIFE with Jesus. Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus.

Just as Peter commands the LEADERS to be HUMBLE and not PRIDEFUL, now he addresses those being LED.

1 Peter 5:5a (NIV)

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.

Some commentators think this is talking about how younger believers should treat their elder church family. And while us ‘younger’ folks should honor our older folks and treat them with the respect we should give our own parents (1 Tim 5:1-2), I don’t think that is Simon Peter’s focus here.

It could be that Peter is specifically addressing the younger who have a tendence to stiff-arm authority rather than appreciate it, while the older folks in the church had the tendency to respect authority. Both those tendencies are typical in our culture.

As Peter has just reminded those LEADING to treat those they LEAD with value and humility, so too those who are LED are to submit to the leadership of their elders.

This isn’t a blanket statement that means you must submit to UNGODLY church leaders, but to GODLY church leaders. (Peter himself didn’t submit to the Jewish elders who didn’t obey Jesus.)

Many in our culture balk at the concept of submitting to another person.

Sadly, this has carried over into many churches that discount this command to submit to your elders & limit their pastors’ roles to “preacher” while others make the REAL leadership decisions. So rather than recognizing spiritual leaders and following their leadership, there is infighting and political posturing that should not be so.

I’M SO THANKFUL that’s not the case here. Most people at Fellowship pray for our leaders, trust our leaders, and follow our leaders. Because of that…it is a BLESSING to serve here!

But, I’ve heard multiple churches where a deacon - who should be a SERVANT, not a CEO - grabs the reigns of leadership, bows up, and says something like this: “Well pastor, I was here long before you got here, and I’ll be here long after you’re gone.” - essentially saying, ‘I’ll never submit to your leadership, because I’M the leader here.”

In a previous church I served at I remember one lady disagreeing with the pastor’s desire to make a significant decision. She said, “That’s what I love about our church, pastor. I get ONE vote just like YOU get one vote.”

That might be good American democracy at work, but that’s NOT God’s model for the Church.

Just as a healthy family functions, parents will guide their children toward healthy decisions and relationships. When the parents love and protect the children, and the children submit to their parent’s leadership, the family experiences peace & health.

That’s what God expects from HIS family too.

John MacArthur ties this together well saying:

The foundational attitude in the life of the saint must be submission, a relatively familiar theme already in this epistle. In 2:13–20 and 3:1–7 Peter commanded believers to be submissive to employers, civil authorities, and within marriage. No less is required of those under the leadership of the divinely instituted office of pastor in the most important entity on earth—Christ’s own church.

* John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Peter, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2004), 276.

The Church - those leading and those being led, are to be God’s Humble Flock.

1 Peter 5:5b–6 (NIV)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” [Prov 3:34] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

Do you want God’s favor in your life? Or you okay with standing opposed to the God of the universe? What’s the difference in how God responds to you? - choosing to be HUMBLE instead of PRIDEFUL.

Why should we be humble before God?

He created us - there was a time when you WEREN’T. There is a God…and you’re NOT him.

He provides for us - food, clothing, shelter, family, friends, health, jobs

He forgives us! We can’t pay Him back for that. Jesus went to the cross to PAY for YOUR sin! And we HUMBLY approach God and simply say “Thank You!” and then live like we’re thankful for His forgiveness.

Why should we be humble toward one another?

Our King commands it. Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as HE LOVED THEM (Jn 13:34). That should be enough. But Jesus didn’t just command it.

Our King models it. In fact, I wonder if this is what Peter recalls when He writes “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” This is the kind of figurative language that was also used in a literal way of with clothing that is tied on (like an apron).

* Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 525.

I wonder if Peter was recalling that time that Jesus pulled off His outer clothing and tied a towel around His waist, as the King humbled Himself to wash the feet of His servants (John 13:3-11).

John 13:14–15 (NIV)

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Foot-washing was the NORM for them. It isn’t for us. I wonder what example Jesus would have given to us today. I’m not sure, but I AM SURE that we are to be HUMBLE before God AND one another. We are to be God’s Humble Flock.

So Church...

1 Peter 5:6–7 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

You’ve never had anything to be anxious about, have you? Money stress, health concerns, broken relationships, work struggles, or facing spiritual persecution?

We all have. Pull that heavy burden off your weary back and hand it to your Heavenly Father.

My boys are now big and strong, but there was a day when the burden that was so heavy to them was lightweight for me. When they got tired and asked me to carry it, they knew I would. That’s what good, slightly strong Dads do - we help carry your ‘heavy’ stuff.

That burden that you carry; that burden that’s wearing you down…it might be too heavy for you, but it’s NOT TOO HEAVY for your Heavenly Father.

Peter heard the Lord Jesus teach many, many times. And I can’t help think that when he writes these words, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” - he was remembering Jesus saying this:

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

And it’s a GOOD THING that HE cares for us, because there is ONE WHO DOESN’T CARE for us, but wants to KILL US. Peter warns us:

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NIV)

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

You and I have a REAL enemy. And yet some of us write him off like a fairy-tale dragon.

Because we have this real enemy, we are to be alert and of sober mind. The opposite is to be asleep, distracted or drunk.

The Devil loves it when:

We are asleep (not alert), to be totally unaware that he exists or is at work.

We are DRUNK (not sober) on our own pleasures & passions - totally distracted from what matters most.

The devil loves that because he doesn’t waste his time on those who are spiritually asleep or focused on something else.

I’m not certain that Peter studied lions nor intended us to. But as an avid spectator of Animal Planet, here are a couple of similarities between the Devil and these big, furry, kitty-kats with massive fangs and claws.

The prowling lion often keeps quiet and camouflages its presence, laying still until it springs up and pounces on its prey. They often aren’t aware of the lion’s presence…until it’s too late. That’s where the majority in our society are today - unaware of an enemy that plans to devour them.

At other times the roaring lion wants its enemies to know it is near and to live in fear.

Christians are to be aware of the Devil, but not live in FEAR of the Devil. We know He is powerful and dangerous, but we also know that the Devil and his demons whimper in the Presence of the King of Kings. Remember all the times that demons BEGGED Jesus not to cast them into hell? They know their day is coming.

And until that day, while the Devil and his demons will continue to look for someone to devour,

but Christians must resist him - HOW? By standing firm in the faith - that is - by TRUSTING (faith) our Good Chief Shepherd - WHO He is and WHAT He says. While we know the Devil might kill our bodies, he cannot touch our souls.

We know that we aren’t the first to go through attacks from the enemy as believers throughout the world have been insulted, persecuted, and even killed for their faith in Jesus - we know that THIS side of eternity - is NOT the end.

And that’s what Simon Peter reminds us of next.

1 Peter 5:10–11 (NIV)

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

God might allow them to live through these difficult days and emerge on the other side restored, strong, firm & steadfast.

Be, as we spent most of last week being reminded that...

Future Hope > Present Suffering

There is a day coming when all the pain and suffering of this side of eternity will fade into the background as we stand before our Risen King, hug our loved ones who died in Him, and are restored, made strong, firm, and steadfast.

In that moment - all of our questions, doubts, and frustrations will be swallowed up in HOPE! That’s what SIMON PETER - the disciple who knew Jesus so well - was looking forward to.

And Peter wasn’t alone in that hope. He had brothers and sisters in Christ who were standing firm in the faith with him.

1 Peter 5:12–14 (NIV)

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Silas was a faithful brother who traveled with Paul, was persecuted and beaten & imprisoned alongside Paul, and Roman citizen like Paul (Acts 15:40, 16:25, 37). Evidently Silas was Simon’ Peter’s secretary who wrote down his words (“with the help of Slias…I have written to you”).

Then there were the faithful Christians in the church in Rome - coded as “she who is in Babylon”. This is where Peter and Silas were writing from.

And then there was “my son Mark” - that’s John Mark who also spent time traveling with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:25; 13:4-5), and who likely wrote the Gospel of Mark as Simon Peter’s secretary.

WHY SHOULD THIS MATTER TO US? We aren’t alone…or at least, we shouldn’t be. We need brothers and sisters in Christ to walk through the days of glory and the days of gloom...TOGETHER. [You rallied together yesterday to provide food and love for Conner Waller’s family]

And finally, God’s Humble Flock must remember that Jesus has given those who are in Christ, His PEACE… in the middle of the persecution, in moments of pain, He is near & God cares.

Maybe you don’t know His peace. Maybe you just need someone to talk to about the tough times you’re experiencing. Please call us. We want to HELP!

So today, as God’s Humble Flock - let’s finish up by reminding each other of that great truth...

Jesus is NEAR - and Jesus CARES…and so do I.

How can I CARE for YOU today?