If you'd like to keep your Bibles open or your iPhones turned on at 1 Peter chapter 5, and let's pray.
Father God, we thank you for your word, and as we come to the end of this series on 1 Peter and Peter's final words here,
Lord, we ask that they would bear fruit in the life of us as a church.
We thank you for that in your wisdom you have ordained some to be elders and shepherds.
Lord, we pray that they would pursue your glory as they minister under the chief shepherd,
and I pray that you would move the hearts of your flock to submission.
And Father, we pray that in all this we'd be prepared for the coming of the chief shepherd with him
and the eternal reward that comes with him, and so we ask it for your glory. Amen.
Today we come to the end of our look in 1 Peter.
Peter ends his letter by addressing the elders amongst God's people.
Not just the elders amongst God's people, but it's obviously a clear aspect of 1 Peter 5.
In chapter 4, which is what you looked at last week, the overall thrust was about suffering.
It appears as Peter moves into chapter 5 that he shifts gear to finish on a completely different topic.
And so to help us to understand 1 Peter 5, we need to put it in context.
This section in which chapter 5 sits actually started back in chapter 4, verse 12.
Remember, Peter addresses the churches with,
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering.
Or quite literally, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that you are currently going through.
Then in verse 17 of chapter 4, the suffering he refers to in verse 12 is explained as the beginning of the judgment of God,
which starts with the church and then moves out to the unbelieving world.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God.
And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
And then Peter jumps into chapter 5 with,
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder.
What is missing at the very beginning of the NIV translation that was just read out to us and that we're using this morning
is the word therefore.
It's in the original language and for some reason it's left out of the NIV,
but it is the link between chapter 5 and chapter 4.
That is, chapter 5 is an application of these last verses of chapter 4 from verse 12 onwards.
Therefore, in the light of the suffering in the church and in the light of the judgment of God
that is purifying the church before it punishes the world,
in the light of that, here is how to shepherd the suffering flock
and how the suffering flock respond to the shepherding.
Elders are the normal way churches were led in the New Testament.
Peter begins without hesitation or qualification by addressing the elders.
He refers to the elders as shepherds.
Verse 2 says, be shepherds of God's flock.
Notice too that these elder shepherds are charged with oversight.
In verse 2, Peter calls the elders to serve as overseers.
Oversight is not the only duty of shepherding,
but it is the one that Peter mentions here.
Elder shepherds exercise oversight.
They look out over the flock and God holds them accountable
for seeing the big picture and acting for the good of the whole flock.
Of course, the elder shepherds are just sheep themselves,
like every other Christian, with Christ as the chief shepherd.
But by virtue of their calling and their gifting
and their affirmation by the church,
they have a responsibility that is different from the rest of the flock.
And responsibility is the key word here.
It means accountability.
The chief shepherd, when he comes, will hold them accountable.
He will call them to give an account for the exercising of their oversight.
The rest of the sheep will not be called to give an account for oversight.
And the rest of the sheep will not stand with the shepherds
as they are being held accountable for their oversight.
They will not gather around for support.
There won't be letters of encouragement.
They won't even accuse.
It is only the chief shepherd.
And so they'll be held accountable.
Did they see the big picture?
Did they act accordingly?
Did they exercise oversight?
And so as he addresses this situation of the suffering church,
Peter gives three charges to the elders.
And each of these three charges is both a negative and a positive.
Firstly, the second half of verse two,
serve as overseers, not because you must, but because you are willing.
You see, I think there's a threat that these elders in these churches
are feeling like the work is not something that they really would want to do.
They're feeling forced to do it
when they would rather really be doing something else.
It's very simple, I think, really,
that the elder shepherds have less desire to be elders and shepherds
if it's dangerous and it's difficult.
And I think here that Peter has two dangers in mind,
the two difficulties in mind, if you like.
One is that when persecution comes,
the leaders of the flock are the most visible and the most vulnerable.
If you are the shepherd of the suffering flock,
you will be among the first to fall.
It is a dangerous duty to be a leader when the church is under persecution.
And we know from chapter four, verse two,
that these churches were going through a fiery ordeal.
And it is understandable that the elder shepherds
might be looking for another vocation in the midst of that.
A second reason that the elder shepherds might shrink back from their duty
is not only are they vulnerable to the normal antagonism of people,
but they are also vulnerable to God's judgment in a peculiar way.
Recall that chapter four, verse 17,
says God's judgment had begun with the house of God.
And in that there is a very scary reference to Ezekiel chapter nine.
Ezekiel chapter nine is a description of the way that God brought judgment
on his people once before.
And he not only begun at the house of God,
but he began with the elders.
Chapter four, verse nine, sorry, chapter Ezekiel nine, verse four says,
And God said to him, go throughout the city of Jerusalem
and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve
and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.
As I listened, he said to the others,
follow him through the city and kill without showing pity or compassion.
Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children,
but do not touch anyone who has the mark.
Begin at my sanctuary.
And so they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.
In other words, it has been God's way to bring judgment on his own people,
beginning with the house of God, as chapter four, 17 refers to,
and in the house of God, beginning with the elder shepherds.
The fiery trial that chapter four, verse 12 refers to
is the refining fire of God's disciplining judgment upon his people.
It is the same refining fire that Peter refers to back in chapter one, verse 17.
Fiery trials are not easily endured,
but the testing does not destroy us.
These fiery trials are not the destruction fiery trials,
but they are the refining, the purging fiery trials.
They are the firing trials that we must go through in order to be saved.
The trials are designed by God
to purge us of all sinful self-reliance on the flesh.
These fiery trials shape us, if you like, for eternity.
As James says,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.
The role of the elder shepherd
is to lead God's flock
into the fiery trial in humble submission of God.
They open the doors
and they walk into the furnace
of God's purifying trials
and they call the flock to follow them
as they follow Christ.
They don't open the doors
and get their stick
and whack the sheep in there.
How's it going in there, guys?
Odd enough for you?
Tell me what you're learning.
They open the doors
and they walk in.
They call the flock to join them
and as they struggle themselves
in their own hearts and lives
through the fiery trials
of God's purification of them
as sheep and as shepherds,
in the process of their own struggle
in the fiery trials,
they assist the sheep
who have come with them
to endure it
by teaching them
and modelling patient endurance
in the midst of the fiery trials.
They call the flock to endure it
and rejoice in it
and to seek it
from the hand of a gracious
and merciful and sovereign God.
And what this means
is the danger and difficulty
is one test
of a true elder shepherd.
And for whatever you want
in a pastor
and we all have a view
of what one should be like,
you need one
who's courageous enough
not to walk away
from that fiery trial
but to walk into the furnace
in front of you.
And so it's not surprising
that the elders
might be reluctant
to exercise oversight.
And so Peter says
exercise your oversight
not because you must
but because you are willing.
As you, the elder shepherd,
walk into that fiery furnace,
do it with pure joy
on behalf of the people.
But Peter warns
that there are a couple
of strong worldly motives
for being an elder shepherd
even when your heart's not in it
and they are money and power.
At the end of verse 2,
serving as overseers,
not greedy for money
but eager to serve.
Greedy for money
means making the ministry
a means to get rich.
It means being motivated
by money in the ministry.
It means being motivated
by your own comfort.
It means the bad shepherds
of Ezekiel 34
devouring the flock
for your own gain.
It also means thinking constantly
about vacations and days off
and retirement benefits
instead of thinking about
the value of the human soul
and the preciousness of truth
and the power of the Holy Spirit
and the coming glory
of the chief shepherd.
And then in verse 3,
Peter warns against
the other worldly motive.
He says that they should serve
as overseers,
not lording it over
those entrusted to you
but being examples
to the flock.
Lording it over here
is not a reference
to personality types
but it does imply
that the elder shepherd here
is driven by power,
by the love of power.
He gets an ego high
from flaunting his authority
and prestige
and dominance.
He needs to be up front.
He likes to be addressed
with titles.
He craves the praise
and the dependence of people.
The elder does have authority.
They are called to exercise
oversight over the flock.
Christ the chief shepherd
has called them
for the task
of this oversight
but the under shepherd
is not a standing
for the Lord.
The shepherd presents
the word of the Lord,
the chief shepherd,
not their own decrees.
The shepherd enforces
the revealed will
of the Lord,
not their own wishes.
And for that reason,
any undermining
of the authority
of the scripture
turns church government
into spiritual tyranny.
If shepherds add to
or subtract from
the word of God,
they make themselves lords
over the consciences
of others.
And it says here,
far from being a lord
and master,
the shepherd is an example.
That is,
they are to lead others
in humble obedience
to God
by themselves
being humbly
obedient to God
as they put into practice
the word of God
in their lives.
The word of God
is their rule
and they pursue it
in obedience.
And so Peter says
the test of an elder shepherd
is their life,
their whole life.
Are they examples
for the flock?
Is their public oversight
a show
or does their whole life
prove their authenticity?
Is there a public shepherd
and a private shepherd?
What about their family
and their finances
and their hospitality
and their discernment
and their reputation
among spiritual people
and those outside?
are they bringing
the word of God
to bear in their lives
and walking forward
in humble submission
no matter what the cost
of that obedience?
Oh how discerning
the church needs to be.
Oh how we elder shepherds
need to take heed
to ourselves
as well as all the flock
as Acts 2 says
to search ourselves
and to test ourselves
and see if there is
any wicked way in us
because if we don't
God will.
These are but just
a couple of verses
and the rest of scripture
set a very high standard
for shepherds.
The shepherd serves the flock.
They love the flock.
They tend the flock.
They lead the flock.
He's accountable for the flock.
They sacrifice for the flock.
They protect their flock.
They pour their lives
out in service
of the flock.
And the high calling
of their vocation
makes the shepherd
vulnerable
to the judgment
of the sheep.
It is not an easy thing
for a pastor
to stand up
in front of the flock.
He leads to preach
a message about
the high calling
and nature
of his vocation.
Because it's easy
to point an accusatory finger
and just say
we're just not that.
You just fall
so far short.
You're defective.
You're substandard.
You may even be false.
In that place
of vulnerability
it is comforting
to know
that the Peter
who calls
the elders
to be shepherds
of God's flock
is the Peter
who had an unforgettable
breakfast with Jesus.
This is the Peter
who
through his three years
of ministry
with Jesus
basically
stuffed it up
every time.
This is the Peter
who consistently
failed,
consistently suffered
from foot-in-mouth disease.
Peter
and
he's the only one
who Jesus
referred to
as Satan
get behind me
as he tried
to hinder
Jesus
going to the cross.
He's the one
who
for all of history
has gone down
as the one
who ran
from Jesus
in his greatest
hour of need.
In the greatest
hour of fiery
trial
trial,
Peter denied
Jesus
three times
and ran.
What a coward.
there was
the self-assured
bravado
that he would
never turn
his back
on Jesus
but in that
fiery trial
he thought
only of himself
and his safety.
And then
just a matter
of weeks
later
on the
shore of
Lake Galilee
days later
even the shore
of Lake Galilee
the risen Lord
Jesus
restores
the failed
Peter.
restores
the failed
Peter
to his
apostolic
office
and he
charges
him
to be
a shepherd
to Christ's
little ones.
And so
when calling
others to
be elders
and shepherds
of his
sheep
of the
flock
Peter
was well
aware
of his
own
failings
and
shortcomings.
There was
plenty of room
for people
to point a
finger at
Peter
and say
Peter
weren't
you the
one
who ran
how dare
you give
such a
high
standard
of the
elder
shepherd.
But this
Peter
loved
the good
shepherd
who lays
down his
life for
the sheep.
Peter
and all
the elders
are under
shepherds
serving the
good
shepherd
and Peter
like all
the elder
shepherds
are firstly
sheep
themselves
who have
come to
the good
shepherd
who is
the overseer
of their
souls.
But for
this gathered
flock
he has
promised to
raise up
faithful
shepherds
faithful
shepherds
who can
stand
and shepherd
because the
good shepherd
is their
love
their hope
their forgiveness
their enabling
and their
comfort
even when
they don't
feel worthy
even
when they
fail
faithful
shepherds
look to the
good shepherd
for their
affirmation
and for
their rebuke
not the
changing
whims
of the
flock.
So what
sustains
a good
shepherd?
What
sustains
a faithful
shepherd?
How
might a
good
shepherd
exercise
oversight
willingly
and eager
to serve?
That is
what makes
the good
shepherd
want to
serve?
To love
to serve?
To delight
to shepherd?
Not motivated
by money
not motivated
by power
verse 4
and when
the chief
shepherd
appears
you receive
the crown
of glory
that will
never fade
away.
What's
the motivation?
The good
shepherd
the chief
shepherd
a shepherd
who loves
the good
shepherd
will have
a strong
sense of
his
accountability
before God
for the
souls of
his flock
even when
they don't
want him
to.
A good
shepherd
will look
to the
end
they will
take
the
long
view
they will
walk
into the
fiery
furnace
and prepare
God's
people
for
eternity.
What
keeps true
shepherds
going is
that when
the chief
shepherd
comes
with him
will come
his
everlasting
reward
the unfading
crown of
glory
and that
in
itself
is
enough
not
money
not
power
but there
is a
message here
for the
flock
in all
this
verse 5
young men
in the
same way
be submissive
to those
who are
older
all of
you
clothe
yourselves
with
humility
towards
one
another
because
God
opposes
the
proud
but
gives
grace
to
the
humble
the
reference
to
younger
men
here
being
submissive
to
older
is
linked
to
this
issue
of
eldership
it's
not
a
complete
change
of
gear
into
something
else
the
reference
to
older
is
a
reference
to
spiritual
eldership
it
was
normally
the
case
that
the
older
members
of
the
community
were
the
elders
but
it's
not
always
the
case
Timothy
according
to
church
tradition
was
anywhere
from
between
the
age
of
18
and
Peter
particularly
identifies
the
younger
men
probably
because
they
most
likely
typified
the
rejection
of
authority
but
the
point
here
is
that
there
is
to
be
church
wide
submission
to
spiritual
eldership
and
my
friends
our
culture
doesn't
help us
with
this
right
from
our
convict
beginnings
we
have
rejected
authority
our
national
heroes
are
the
underdogs
and
those
who
stand
against
authority
we
live
in a
time
when
we
are
very
quick
to
know
our
rights
and
to
stand
on
them
we
even
have
bumper
stickers
which
say
question
authority
but
in
case
you
think
that
you
have
left
that
culture
behind
another
issue
for
us
is
our
evangelical
church
history
our
origin
my
friends
is in
the
reformation
and
its
reaction
to
ecclesiastical
abuses
as
one
person
has
noted
Catholics
preach
contraception
but
don't
practice
it
and
evangelicals
preach
submission
but
don't
practice
it
we
have
been
taught
for
centuries
that
we
have
direct
access
to
the
good
shepherd
to
God
through
the
good
shepherd
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
we
have
been
taught
for
centuries
to
believe
as
the
scriptures
say
the
priesthood
of all
believers
scriptures
we
have
the
Bible
as
I
have
the
Bible
and
we
have
the
indwelling
presence
of the
spirit
to bring
out the
richness
of the
scriptures
and so
submission
is hard
when you're
not even
sure you
need the
people that
you're
meant to
submit to
people
and
yet
God
in
his
wisdom
has
appointed
shepherds
for
his
flock
and
he
says
that
they
are
absolutely
crucial
for
the
flock
the
flock
need
the
shepherd
they
need
feeding
they
need
tending
and they
need
protecting
because
the
devil
is
on
the
prowl
and
he's
waiting
to
pounce
and
he
wants
to
devour
and
what
makes
the
difference
is
the
shepherd
the
shepherd
working
under
the
good
shepherd
and
so
let
me
finish
by
considering
the
words
of
one
of
the
all
time
great
shepherds
in
my
view
Charles
Simeon
his
church
at
Cambridge
didn't
want
him
to
be
their
shepherd
and
he
suffered
terribly
for
at
least
the
first
12
years
he
was
there
in
his
first
year
there
he
preached
a
sermon
on
the
nature
of
his
office
a
very
bold
thing
to
do
in
the
face
of
the
enormous
opposition
he
was
facing
from
his
congregation
he
said
the
pastor
is
like
the
keeper
of
a
lighthouse
and
he
painted
a
vivid
picture
in
this
sermon
of
the
rocky
coast
just
strewn
with
dead
and
mangled
bodies
with
the
wailing
of
the
widows
and
the
orphans
on
the
shore
with
the
big
question
ringing
out
why
how
did
this
happen
and
then
he
pictured
the
delinquent
keeper
being
brought
out
and
finally
the
answer
as
to
why
this
tragedy
happened
was
given
asleep
and
he
went
on
to
say
remember
the
nature
of
my
office
and
the
care
incumbent
on
me
for
the
welfare
of
your
immortal
souls
consider
whatever
may
appear
in
my
discourse
as
harsh
earnest
or
alarming
not
as
the
effects
of
enthusiasm
but
as
the
rational
dictates
of a
heart
impressed
with
a
sense
both
of
the
value
of
the
soul
and
the
importance
of
eternity
by
recollecting
the
awful
consequences
of
my
neglect
you'll
be
more
inclined
to
receive
favorably
any
well-meant
admonitions
pray for
your elders
pray that
we would
not
neglect
our
charge
that
we
would
not
go
to
sleep
pray
that
we
would
not
take
our
eyes
off
the
appearing
of the
great
shepherd
pray
that
we
would
grow
in
humility
and
submit
to
him
and
to
see
the
nature
of our
office
with
such
clarity
and
pray
that
the
sheep
would
grow
in
humility
and
submit
to
the
shepherds
and
the
grace
of
God
working
those
things
together
the
grace
of
God
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
forever
and
ever
Amen
You
name