Sermon Tone Analysis

This evening we are going to wrap up 1 Peter by working our way through chapter 5.

Throughout the last several weeks, we have gone chapter by chapter while taking a good deep look at the content of this book.

As we get ready to dive into the text, I want us to remember who it was the epistle was addressed to. 1 Peter 1:1 tells us the intended recipient were the people of God or “God’s elect” who were exiles… who were scattered throughout the various provinces.

They were out of place… The NIV uses the word exiles.

The KJV says strangers.

They were out of place and scattered… aliens in the land they found themselves in.

As we have seen… suffering is a major theme within this epistle… suffering for Jesus that is.

Last week, we completed chapter 4 and dealt with a section of Scripture where Peter addressed the elephant in the room - suffering.

Although many of us do not like the idea of suffering… we can never forget the words Jesus spoke regarding the cost of being His disciples… Luke 9:22-24

Jesus knew suffering.

He experienced it at the highest level.

Jesus spoke of His suffering and made clear that those who follow Him will join with Him in suffering.

Consider this...

At salvation - we join in Him with death.

The old life is DONE.

Our sins are forgiven

We also join with Him in His resurrection.

He pours in new life in place of the old.

In our walk… we follow Christ DAILY even if that walk takes us through times of suffering.

Suffering will be a part of our walk of faith in Christ Jesus.

The question is: will we follow Christ even in times of exile… of being scattered… and being out of place?

I hope the answer today is a resounding YES! Why?

Because JESUS IS WORTH IT! OUR FREEDOM IS WORTH IT!

Let’s keep things in perspective today… If you are saved… YOU HAVE JESUS.

Truly you have come out from under the suffering of this world.

Those who do not have Christ still live in that suffering of sin and brokenness daily.

THE GREATEST SUFFERING A PERSON CAN EXPERIENCE IS THE RESULT OF BEING ALIENATED FROM JESUS!

Sin is what separates us from God and leads us deeper into suffering.

As 1 Peter comes to a close, Peter gives 3 points regarding what it means to suffer well if you will.

He hits on three key reminders that this exiled community needed to hear.

Yes… you might be in a place of suffering BUT the mission remains.

SUFFERING Well means SHEPHERDING Well

Peter calls out the elders.

Peter sends out a strong reminder to those in leadership within the church.

And I feel this message is very timely for us today as well.

Peter calls the elders out and reminds them to LEAD ACCORDING TO THE CALL - to shepherd God’s flock by caring for them and watching over them.

Peter begins this section by building a bridge with His audience first.

He identifies himself as a fellow elder - as one who is also in the trenches.

He is writing to encourage.

He knows the struggle.

He knows the difficulty… BUT HE ALSO KNOWS THE POWER OF GOD!

Peter witnessed the sufferings of Jesus - he was a devout follower of Christ AND… Jesus Himself had given Peter a similar command in John 21.

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.

And three times Jesus instructed Peter to do what?

FEED MY SHEEP!

Be the Shepherd!

Care and watch over His disciples!

Peter is bringing this reminder to his fellow elders and as one who has been commanded by Christ Himself to shepherd and care for God people!

Peter reminds elders to Shepherd God’s flock.

This is a command of compassion.

This is a command of care and of love.

This is a command to watch over.

This command means that elders and overseers need to make the people of God a high priority.

It means we get in the trenches.

It means we take on burdens.

It means we answer the phone at 2 AM, it means we sit in the hospital with someone who is sick or has had surgery.

It means that we allow for the love of Christ to flow through us as we love on HIS people.

It also means… WE GIVE THEM THE WORD.

Elders and overseers listen to me: Do what you can to give the Word of God to the people He has placed in your care.

There is no other thing greater that you can give them!

Secondly, the Word says to shepherd by serving.

This service is not for personal gain but for the glory of God.

The Scripture is very clear here: our service to God is NOT to be out of obligation.

Chapter 5 says serve because you are willing, not because you must.

This kind of service is not interested in position or title.

This kind of serving is not so much interested in paychecks and career steps.

This kind of serving is not interested in lording over or having authority.

This kind of serving is interested in FOLLOWING THE CALL God has placed upon your life!

This kind of serving considers convenience after the call.

This kind of serving places comfort after the call.

I get it… sometimes the things the Lord calls us to do is inconvenient.

Sometimes the work is uncomfortable.

But I cannot imagine that the journey to Calvary was comfortable as the Lord carried His cross and I’m sure it was very inconvenient to have nails driven through his hands!

Pastors… I know its been hard.

I know this last season has stretched us and discouraged many.

I realize things are not the way they used to be.

But are you willing?

I’ll be honest… I found myself getting complacent.

I found myself… to a degree… becoming angry with my circumstance.

“I didn’t sign up for this” I thought… but then God reminded me, “No you didn’t… I CALLED you to serve for such a time as this.”

Leaders… our level of service should NOT depend on our surrounding circumstances but WILL BE DETERMINED BY OUR WILLINGNESS TO LIVE OUT THE CALL GOD HAS PLACED UPON OUR LIVES.

Thirdly, Peter said to look to Christ as our example.

There is no greater shepherd than Jesus - our chief shepherd!

Jesus is the ULTIMATE example of what it means to shepherd and serve.

Consider the moment when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.

He took on the very appearance of a servant as He did one of the most lowly things a servant could do.

He was willing to go the distance… how far are we willing to go?

No servant is greater than his/her master.

Church… if we ever find ourselves in a place where we begin to think “this is below us” or “I’ve got better and bigger things to do instead of this” then we better get our eyes back on our example who is Jesus.

My mentor taught me a very good and memorable lesson when it came to serving.

It started with a toilet brush.

It moved on to a sign.

After CBC… it graduated into youth ministry and you know what I did the first Sunday we were at Garden City?

I plunged a clogged toilet and mopped up a big mess in the men’s restroom during morning service while several guys stood outside the door who didn’t want to get their shoes dirty.

If Jesus was willing… then so should those who follow them be willing.

If Jesus took up MY cross… then I will take up the cross daily and follow Him.

SUFFERING Well means SUBMITTING Well

Peter began with the elder but then moves to the younger… and he gives clear instruction that the younger needs to submit to the elder.

This is a strong word and sometimes a hard concept for us to grab a hold of.

But I will say this statement of observation: we are struggling with this within the church today and the results are NOT good.