1 Peter 5:1-4
First Christian Church, Owensville, IN
August 16, 2020
Bart W. Newton, Preaching Minister
A video of the sermon from 1 Peter 5:1-4 may be viewed by clicking on the following link: “What’s an Eldership to Do?”
(Abbreviations for Bible translations that may be quoted: ESV = English Standard Version; NLT = New Living Translation; CSB = Christian Standard Bible; GW = God’s Word; Amplified Bible = AMP; KJV = King James Version; New King James Version = NKJV; The Message = MSG; KNT = Kingdom New Testament)
• There are two topics which I always feel most inadequate teaching: marriage & family and church leadership.
• If feel most inadequate teaching about them because I feel most inadequate in being and doing them.
• But then I remember my old missions professor at JBC (JU), Norm Dungan, saying, “God delights in working through our inadequacies.”
• That’s a true statement because God is more than adequate to accomplish what He desires through those who rely on Him, learn from Him, love Him, and seek to obey Him.
• In chapter 3, Peter taught us some things about marriage. Now, at the beginning of chapter 5, he brings up the issue of spiritual leaders in the church, specifically the eldership.
• Keep in mind that in the NT, in regards to church leadership, the terms elder, pastor, bishop, overseer, shepherd are used interchangeably.
• Also they are always spoken of in terms of plurality—each church/congregation having more than one elder (pastor, overseer, shepherd, bishop).
• Acts 14:23: And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (ESV)
• Titus 1:5: The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. (CSB)
• James 5:14: Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. (NLT)
• For example, OFCC’s elders are Tracy Johnson, Mike Sluder, and Corey Taylor. The elders have chosen to designate me as a preaching elder.
• So let’s see what the apostle Peter has to teach us in these four verses, understanding that this is just a small part of what God’s Word has to say about church leadership, especially the eldership.
1 Peter 5:1-5: 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: 2 shepherd 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)
To remind us of the context, let’s do a quick review of the principles of sharing in the sufferings of Christ from 4:12-19:
Principle 1: Persecution is inevitable for the faithful Christian. Expect suffering. (v. 12)
Principle 2: Suffering from persecution is God testing the genuineness of our faith (and Satan tempting us to give up) (v. 12).
Principle 3: Persecution is sharing in the sufferings of Jesus Christ and therefore reason for gladness (v. 13).
Principle 4: “Suffering for Christ leads to “tastes” of glory (v. 14).
Principle 5: Suffering is a reason to examine your life (15).
Principle 6: Suffering persecution because you follow the Way of Jesus is an opportunity to glorify God (v.16)
Principle 7: Persecution not only prepares us for judgment, it may also be the beginning of our judgment (vv. 17-18).
Principle 8: Persecution should be a motivation to try to win unbelievers to Christ (17).
Overriding Principle: When it comes to persecution and tough times, follow the example of Jesus (v. 19)
(The One who created your soul can be trusted to keep your soul; keep trusting and obeying our Creator King!)
• In light of these principles, doesn’t it make sense than that during difficult times it’s important to maintain and further develop strong leadership and strong relationships within the church?
• Therefore, Peter transitions into a section about church leadership, specifically the eldership.
• David Faust: “First Peter was written to encourage struggling Christians whose faith was under fire. Then and now, church leaders play a vital role in determining what a congregation’s attitude will be during tough times. Faithful leaders can inspire confidence and courage. On the other hand, power-hungry, pessimistic, or uncommitted leaders can drag the whole congregation down. If indeed ‘it is time for judgment to being with the family God’ (1 Peter 4:12), then the leaders ought to be the first to examine themselves.” Faith under Fire, p. 126.
• Notice the humility with which Peter addresses the elders:
1So 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:
• V. 1, NLT: And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you:
• Peter may have done it again—invented or coined a new word in everyday Greek just like he did in 4:15 for the word translated “meddler.” What has been translated “fellow elder” comes from one compound Greek word “sympresbyteros” that can’t be found in any Greek literature prior to 1 Peter and only shows up afterwards in Christian writings.
• Remember that touching scene after the resurrection when Jesus wants Peter to know He still has role for him even though he’d denied Jesus three times during Jesus’ trial? As Peter humbly and awkwardly professes love for Jesus in John 21:16: [Jesus] 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.” (ESV)
• So in today’s passage, what Peter in essence is saying is, “Hey elders, I am in this church shepherding with you. I know what Jesus went through. I know what it’s like to share in Christ’s sufferings, and I know what you will go through as elders. So let me strongly encourage you regarding your role as elders and the attitude with which you should approach this important leadership function. And by the way, I’m also looking forward to participating in glory when Jesus comes back.”
• Colossians 3:4: And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (NLT)
What’s a church eldership to do?
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight …
• V. 2, Message: Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd.
• Shepherd imagery is throughout the Bible. Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd…”
• In OT, God is the shepherd of His people.
• In the NT, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd.
• Allen Black: “Various aspects of shepherding are used as analogies, for example feeding may be compared to teaching, and protecting from wolves to protecting from false teachers.” (1 & 2 Peter, p. 129)
• V. 2, Amplified: shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you…
• I. Howard Marshall: “What does the picture convey? As developed in the various biblical passages, it brings out the desperate need of sheep for a shepherd: to keep them from wandering away in the stupidity; to protect them from dangers from wild animals and thieves; to feed them; to find them, even at personal risk, when they are lost; to prevent one animal from taking advantage of others; to maintain unity within the flock; and to exercise individual care. Many of these applications were made exclusively with reference to Jesus, but they apply by extension also to those who are his undershepherds in the church.” 1 Peter, p. 162
• I’d say most if not all of us don’t have a great understanding of being a full-time shepherd of sheep. But some of us have memories of farmers who had a few sheep that they tended.
• Gareth Reese helps paint the picture for us:
• “Think of the personal care farmers give their livestock, and we have a good model of how functioning elders conscientiously treat the members of the congregation (flock) they have been selected to shepherd. Life-stock management includes helping as needed as little ones are born, in some cases feeding the young with a bottle, setting goals for growth, guarding against disease, protecting from predatory animals, doctoring the sick, providing shelter when needed especially in times of storm, and knowing each animal’s habits and quirks and individual needs.” –Gareth Reese, Jude and Peter, p. 147
• So do you see why a plurality of elders is needed?
• My dad grew up on a farm in which they raised lots of sheep. When he was a young man and for a few years after he and Mom got married, one of the ways God provided for our little family was Dad shearing sheep for farmers throughout S IL, SW IN, and NW KY.
• It was back breaking work, which is perhaps one reason why he stooped over so badly and struggled with back pain in his later years.
• But Dad made shearing sheep look easy, shearing in such a way that the wool came off in one piece! For him, there was “mutton” to it!
• The ministry of the eldership is challenging service.
• There are always shepherding tasks to perform—people to call and visit, to pray with, to teach, to encourage, sometimes to lovingly discipline, decisions to be made, hospitality to practice in our homes, etc.
• The era of COVID-19 has been especially challenging. To me, right now it seems harder than when society was “locked down.” We’re somewhere in the middle right now.
• Notice “flock of God.” It’s God’s sheep that the elders have been placed over as shepherds. And, the elders are accountable to God for how they care for the sheep.
• Hebrews 13:17b: … Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God…(NLT)
• Acts 20:28-29: 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as 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. (CSB)
How are elders (pastors, bishops, overseers) to shepherd and oversee the church? What is to be the serving attitude of elders?
…not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you…
• Elders are to serve not because they feel like they have to but because they want to (v. 2)
• The role is voluntary. The desire to fill the role is one of the character traits of an elder:
• 1 Timothy 3:1: The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (ESV)
• …as God would have you = GW: Watch over it as God does:
…not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
• GW: Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve.
• Elders are to shepherd God’s people with an eagerness to serve, not an eagerness to increase financial wealth. (v. 2)
• eagerly = with wholehearted enthusiasm (Amp)
• Why might elders be tempted with greed? Well, they oversee the church funds for one thing. An elder might be tempted to get “sticky fingers.”
• But also, in the 1st Century and for a while after, it was not uncommon for some elders to be compensated, especially those who spent a lot of time preaching and teaching.
• 1 Timothy 5:17-18: The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” (CSB)
• They were compensated because they didn’t have time to perhaps both shepherd and work another job.
• I am a compensated preaching elder according to 1 Tim 5:17-18 and by designation by our elders.
• Elder in SD who was especially gifted at pastoral care as well as personal evangelism and disciple making, received some compensation. He didn’t earn enough from retirement so the church compensated him for his ministry time and this help take the load off of the preaching minister/elder.
• So, there might have been the temptation to seek to be elders for the purpose of compensation. In other words, some might want to be appointed as an elder just to have a paycheck!
• Jude 12: … shepherds feeding themselves…
• Prophecy against the shepherds of Israel: Ezekiel 34:4: The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. (ESV)
… 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
• Message: Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
• Elders are to lead, not through the power of their position, but through the influence of their example. (v. 3) (David Faust)
• They are to oversee the church without arrogance or overbearingness.
• Jesus warned His disciples about this:
• Mark 10:42-44: 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. (NLT)
• V. 3, NLT: Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
• Amplified: …but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].
• Elders are to show the church members how to live a life that puts a smile on God’s face!
• A good summary of a faithful elder’s lifestyle:
• Titus 1:7-8: For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (ESV)
• Hebrews 13:7: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV)
A motivation for faithful shepherding: The return of Jesus.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
• The Message: When God [the Son], who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly.
Let’s spend some time reflecting on what God’s Word has shown us, using the acronym SPECKS:
• Sin to confess?
• Prayer, promise or praise to hold onto?
• Example to follow?
• Command to obey?
• Knowledge to retain?
• Share the passage with whom?
• Hebrews 13:20-21: 20 Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. (NLT)