Chapter 5 Verses 1-5
TITLE: Who do you think you are?
TEXT: 1 Pet. 5:1-5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords overa God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. [1]
THEME: The office of Pastor
PROP.: We must understand the office of Pastor
INTER.: What is the office of Pastor?
INTRODUCTION: An imaginary letter that was written to the Apostle Paul from the head of a mission board:
Rev. Saul Paul
Independent, Missionary
Corinth, Greece
Dear Mr. Paul:
We recently received an application from you for service under our Board.
It is our policy to be as frank and open-minded as possible with all our applicants. We have made an exhaustive survey of your case. To be plain, we are surprised that you have been able to pass as a bonafide missionary.
We are told that you are afflicted with a severe eye trouble. This is certain to be a real handicap to an effective ministry. Our Board requires 20–20 vision.
At Antioch you opposed Dr. Simon Peter, an esteemed denominational secretary and actually rebuked him openly and publicly. You stirred up so much trouble at Antioch that a special Board meeting had to be convened at Jerusalem. We cannot condone such actions.
Do you think it is fitting for a missionary to do part-time secular work? We hear that you are making tents on the side. In a letter to the church at Philippi, you admitted that they are the only church supporting you. We wonder why.
Is it true that you have a jail record? Certain brethren reported that you did two years time at Caesarea and were imprisoned at Rome.
You made such trouble for the businessmen at Ephesus that they refer to you as “the man who turned the world upside down.” Sensationalism in missions is uncalled for. We also deplore the shocking “over-the-wall-in-a-basket” episode at Damascus.
We are appalled at your obvious lack of tactful behavior. Diplomatic men are not stoned and dragged out of the city gate, or assaulted by furious mobs. Have you ever suspected that gentler words might gain you more friends? I enclose a copy of the book by Dailus Carnagus, “How to Win Jews and Influence Greeks.”
You have caused much trouble wherever you have gone. You opposed the honorable women at Berea and the leaders of your own nation in Jerusalem. If a man cannot get along with his own people, how can he serve foreigners?
You admit that while serving time at Rome that “all forsook you.” Good men are not left friendless. Two fine brothers by the names of Demas, and Alexander the coppersmith have notarized affidavits to the effect that it is impossible for them to cooperate with either you or your program.
We know that you had a bitter quarrel with a fellow missionary, Barnabas. Harsh words do not further God’s work.
You have written many letters to churches where you have formerly been a pastor. In one of these letters, you accused a church member of living with his father’s wife, and you caused the whole church to feel badly; and the poor fellow was expelled.
You spend too much time talking about the “second coming of Christ.” Your letters to the people of Thessalonica are devoted almost entirely to this theme. Put first things first from now on.
Your ministry has been far too flighty to be successful. First Asia Minor, then Macedonia, then Greece, then Italy, and now you are talking about a wild goose chase to Spain. You cannot win the whole by yourself. You are just one little Paul.
In a recent sermon you said, “God forbid that I should glory in anything save the cross of Christ.” It seems to us that you ought also to glory in our heritage, our denomination and our program, the unified budget, and the World Federation of Churches.
Your sermons are much too long at times. At one place, you talked until after midnight and a young man was so asleep that he fell out of the window and broke his neck. Nobody is saved after the first twenty minutes. “Stand up, speak up, and then shut up” is our advice.
Someone has reported that you are a thin, little man, bald, frequently sick, and always so agitated over your churches, that you don’t sleep very well. He reports that you trudge around the house praying half the night. A healthy mind in a robust body is our ideal for all applicants. A good night’s sleep will give you zest and zip, so that you wake up full of zing.
We find it best to send only married men into foreign service. We deplore your policy of persistent celibacy, Simon Magus has set up a matrimonial bureau at Samaria, where the names of some very fine widows are available.
It hurts me to tell you this, Brother Paul, but in all of my twenty-five years experience, I have never met a man so opposite to the requirements of our Foreign Mission Board. If we accepted you, we would break every rule of modern missionary practice.
Most sincerely yours,
J. Flavius Fluffyhead
Foreign Mission Board Secretary
[J. Harold Smith, “Your Good Neighbor,” November 1952. 10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.]
There is a general misunderstandiong of what ministry is. Due to that fact, there is a great misunderstanding of what the office of Pastor is: What it is supposed to be and what it is not supposed to be!!
Background to passage: Peter makes the jump from judgment in the house of God and the purification that would go on there to where it always begins—with leadership. Both texts in the OT deal with the priests and Levites being purified. So Peter begins his final section addressing the thought of how the church should act toward itself during times of suffering. He begins by addressing the leadership of the church, noting himself as a fellow elder. But keep in mind that these letters would have been read publicly at the church meetings, so it is within the hearing of all. We are also going to broaden the application level of this text toward leadership in general and not just elders; and even to the familial leadership. And finally, I intend to make some sweeping applications for the entirety of the church based on the instruction that responsibility given to its leadership and how the church should respond.
I. What Titles Are Given to Pastors?
A Shepherd
Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, (NAU)
Doing the work of a shepherd is one of the most unskilled jobs a person can get. It doesn’t take a college degree to take care of sheep. They even train dogs to guard sheep. Caring for sheep may not be rocket science, but caring for God’s people takes integrity and self-sacrifice.
B Elder
This title emphasizes the maturity of a pastor. Acts 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (NAU)
C Overseer
✔ “Elder” is primarily a Jewish term, while “overseer” is primarily a Greek term.
The Greek word for OVERSEER is used six times in the NT and it means “to look after others.” In addition to I Peter 5:2 which we will look at in a minute we find this word in:
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: (NAU)
1 Timothy 3:1-2 1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, . . . (NAU)
Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, (NAU)
1 Peter 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian [OVERSEER] of your souls. (NAU)
These three terms refer to the same position. 1 Peter 5:1-4 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight
Those whom God designates as leaders are called not to be governing monarchs but humble slaves, not slick celebrities but laboring servants. The man who leads God’s people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness.
Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet, a task that was customarily done only by the lowest of slaves (John 13). If the Lord of the universe would do that, no church leader has the right to think of himself as a bigwig.[MacArthur, J. (1998, c1991). The Master’s plan for the church (electronic ed.) (16). Chicago: Moody Press.]
II What Tasks are given to Pastors?
1 Pet 5:1-4
A Pastors humbly lead the church
Let’s look at the passage in first Peter again. 1 Peter 5:1-4 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (NAU)
1 By giving guidance “shepherd the flock of God” Vs.1-2a
In verse 2a SHEPHERD is a command. This is the same command that Jesus gave to Peter in, John 21:16 He said to him again 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, “Shepherd My sheep.” (NAU)
To SHEPHERD includes the idea of feeding, caring, leading, guiding, and protecting.
2 By showing humble passion “with eagerness” Vs.2b-4
Here Peter is telling pastors HOW to shepherd: “exercising oversight”
Paul said that his life was like this: Acts 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me . . . (NAU)
Jesus laid down this principle of church leadership in, Matthew 20:25-26 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, (NAU)
✔ Good pastors don’t drive the flock, they lead the flock.
False pastors do not really help people grow in their holiness. Ezekiel 34:4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. (NAU)
Acts 20:28-31
B Pastors guard the church
Acts 20:28-31 28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (NAU)
Vs.28-30
1 By opposing false teachers “overseers, to shepherd the church”
There are times that Paul publicly named those who were hindering the Gospel.
2 Timothy 4:14-15 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. (NAU)
Galatians 1:7-8 7 . . . there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (NAU)
Vs.31
2 By helping believers intimately “admonish...with tears”
Paul dealt with believes on an intimate level. He didn’t just publicly teach general principles. He got closely involved in the lives of the Christians around him so he could apply biblical principles individually. Counseling other Christians is most effective when a pastor spends time with the people he’s trying to help.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (NAU)
Eph. 4:11-13
C Pastors train the church
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (NAU)
Vs.11-12a
1 By teaching believers how to serve “equipping”
Pastors need to TRAIN believers in how to live for Christ, but they also need to SHOW believers how to live for Christ.
EQUIPPING is used for “mending” nets in Matthew 4:21.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore [for proper use] such a one in a spirit of gentleness; . . . (NAU)
2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NAU)
Vs.12b-13
2 By pursuing unity in the faith “the unity of...a mature man”
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, [or “put yourselves in order”] be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (NAU)
Hebrews 13:20-21 20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (NAU)
✔ What have we learned? ✔ A pastor’s job is to be a mature example (an elder) ✔ as he teaches and guides the flock (a pastor) ✔ and guards the direction of the believers in the church (an overseer).
Acts 20:17,28 From Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: Pray that God will raise up godly shepherds.
Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified.
This is a great price, but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell.”[Samuel Logan Brengle, quoted in Spirit of Revival, Life Action Ministries, Vol. 28, No. 1, March, 1998, p. 40. 10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.]
The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing. The great people of earth are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time to pray. - S. D. Gordon [10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.]
God give us leaders…ribbed with the steel of Your Holy Spirit…men who will not flinch when the battle’s fiercest…men who won’t acquiesce, or compromise, or fade when the enemy rages. God give us men who can’t be bought, bartered, or badgered by the enemy, men who will pay the price, make the sacrifice, stand the ground, and hold the torch high. God give us men obsessed with the principles true to your word, men stripped of self-seeking and a yen for security…men who will pay any price for freedom and go any lengths for truth. God give us men delivered from mediocrity, men with vision high, pride low, faith wide, love deep, and patience long…men who will dare to march to the drumbeat of a distant drummer, men who will not surrender principles of truth in order to accommodate their peers. God give us men more interested in scars than medals. More committed to conviction than convenience, men who will give their life for the eternal, instead of indulging their lives for a moment in time. Give us men who are fearless in the face of danger, calm in the midst of pressure, bold in the midst of opposition. God give us men who will pray earnestly, work long, preach clearly, and wait patiently. Give us men whose walk is by faith, behaviour is by principle, whose dreams are in heaven, and whose book is the Bible. God give us men who are equal to the task. Those are the men the church needs today.
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a being lords over: or, overruling
[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. 1 Pe 5:1-4