WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.759
 We're getting close to finishing this little epistle from Peter, and then we'll obviously, we're just going to jump right into 2 Peter while we're here.

00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:13.740
 But hopefully it's been a help to you, and Peter's writing to believers that just need practical help for everyday life, and that's where we are.

00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:21.080
 May not be facing the same trial, the same persecution, but we face difficulties in our life, and hopefully this truth that we found here has been a help.

00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:32.019
 And so we get to chapter 5, though, Peter's going to kind of turn a lot more practical and not really necessarily focus on the suffering, but how we're going to function within the church, how we function within our own Christian life.

00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:36.579
 So we're going to read the first five verses tonight, and we'll cover that here in the message.

00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:39.519
 The Bible says this, 1 Peter 5, verse 1,

00:00:39.520 --> 00:01:09.500
 1 Peter 5, verse 1,

00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:33.479
 So we come to this passage tonight, and Peter has a direct, really, exhortation for leadership within the church, and really pastors in general.

00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:38.199
 We see that here, but we're going to, you think, well, I'm not a preacher, so this doesn't apply to me.

00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:39.760
 We're going to get there in verse number 5.

00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:44.100
 This is going to apply to all of us, but there are some things that Peter says,

00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:48.520
 Hey, this is what a pastor should be, and it's been an encouragement to me to study.

00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:49.859
 It's been a reminder.

00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:51.879
 It's been heavy, just to be honest.

00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:57.400
 This is a weird kind of message to preach, because it's kind of about the position that I hold here.

00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:02.960
 But we're going to see exactly what the Lord has for us, because ultimately it's His church, and it's His people.

00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:04.219
 And so that's what we're going to see here.

00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:06.060
 So let's ask the Lord to help us this evening.

00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:07.480
 Father, thank You for this time together.

00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:09.979
 Thank You that we can open up Your Word.

00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:16.719
 We're thankful that You have instruction for us in every area of life, not just within our families and relationships and different things,

00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.819
 but how the church should operate.

00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:23.719
 And Lord, we desire here at Central to be a healthy, authentic New Testament church,

00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:28.800
 and I pray that You would help us to take these things seriously as we read it here in the Word of God.

00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:32.159
 And Lord, I pray that You would be with me, that You would just guide my thoughts and my words.

00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:36.400
 Lord, You would help it to be relayed exactly how You would.

00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:39.879
 Lord, I pray that You would just be with us now, and we ask all this in Christ's name.

00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:40.800
 Amen.

00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:42.060
 Thank you so much for standing.

00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:42.539
 You may be seated.

00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:42.620
 Thank you.

00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:50.939
 I'm sure you've noticed it's pretty easy to do somebody else's job from a distance.

00:02:52.239 --> 00:02:54.659
 You maybe watch a football game.

00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:56.019
 This is just hypothetically speaking.

00:02:56.780 --> 00:03:01.959
 And you're sitting there watching it last night, and you're thinking, what is this coach doing?

00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:08.680
 You know, because from my recliner, it's a lot easier with no coaching experience to identify something

00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:13.280
 that one man is being paid millions of dollars to identify that somehow he's missing it.

00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:15.400
 I'm like, this quarterback stinks.

00:03:15.980 --> 00:03:18.180
 Put him on the bench, hypothetically speaking.

00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:19.280
 I mean, that's all this is.

00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:20.260
 But it is.

00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:21.700
 We're Monday morning quarterbacks.

00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:25.140
 I mean, we're coming in on some of the Cowboy games going on right now,

00:03:25.260 --> 00:03:27.140
 and, you know, maybe you're trying to watch it.

00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:28.219
 Pay attention to the sermon real quick.

00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.920
 They'll lose afterwards just as well as they'll lose right now.

00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:34.299
 But we have a lot of things to say.

00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:35.299
 I mean, we do it at restaurants.

00:03:35.619 --> 00:03:38.519
 You go to a restaurant, and you're like, well, if I was running this place, you know,

00:03:38.539 --> 00:03:39.379
 my food would already be here.

00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.639
 They need somebody who knows what they're doing.

00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:41.759
 And we have all these opinions.

00:03:42.279 --> 00:03:44.299
 Obviously, we do it in driving.

00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:47.739
 We think we know how everybody else should drive.

00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:50.599
 It's just kind of how we live our life, you know.

00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.939
 When it comes to us, we don't want a lot of opinions directed towards us,

00:03:53.959 --> 00:03:55.699
 but we're going to kind of give it the other way.

00:03:56.279 --> 00:03:58.879
 And if we're being honest, we can even do that here at church.

00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.539
 And maybe somebody here is thinking, man, pastor needs to preach shorter.

00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:02.719
 I'm trying.

00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:04.620
 Listen, I'm trying the best that I can.

00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:06.979
 Maybe some of you are thinking, pastor needs to preach longer.

00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:08.780
 Said nobody ever.

00:04:09.519 --> 00:04:11.699
 I guess some of you are about to get up and walk out.

00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:16.500
 I mean, some people within a church family, a church body would think, hey,

00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:17.839
 we need to do more activities.

00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.579
 And other people think, hey, we're doing too much.

00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:21.180
 And there's just going to be opinions.

00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:22.339
 And that's okay.

00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:25.680
 Because when you're part of a family, when you're part of a church body,

00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.540
 you're going to have those things and how things should be done.

00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.340
 I remember when I was a youth pastor and the pastor that I was working under,

00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:33.060
 he would do something.

00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:35.019
 I'd do it like a teenager does.

00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.220
 Hey, when I'm a parent, when I'm a pastor, I'm definitely not going to do that.

00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.579
 Nobody's ever had that thought when you're growing up.

00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:45.040
 And then you get older and you realize exactly why your parents said that.

00:04:45.340 --> 00:04:48.019
 And I've called the pastor I worked under, Brother Roy, Brother Johnson.

00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.060
 I'm like, hey, I just want to apologize for what?

00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:50.939
 Don't worry about it.

00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:55.660
 I just need to get that off my chest because I understand why you made certain decisions.

00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:00.279
 When we come here to the fifth chapter of this little letter,

00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:05.740
 Peter is reminding us that God has a plan for the leadership of the church.

00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:10.659
 That we're not just up here just kind of willy-nilly trying to figure out how to do things.

00:05:10.659 --> 00:05:16.180
 No, that he has a guide in what it is supposed to look like for a healthy church.

00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:20.439
 And that's what makes this sermon just a little interesting for me personally,

00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:26.019
 is as the pastor of the church, I'm preaching a message on what the pastor of the church should do.

00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:28.600
 And so I think you kind of see the rub there.

00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:31.019
 But here in our text, Peter is basically saying,

00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:33.379
 pastors, this is how you're supposed to do your job.

00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:39.159
 So I've felt the weight of this and tried to figure a way to really relay it

00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:41.540
 that it is beneficial to the entire church.

00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:46.560
 And what Peter is going to do is he's going to talk about how a spiritual leader should lead.

00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:52.839
 Why they lead and how they should treat the people of God that he has entrusted to their care.

00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:56.180
 And ultimately, it doesn't matter if you're the pastor or you're sitting here in the pew,

00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.019
 that we all answer to the chief shepherd.

00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.720
 And that's really the idea and the thought that he's driving.

00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:09.199
 And so what Peter is showing us is what life in a healthy church ought to look like.

00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:12.959
 Now I'm so thankful for Central Baptist Church and I feel like we're healthy,

00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:14.699
 but we can never get comfortable as well.

00:06:15.099 --> 00:06:16.519
 We need to be reminded of this.

00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:18.899
 It's, you know, sometimes, don't you love yearly checkups?

00:06:19.219 --> 00:06:21.219
 I think we were talking a little bit earlier before church.

00:06:21.419 --> 00:06:25.019
 I am getting to the age where they say, you have to come all the time now.

00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:27.219
 And at your age now, you have to come to this checkup.

00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.000
 I'm like, I'm only 40, but I guess this is when it starts.

00:06:30.099 --> 00:06:32.139
 I mean, it's all downhill from here.

00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:34.579
 But we want to be healthy.

00:06:34.679 --> 00:06:38.319
 And that's why there's passages like this here in the New Testament especially,

00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.079
 so we can understand exactly what it looks like.

00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.819
 Because there are responsibilities for those who lead.

00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:48.139
 And there are responsibilities for those who God has placed in the church,

00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:50.139
 that God has given ministries,

00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:53.920
 that God allows to follow the direction that he is setting.

00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:57.039
 But eventually, Peter is going to bring us all to the same place.

00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:58.180
 We saw it there in verse 5.

00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.680
 And when we get into our next sermon,

00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:01.800
 the next time we're together in the book of Peter,

00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:06.759
 he's going to really remind us that we should all humbly be under the chief shepherd.

00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:08.659
 That is who we are following.

00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.099
 That is who we are ultimately serving.

00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.120
 And I think that's really the heart of this text,

00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.039
 especially in these first five verses,

00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:18.180
 because this church does not belong to me.

00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:20.599
 This church does not belong to you.

00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:23.319
 This church belongs to Jesus Christ.

00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.379
 We didn't die for this church.

00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:27.519
 We didn't shed our blood for this church.

00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.139
 Jesus Christ did that.

00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.879
 And when we remember that,

00:07:31.099 --> 00:07:34.279
 whether we have the opportunity to stand behind this pulpit and preach,

00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:36.579
 or whether we come and we give and we serve

00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:38.500
 and we do the things God has called us to,

00:07:38.559 --> 00:07:40.179
 we follow where he is leading,

00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:43.219
 it really changes the way that we do all those things.

00:07:43.799 --> 00:07:47.119
 It changes the way that we treat one another within the church body.

00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:49.759
 And really the big idea this evening is this,

00:07:50.059 --> 00:07:51.279
 is that a healthy church,

00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.179
 it follows Christ through humble leadership

00:07:54.179 --> 00:07:56.779
 and humble submission on both sides.

00:07:57.739 --> 00:07:59.099
 And so the question we'll answer,

00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:01.239
 as we just look at these five short verses,

00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.560
 is what does a healthy church look like

00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:05.819
 under the chief shepherd's leadership?

00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.660
 And Peter begins with those who have been entrusted

00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:11.120
 with the responsibility of leading.

00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.960
 We see that a healthy church has leaders who shepherd God's people.

00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:18.220
 That is what they are called to do.

00:08:18.460 --> 00:08:20.079
 Notice how Peter begins in verse number one.

00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:20.639
 He says,

00:08:20.780 --> 00:08:22.379
 The elders which are among you,

00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:26.280
 I exhort who am also an elder.

00:08:27.400 --> 00:08:30.019
 Now I love Peter's humbleness here.

00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:32.620
 Because if we go back into the gospels,

00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.500
 Peter was not maybe always the most humble.

00:08:36.199 --> 00:08:37.899
 Peter was real quick to speak.

00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:39.699
 Peter was real proud of his leadership.

00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.500
 I mean there was times where Jesus said,

00:08:41.579 --> 00:08:42.340
 I'm going to go to the cross.

00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:42.819
 And Peter said,

00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:43.639
 No you're not.

00:08:44.179 --> 00:08:44.539
 He's like,

00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.460
 I'm going to protect you.

00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.279
 And Peter basically said,

00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:48.500
 Over my dead body.

00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:50.740
 And Peter's heart was in the right place.

00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:54.699
 But sometimes his confidence was in the wrong place.

00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:56.600
 His confidence was in Peter.

00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:57.040
 Peter.

00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:02.779
 And I would imagine just kind of from the conversations we see within the disciples,

00:09:03.060 --> 00:09:04.800
 that sometimes they probably get a little frustrated at Peter.

00:09:05.420 --> 00:09:06.680
 Peter would probably try to pull rank.

00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:08.519
 Hey, remember I'm the leader of this.

00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.139
 Remember I'm the one that walked on water.

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.240
 We don't know that for sure.

00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:14.080
 But Peter has that tendency to kind of be that way.

00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.540
 But Peter just says this.

00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:16.840
 I mean,

00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:17.360
 he says,

00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:18.759
 I'm an elder just like you.

00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.639
 I have the same type of leadership.

00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:22.419
 He didn't say,

00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:23.299
 I'm an apostle.

00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.279
 Which he was.

00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:27.279
 He wasn't the one saying to these people reading this letter,

00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:27.600
 Hey,

00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:28.399
 I was there.

00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.019
 I was there in the garden.

00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:30.460
 You know,

00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:31.559
 I messed up a little bit.

00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:35.580
 But I was there in the upper room when Jesus showed himself after the resurrection.

00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:38.519
 And Jesus came and found me when I was fishing.

00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.340
 And he made a meal for me.

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.460
 And we're going to talk about that here in a second.

00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:42.720
 He didn't do that.

00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:43.080
 I mean,

00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.799
 this is the man that walked with Jesus.

00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:47.319
 He had a tremendous authority in the early church.

00:09:47.579 --> 00:09:48.479
 But he just simply says,

00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:48.879
 Hey,

00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.579
 I'm an elder just like you.

00:09:52.439 --> 00:09:53.959
 I'm one of you.

00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:55.179
 And really,

00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:57.059
 I think that's the growth that we see in Peter's life.

00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:01.299
 The further we walk with Christ in our relationship,

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.479
 it doesn't make us feel better.

00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:02.759
 No,

00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:03.979
 it really humbles us.

00:10:04.459 --> 00:10:06.159
 And it reminds us daily as we grow,

00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.240
 the more we see Christ,

00:10:07.359 --> 00:10:08.559
 the better we see ourselves.

00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:10.719
 And Peter is realizing that.

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.819
 And Peter has just been talking,

00:10:12.819 --> 00:10:14.719
 coming at the end of chapter four,

00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:19.459
 about fiery trials and the suffering that these believers would have been going through

00:10:19.459 --> 00:10:22.339
 and had experienced over the past few years,

00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:24.899
 especially that is really trying their faith.

00:10:25.839 --> 00:10:27.559
 And immediately after that,

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:30.879
 he tells them there at the end of chapter number four,

00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.839
 that they need to commit themselves to their faithful creator.

00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.979
 That God is in control.

00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:40.219
 That God is the one that is guiding them and he's leading them.

00:10:40.219 --> 00:10:44.439
 But then he immediately turns here in verse number one of our chapter five,

00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.479
 to the elders.

00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:48.939
 Why the shift right there?

00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:51.419
 Why is it placed so precisely there?

00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:56.079
 Because the idea is suffering sheep need faithful shepherds.

00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:59.659
 That they're walking through this life and they need somebody to guide them.

00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.620
 Because the reality is when the sheep,

00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:03.919
 when we think of just shepherds and sheep in the field,

00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:04.639
 listen,

00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:06.079
 when life is good,

00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:06.419
 it's good.

00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:07.699
 But when a wolf comes,

00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:09.199
 when a lion comes,

00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.399
 we see David in his life.

00:11:12.719 --> 00:11:14.439
 David had to protect the sheep.

00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.360
 And the reality is,

00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.339
 is we are in a war.

00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:20.740
 There is spiritual warfare still going on today.

00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:23.379
 And many times,

00:11:23.479 --> 00:11:24.959
 Satan tries to get within the church

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.920
 and Peter's reminding them,

00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:28.820
 sometimes there's persecutions without,

00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.560
 but sometimes it comes within the church.

00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:35.639
 And the church needs a shepherd that is willing to be a shepherd.

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.960
 We don't have time to go back into it,

00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:39.800
 but you can go and read Ezekiel chapter 34.

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.800
 But really what God is doing is he is calling out Israel.

00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.800
 He's calling out the spiritual leaders

00:11:44.800 --> 00:11:46.240
 because here's what they were supposed to be.

00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.759
 They were supposed to be shepherds to the people,

00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:49.500
 but they were hirelings.

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.019
 A hireling doesn't care anything about the sheep.

00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:53.360
 When trouble came,

00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:54.199
 when a wolf came,

00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:54.559
 they said,

00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:55.939
 I don't get paid enough for this.

00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:56.980
 And they jetted.

00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:58.720
 You read John chapter 10.

00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.259
 I mean,

00:11:59.299 --> 00:12:00.340
 that's what Jesus is doing.

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:00.779
 I mean,

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:02.840
 Jesus is going after the Pharisees.

00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.019
 And he's saying,

00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.220
 I am the good shepherd.

00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:06.679
 I'm not going to run.

00:12:06.939 --> 00:12:08.379
 I'm here to protect the sheep.

00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:11.319
 And I'm not like these religious leaders.

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:13.079
 And he's bringing it to that point.

00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:15.679
 And here's what he tells the elders to do.

00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:19.319
 He reminds them in verse number two,

00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.260
 feed the flock of God,

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.780
 which is among you.

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.300
 See,

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.000
 that word,

00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:27.480
 to feed the flock,

00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:29.980
 it carries this idea to care for,

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.480
 to lead,

00:12:32.040 --> 00:12:32.960
 to protect,

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.480
 to feed.

00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:35.440
 I mean,

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.360
 we kind of get the picture,

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.780
 maybe when you read Psalm 23,

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.280
 how the shepherd is always guiding the sheep.

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:42.440
 He leads them beside still waters.

00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:44.260
 He carries them to green pastures.

00:12:44.260 --> 00:12:45.640
 When difficulty comes,

00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.140
 he's there,

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.160
 even in the valley of the shadow of death.

00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:48.319
 And,

00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.659
 and Peter's saying,

00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.059
 Hey,

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.879
 as an elder,

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.519
 as somebody that has leadership,

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:54.539
 it'd be the same idea as a pastor,

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.079
 a bishop.

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:58.179
 These are all interchangeable words here in the New Testament,

00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:00.079
 but here's the job description.

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:00.980
 You're a shepherd.

00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:05.159
 That is what you are called to do in a position of leadership.

00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:06.600
 And that's important to,

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.199
 as a pastor to remember,

00:13:08.459 --> 00:13:10.980
 because sometimes the job can get to the situation where,

00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:11.339
 okay,

00:13:11.339 --> 00:13:12.620
 I'm managing an organization,

00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:16.159
 planning events and solving problems,

00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:19.360
 problems and just maybe just trying to keep everything moving the right direction.

00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:19.959
 And there,

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.219
 there's a time and place for that,

00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:24.139
 that that's part of the job requirement,

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.719
 so to speak.

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:24.879
 And,

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:28.799
 and there are times when pastoral ministry involves all of those things.

00:13:30.219 --> 00:13:35.759
 But Peter wants to remind those in a position of leadership that sometimes you just got to,

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:38.120
 you got to remember what you really are called to do.

00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.419
 We have to simplify it.

00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:41.000
 And he's,

00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:41.500
 here's what he's saying.

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.860
 You are to shepherd God's people.

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:45.480
 That is the calling.

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.960
 That is what you have been placed here for.

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:52.279
 And notice those three little words there in verse number two that are so important.

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:55.259
 Feed the flock of God.

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:56.960
 See,

00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:59.200
 the sheep do not belong to the shepherd.

00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.379
 That is not how it is.

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.399
 They belong to God.

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.360
 I mean,

00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.100
 I love this church with all my heart.

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:06.680
 I really do.

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:10.299
 I can stand up here behind this pulpit and unequivocally say that.

00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:13.299
 And this is where I know this is where God has placed me to be.

00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:15.379
 And I'm so thankful for the friendships.

00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:19.399
 And I'm so thankful for the relationships and all the things God has placed in my life.

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:19.559
 And,

00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:20.039
 you know,

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:23.319
 sometimes I just drive up here for no reason because I just want to be at the church.

00:14:23.839 --> 00:14:24.259
 My kids are like,

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.579
 what are we doing?

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:24.819
 I'm like,

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.419
 I don't know.

00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:27.599
 We're just making sure everything looks good.

00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.899
 I love this place.

00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:31.000
 I want to be a part of this place.

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.120
 But this place is not my place.

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.719
 This is not my church.

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.459
 We mentioned it already.

00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:39.080
 But God has entrusted me as your pastor to shepherd you,

00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:40.460
 to help you,

00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.519
 to guide you,

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.519
 to lead you.

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.440
 And listen,

00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:45.580
 I want to make sure that we're very,

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.180
 very clear.

00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:49.840
 God has not placed you here to accomplish my vision.

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.500
 God didn't call me here to,

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.259
 what do I want to do with the church?

00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:57.300
 That's not what I answer the call for.

00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:01.600
 People within a local church body are not used to build my ministry.

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:04.139
 That's not what God has called me to do.

00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:07.279
 He's not called me to build my own kingdom.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.920
 That's not what a church is to be.

00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.220
 I've said it before,

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:12.759
 and I'll just say it while we're in this passage.

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.720
 It's obviously a little bit different message.

00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:18.320
 I do not view Central Baptist Church as a stepping stone church.

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:19.759
 I mean,

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:20.300
 that's just the,

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.100
 that is the reality.

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:21.779
 Some people say,

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:21.940
 well,

00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.139
 I'll take a little smaller church,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.300
 and then I'll get my feet wet,

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.560
 and then I'll go to bigger and better things.

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.339
 If the Lord lets me,

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.619
 I'll just stay here the rest of my life.

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:29.559
 I mean,

00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:30.179
 that's just kind of,

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:30.479
 that's,

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:32.479
 I'm just kind of putting my heart out there for you,

00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:34.299
 but what we're reminded here when he says,

00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.419
 feed the flock of God,

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.339
 is that we are all people.

00:15:38.359 --> 00:15:39.299
 Even the pastor,

00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:40.739
 even the shepherd.

00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:41.639
 Here's what I know.

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.819
 Jesus loves me,

00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:44.000
 just like he loves you.

00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.599
 Jesus died for me,

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.639
 just like he died for you,

00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:49.099
 and we all belong to him.

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.739
 That is a reminder that we all need,

00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:53.399
 no matter what position you might have,

00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.959
 and Peter understood that personally.

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.039
 Because Peter had leadership.

00:15:57.619 --> 00:15:58.419
 He had authority.

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.079
 He had people willing to follow,

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.479
 and Peter came to a moment in his life

00:16:03.479 --> 00:16:04.439
 where they said,

00:16:04.479 --> 00:16:04.559
 hey,

00:16:04.619 --> 00:16:05.619
 don't you know that man?

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:05.919
 He said,

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.759
 I don't know him.

00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:09.359
 I know nothing about him,

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.779
 and he rejected Christ.

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:13.599
 But one of my favorite passages,

00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.299
 one of my favorite chapters in all the Bible

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.699
 is John chapter 21.

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.539
 And Peter says,

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.179
 I'm going fishing.

00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.739
 And many of the disciples went with him.

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:22.079
 They said,

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.319
 yeah,

00:16:22.359 --> 00:16:22.759
 me too.

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.779
 He wasn't going fishing for leisure.

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.579
 He was basically saying,

00:16:25.839 --> 00:16:25.919
 well,

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.899
 I tried to be a disciple.

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.959
 I tried to be a leader,

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.740
 and I failed.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.740
 So I'm going to just go back to something

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.639
 that I'm really good at.

00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.199
 But you read John 21.

00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:34.120
 He's out there all night,

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.779
 catches absolutely nothing.

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:38.419
 That's about the skill of a fisherman

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.240
 that I am as well.

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.019
 I'm much better at ordering it

00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:41.819
 at a restaurant,

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.480
 and then it comes out to me.

00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:44.679
 But he's out there,

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.419
 catches nothing.

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.779
 And then Jesus is on the shore.

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.539
 They don't know it's Jesus.

00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.299
 You know the story.

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.799
 And he says,

00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:51.979
 hey,

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.379
 y'all catch anything out there?

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:56.299
 And I'm sure Peter is just irritated.

00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:57.179
 Like,

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.539
 who's this joker on the shore?

00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.859
 We've been here all night.

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.839
 We've caught nothing.

00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.500
 And he said,

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.839
 why don't you cast it on the right side?

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.740
 Maybe Peter's yelling back at him.

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.059
 John said,

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.000
 why don't you just do it?

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.500
 We'll just let this guy move on.

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.579
 Throws it over the right side.

00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:11.099
 Guess what?

00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.399
 The nets fill up.

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.759
 Peter knows exactly who it is.

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.579
 He says,

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.079
 it's the Lord.

00:17:15.639 --> 00:17:16.559
 Jumps in the water,

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.559
 swims to the shore.

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.139
 Jesus already had the food ready,

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.559
 by the way.

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.279
 He's there cooking some breakfast.

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.859
 And he asked Peter three times,

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:24.740
 Peter,

00:17:25.179 --> 00:17:26.259
 do you love me?

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.740
 And Peter said,

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:27.980
 Lord,

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.159
 you know I love you.

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:31.000
 You remember what he told him?

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:33.940
 Feed my sheep.

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.940
 Three different times.

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.099
 He said,

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:36.740
 feed my lambs,

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.379
 feed my sheep.

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.220
 Here's what he's saying.

00:17:38.419 --> 00:17:39.940
 Do what I've called you to do.

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.500
 Peter,

00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.000
 these aren't your people.

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.259
 These aren't your disciples.

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:45.859
 I've just entrusted you to be a pillar.

00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:47.440
 I've entrusted you to help them.

00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.279
 To guide them.

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.339
 To teach them what I have taught you.

00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:53.279
 And we see by the time we come to 1 Peter 5,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.579
 Peter learned that.

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.379
 And all these years later,

00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:57.319
 he didn't say,

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:57.599
 hey,

00:17:57.679 --> 00:17:59.019
 Jesus told me to go build my kingdom.

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.339
 He said,

00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.500
 no,

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.919
 here's what Jesus told me,

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.839
 and I'm going to tell you the same thing.

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.740
 Feed the flock of God.

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:06.579
 Just do what you've been called to do.

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:09.279
 So Peter tells these elders here

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.500
 what they're supposed to do.

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:11.460
 Shepherd them.

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.500
 But then he shows them

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.759
 how they're supposed to do it.

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.940
 That's what we see here in verses 2 and 3.

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.500
 That really,

00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:19.880
 in these verses right here,

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.940
 Peter gives three simple contrasts.

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.720
 Because God isn't just concerned

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.460
 that his people are shepherded.

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:29.059
 What he's really concerned about

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:31.799
 is the heart behind the shepherding.

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.420
 Because we've said it multiple times in this lesson.

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.799
 We see it all throughout the scripture.

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.740
 We can do the right things

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.099
 with the wrong motives.

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.599
 We can do the right things outwardly,

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.599
 but inwardly,

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:44.440
 we can be doing it for our own personal gain

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:46.500
 and our own personal advantage.

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.039
 And so here's what Peter tells us

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.000
 in verse number 2.

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:50.899
 He said,

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.079
 feed the flock of God,

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.799
 which is among you,

00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:53.500
 taking oversight,

00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:55.079
 and this is what I've called you to do.

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:55.839
 Here's how.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.960
 Not by constraint,

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.500
 but willingly.

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:03.079
 This is really what Peter is saying right here.

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.859
 Don't shepherd God's people

00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:07.980
 just because somebody has to do it.

00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:10.740
 You've all worked with somebody

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.399
 that's only there

00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:13.119
 because they have to be there.

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:16.299
 Those are generally not the best employees.

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.539
 I mean, you're like,

00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:17.960
 you're like,

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.720
 hey, you know,

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.859
 I'm just here so I don't get fine

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.679
 type of situation.

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.839
 That's Peter saying,

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.519
 that's not how a shepherd should be.

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.259
 That's not what God has called you to do.

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:28.379
 That doesn't mean ministry is always easy.

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.960
 I mean, there's difficult days.

00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.779
 It doesn't matter if you're up here,

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.700
 you're in the chair.

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.359
 It's difficult.

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.839
 Sometimes it's hard.

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.680
 What God has called you to do,

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.980
 there are going to be burdens.

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.799
 There's going to be hard conversations.

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.339
 But Peter's reminding us

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.519
 underneath all of that,

00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.259
 underneath the difficulties,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.019
 underneath the situations

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.420
 that might be at hand,

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.180
 that there ought to be a heart

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.240
 that can still say,

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:55.000
 I want to serve God's people.

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:57.379
 And that's really every Christian's job.

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:59.220
 That's what we looked at in chapter four.

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:02.559
 That every member is to be a minister.

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.519
 That the heart behind it is,

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.940
 yes, sometimes you're going to be frustrated.

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.819
 Sometimes you're going to think,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.119
 what's the point of this anymore?

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.899
 Here's the point.

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.379
 We're serving the chief shepherd.

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.619
 That he is the one guiding.

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.139
 He is the one that is leading.

00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.799
 And Peter's reminding these elders

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.619
 and really reminding all of us

00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:19.039
 that yes, you can be tired,

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.019
 but you should still be willing.

00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:22.460
 That you can be burdened,

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.740
 but you can still be willing.

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.799
 He's going to tell us

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.759
 in just a few short verses

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.660
 in the next chapter

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:28.420
 that we're to cast all our cares upon him

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.480
 because he cares for us.

00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.279
 It's not my job

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.340
 to bear everybody's burden.

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.640
 It's not your job

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.320
 to bear everybody's burden.

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.840
 We have a burden bearer.

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.680
 Come unto me,

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.060
 all you that labor and are heavy laden,

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.420
 and I will give you rest.

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.759
 So Peter's reminding us,

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.640
 and especially those

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.380
 that are called into

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.380
 a leadership position,

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.960
 hey, don't just do it

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.320
 because you have to do it.

00:20:49.060 --> 00:20:50.279
 Be willing to do it.

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:51.680
 Have the heart

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.380
 to continue to press forward.

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.759
 Here's also what he says.

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:57.960
 Not for filthy lucre,

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.460
 but of a ready mind.

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.259
 Peter says a shepherd

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:05.279
 should be leading the sheep

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.799
 not for what he can get,

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.220
 but eagerly because

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.579
 that's what God has called him to do.

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.440
 Here's what Peter's saying.

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.000
 Don't use God's people

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.140
 for what you can get from them.

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.779
 And this goes beyond money.

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:21.740
 Yes, it has that implication there as well,

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:24.039
 but a shepherd is not supposed

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.399
 to use the sheep for recognition,

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.339
 for influence,

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.700
 for attention,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.980
 for status.

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:30.799
 Peter says,

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.559
 that's not why anybody should shepherd.

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:35.099
 That's not healthy for the shepherd,

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.339
 and it's definitely not healthy for the sheep.

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.799
 The question should never be,

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.859
 what can I get from these people?

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.599
 That goes for a church.

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.119
 That goes for friendships.

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.819
 That goes for a workplace.

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.859
 That shouldn't be our mindset,

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.659
 but honestly,

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.059
 that's how our world operates.

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.379
 Hey, what can I get from this person?

00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:55.839
 Our world likes to do this.

00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:56.559
 Use people up,

00:21:56.679 --> 00:21:57.139
 spit them out,

00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:57.480
 chew them out,

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.099
 and get rid of them.

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.200
 Hey, I got what I needed.

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.639
 I squeezed every last drop out of them.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.539
 That's not what God has called us to do.

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.500
 The mindset is this.

00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:06.039
 How can I serve these people?

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.240
 That's what Peter's saying.

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.159
 As an elder,

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.819
 and he's writing,

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.759
 I'm one of you.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.259
 This is what you should be doing.

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:15.159
 Where did he learn that?

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:17.079
 Well, from the chief shepherd.

00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:19.059
 Because he was there.

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:21.480
 Peter was probably one of the ones saying,

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.819
 Lord, send them away.

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.839
 I'm tired.

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.179
 But you know what Jesus constantly was doing?

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.220
 Ministering.

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.559
 He was serving.

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.700
 That's who Jesus is.

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.159
 That he took on the form of a servant.

00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:35.259
 And he was obedient to it.

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:38.659
 The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto,

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.940
 but to minister.

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.240
 And if we're going to follow Christ,

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.879
 whether we're in a position of leadership,

00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:46.500
 or whether we're just a church member,

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.040
 we all have the same job.

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.480
 Just to serve one another.

00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:51.540
 I mean, you go through the New Testament.

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.760
 Peter talks about it.

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.860
 John talks about it.

00:22:54.020 --> 00:22:54.920
 Paul talks about it.

00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:57.060
 We are here to serve one another.

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:59.200
 That we are to minister grace to the hearers.

00:22:59.260 --> 00:23:01.020
 We're to edify the body.

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.520
 So he reminds us that,

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:06.300
 especially those within the leadership position,

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.720
 the pastor shouldn't be what you can get out of the people,

00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.640
 but rather how you can serve the people.

00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:14.900
 He also tells us this, verse 3.

00:23:15.780 --> 00:23:18.740
 Neither is being lords over God's heritage,

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.980
 but being an ensample to the flock.

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:25.000
 See, the idea here in verse number 3

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:27.500
 is that biblical authority,

00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:29.620
 the position of the pastor,

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:33.280
 is never an excuse for domination.

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.940
 That is not what God has called the pastor to do.

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:39.960
 A shepherd is not called to bully the sheep.

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.420
 To get what he wants out of them.

00:23:42.520 --> 00:23:45.100
 He's not called to manipulate the people.

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:48.000
 He doesn't use his position to get his own way.

00:23:48.780 --> 00:23:49.840
 Well, what's he supposed to do?

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:52.280
 Peter says, but being an ensample to the flock.

00:23:53.780 --> 00:23:56.480
 That the pastor should be setting the priority

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.280
 and the direction that God is leading the church.

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.360
 If I want our church to be a praying church,

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.160
 here's what I need to do.

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.480
 Be a praying pastor.

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:09.400
 If I want our church to serve,

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.200
 here's what I need to do.

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.819
 Serve.

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:15.259
 If I want our church to take the word of God seriously,

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:17.680
 then I should take the word of God seriously.

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:20.259
 And that is what I try to do,

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:21.400
 and that is the goal,

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:23.539
 because that's what God is showing me in my life.

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.819
 This is what we need.

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.839
 Every single person in here,

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:28.400
 we need to take the word of God seriously,

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.460
 because it is going to direct our life.

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:34.180
 See, a pastor, somebody in leadership,

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:35.819
 a Sunday school teacher,

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:38.480
 shouldn't ask the class or the congregation

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.920
 to follow Jesus somewhere they're not willing to go.

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:44.640
 If God is calling this church here,

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.440
 then guess who should be leading them?

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.180
 The pastor.

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:48.860
 The shepherd.

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.799
 And when you put those three contrasts together,

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:54.860
 you begin to see the heart of biblical leadership.

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.740
 God says, this is what biblical leadership looks like.

00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.839
 It's God uses humble leaders,

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.120
 not using people,

00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:05.140
 but leaders that are willing to serve other people.

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:09.079
 And there's a reason a pastor should serve that way,

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.759
 because ultimately,

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.559
 he's not serving for the approval of the congregation.

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:19.359
 Now, I don't want the church to not like me.

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.500
 I don't know about you.

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.980
 I like to be liked.

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.720
 You know, I hope my approval rating

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:26.440
 is a little higher than presidential approval ratings.

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.920
 It's usually what I'm aiming for,

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.240
 just a little above average on that.

00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:33.460
 But here's the reason.

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:36.460
 My goal every week is not,

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:38.279
 well, I hope they love this.

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.620
 Just being fully transparent,

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.039
 I answer to one person,

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.259
 the chief shepherd.

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:47.340
 And that's what Peter reminds us.

00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.259
 Number two,

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:51.539
 he reminds us that we must remember the chief shepherd.

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:54.420
 Yes, the pastor must,

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.200
 but so should the members.

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:59.339
 And I love that he uses that term.

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.180
 He says,

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:03.399
 and when the chief shepherd shall appear.

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.720
 That's so humbling to me.

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.420
 It really is.

00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:12.099
 And really, on the other side of it as well,

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:13.859
 it's so incredibly freeing.

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:17.879
 Because there are times as your pastor

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:19.839
 that I am overwhelmed.

00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:21.939
 I don't know what to do.

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.759
 So I asked Brother Garrett,

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.819
 and he just says,

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.559
 I don't know.

00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.699
 Let's Google it.

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.279
 No, I'm just kidding.

00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:33.119
 I just remember even as a young pastor,

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.539
 I knew I didn't know anything.

00:26:35.659 --> 00:26:36.500
 Now, nine years later,

00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:38.559
 I'm just confirmed that I don't know anything.

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.359
 But the beautiful thing is,

00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.599
 is I don't have to know everything.

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:44.839
 Jesus knows everything.

00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:48.699
 God didn't place me here in this church

00:26:48.699 --> 00:26:49.839
 to fix everything.

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.240
 I can't.

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.759
 Jesus can.

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:56.079
 I cannot meet every need.

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.119
 And sometimes that does bother me,

00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.759
 just to be honest.

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.219
 I like to do things.

00:27:01.459 --> 00:27:02.740
 I think by nature,

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.299
 I'm just,

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:05.459
 I want to help as much as possible.

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:07.219
 But the wonderful thing is,

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.139
 the church grows.

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.619
 God gives people,

00:27:09.719 --> 00:27:10.579
 and places them in here,

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:12.319
 and gives opportunities for others

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:14.159
 to serve because I'm not able

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.819
 to meet every need.

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.619
 Sometimes I don't know the need.

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.720
 But you can,

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.179
 and Jesus gives you that ability.

00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.960
 We've already talked about spiritual gifts.

00:27:22.159 --> 00:27:23.220
 That's what we talked about in chapter four,

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.919
 that God is placing a family.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:27.000
 He's building a body here,

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:29.259
 and I cannot be everywhere at every time.

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.099
 Jesus can.

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:30.159
 Jesus can.

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:34.080
 I cannot carry every burden,

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:37.200
 but I'm so thankful we have a burden-bearing God.

00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.960
 And when you think about that,

00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:43.060
 He knows every person in this flock.

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:47.200
 I try my very best to know everybody that comes in here.

00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:49.640
 I try to connect with you.

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.720
 I try to understand where you are.

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:53.440
 If there's something I can pray with you about,

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.860
 I try to do that.

00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.860
 I try to be faithful to it.

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.240
 I'm not as good as I should be.

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.680
 But I'm so thankful,

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.819
 and you should be as well,

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.940
 that there is a chief shepherd.

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:05.279
 There is somebody that loves you

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:07.200
 more than I could ever love you.

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:09.359
 That He gave His life for you.

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.019
 He knows every hurt that you have,

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.440
 every fear that you deal with,

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.559
 the struggles in your life.

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.819
 He knows what you need,

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.039
 and He loves this church.

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.480
 I mean, I feel like I love this church

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.960
 as much as anybody, if not more,

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:21.400
 but I don't love it as much as Jesus does.

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:25.099
 And that is a wonderful thing to remember,

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:28.619
 that we are answering to this chief shepherd.

00:28:30.199 --> 00:28:32.299
 And a pastor's responsibility,

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:35.980
 these elders that Peter's addressing,

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.839
 he's saying, listen,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:39.759
 your responsibility isn't to be the chief shepherd.

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.000
 I don't want that job.

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:43.099
 I can't do that job.

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:46.079
 But my job as your pastor

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:48.859
 is to be faithful to the chief shepherd.

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:52.559
 We're talking in Brother Caleb's Sunday school class

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.599
 about stewarding.

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.440
 That's what God has called me to do,

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.759
 to steward this church,

00:28:58.279 --> 00:29:00.500
 what God has entrusted in to guide it.

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:03.099
 And Peter says, hey, there is a reward

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:05.319
 when the chief shepherd shall appear.

00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.299
 And I love this reminder

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.099
 that he is bringing up over and over again

00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.619
 in 1 Peter,

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.799
 that life is hard,

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:11.720
 that it's difficult,

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.059
 that suffering is real.

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.240
 But I just want to remind you,

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.859
 Jesus is coming again.

00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:18.839
 And that is a wonderful thing.

00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:20.859
 And I'm like the Apostle John

00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.859
 at the end of the book of Revelation.

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.879
 Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

00:29:25.959 --> 00:29:27.759
 But that's why we must make sure

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.659
 that we are leading

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:30.000
 and we are serving

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.480
 and we are loving in a way

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:34.519
 that is pleasing to God.

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.439
 And I'll just say this.

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.439
 I'm so thankful for you

00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:41.240
 praying for me as your pastor.

00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.579
 Because there are things,

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.980
 decisions that maybe

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.980
 the Lord has led me to make

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.099
 or will lead me to make.

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.259
 And maybe not everybody

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.220
 understands it

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:53.380
 or appreciates it.

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.120
 But here's what I know

00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.360
 from studying the Word of God.

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.220
 One day,

00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:58.960
 I will answer

00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.000
 for everything that goes on

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.759
 within this church.

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.660
 That's why we're serious

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:06.019
 about who teaches

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.880
 and what we teach

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.819
 and why we do it

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.279
 and everything that takes place

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.599
 because we're not just here

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.380
 kind of doing our own thing.

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.440
 This isn't our church.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.220
 This isn't my church.

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.440
 So one day,

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.240
 I'm going to have to stand

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.799
 before the Lord and say,

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.019
 this is why we did this.

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.139
 This is why we did it.

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.299
 And here's what our answer should be.

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.740
 Because God led us to do it.

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.940
 Because the Word of God

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.919
 led that direction.

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:26.159
 And when Jesus does appear,

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:28.319
 every earthly measurement of success

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.759
 is going to look really small.

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.180
 God didn't call me

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.440
 to build the biggest church

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.240
 in Gainesville, Texas.

00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.740
 If God grows it to be the biggest,

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.519
 so be it.

00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.200
 But here's what God called

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:39.720
 all of us to do,

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:40.659
 just to be faithful.

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.980
 Because when the chief shepherd

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.559
 shows up,

00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:44.720
 he's not going to say,

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.659
 hey, tell me how impressive

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.560
 your ministry was.

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.540
 He's not going to say,

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.940
 how many people in your church

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.680
 and in your community

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.720
 knew your name?

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.540
 How much recognition

00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:56.460
 did you have amongst the community?

00:30:57.820 --> 00:30:58.820
 Now here's what we all

00:30:58.820 --> 00:31:00.000
 should desire to hear from the Lord.

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.200
 Well done,

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:05.220
 thou good and faithful servant.

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.180
 Because ultimately,

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.980
 that's what we all are.

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.339
 We're all servants.

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:11.240
 We're all trying to serve the Lord

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.559
 how he calls us.

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.220
 Did we faithfully care

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:16.000
 for what Christ has entrusted us?

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.839
 And just by a point of application,

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.440
 that goes for every area of your life.

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.099
 As parents,

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.019
 you're going to stand before the Lord

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.019
 and you're going to give an account

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:26.640
 of how you shepherded your children.

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:29.240
 How you shepherded your family,

00:31:29.560 --> 00:31:30.360
 your relationships,

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.380
 those are things,

00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.880
 it's required of a steward

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.240
 that we be found faithful.

00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.160
 Because ultimately,

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:38.620
 the reward for faithful ministry

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.980
 doesn't come from people.

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.020
 I'm thankful for how you do love me

00:31:43.020 --> 00:31:44.020
 and my family

00:31:44.020 --> 00:31:45.540
 and take care of us.

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.220
 But really,

00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.300
 what really matters

00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:48.660
 is what the Lord thinks.

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.160
 Because the applause of people

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:51.700
 is going to fade.

00:31:51.820 --> 00:31:52.720
 The recognition fades.

00:31:52.840 --> 00:31:54.040
 The positions are going to fade.

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.399
 Even our time of service

00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:56.779
 eventually comes to an end.

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.399
 I mean,

00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.659
 I'd like to just die right here

00:31:59.659 --> 00:32:00.159
 in the pulpit.

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.359
 Not tonight.

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.399
 Just to make that clear.

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.019
 Don't start praying right now.

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:09.059
 But even if that's times

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.019
 where I have to step down

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.099
 and the Lord tarries his coming.

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:14.180
 You have another pastor one day.

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.579
 These are things

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.500
 that you should look for.

00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.279
 These are things

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.379
 that a pastor should strive for.

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:18.940
 You're not going to find

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.720
 a perfect pastor.

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.700
 They don't exist

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.839
 because they're people.

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.599
 But ultimately,

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.740
 we have to make sure

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:27.220
 that we're following the Lord.

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.139
 Because the reward

00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:31.259
 that I would love to receive

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.259
 is from the chief shepherd

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.399
 that fadeth not away.

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:36.099
 Because when it comes

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.579
 to the rewards

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.259
 that Christ gives,

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.799
 I'm not wanting it for myself.

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.180
 You know why

00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:40.119
 you should want a reward

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:41.019
 when you study the rewards?

00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.980
 We're going to lay it back

00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.519
 at his feet.

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.519
 That's what it's all about.

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.700
 I want to have something

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.720
 to give back to the Lord.

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:49.039
 I want to tell him,

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.099
 hey, I just did

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:51.480
 what you asked me to do.

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.940
 I tried my very best

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.639
 to live for you.

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.440
 And once again,

00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.140
 Peter is doing

00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.620
 what he's done

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.460
 throughout this whole letter.

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.759
 He's reminding us,

00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:59.100
 he's reminding the shepherds

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.560
 of the church

00:32:59.560 --> 00:33:01.120
 that the future glory

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.780
 should shape

00:33:01.780 --> 00:33:03.040
 our present faithfulness.

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.680
 How we live today

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.360
 should be affected

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.560
 by what we know is coming.

00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.520
 We should live for the Lord

00:33:08.520 --> 00:33:10.220
 whatever God has placed us for

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.100
 because we're going to stand

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:11.880
 before him one day.

00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:12.759
 And we're going to give

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.980
 an answer for it one day.

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.740
 And that brings the whole thing

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.620
 back into perspective.

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:18.660
 That the church belongs to him.

00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:19.940
 The flock belongs to him.

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:22.300
 The shepherd serves Jesus.

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.500
 Jesus.

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.319
 And one day,

00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:25.799
 we'll all answer to him.

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.639
 And it'll be a wonderful day.

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:29.659
 It'll be a glorious day.

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.919
 And that should always

00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:31.940
 be on our mind.

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.619
 That should be something

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.460
 we pray about

00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.539
 when we pray about things

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.159
 within the church

00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:36.839
 and within your family.

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.079
 Lord, is this what

00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.839
 you want me to do?

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.720
 Because sometimes,

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.059
 even within the life

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.619
 of this church

00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.220
 and the nine years

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.519
 I've been here,

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.220
 there's been things

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.839
 that I've just done.

00:33:44.899 --> 00:33:45.700
 They're not bad things.

00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.500
 But the Lord says,

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.119
 hey, did you,

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.200
 is that what you think

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.019
 you should do right there?

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:50.359
 I'm like, well,

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.319
 I mean, that's just

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:52.839
 where it is.

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.420
 Now, Peter stopped right here.

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:56.879
 We think, well,

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.460
 this is a good one.

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.259
 I'm glad, I'm glad

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.079
 preacher finally preached

00:33:59.079 --> 00:33:59.940
 the message to himself.

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.559
 Don't worry,

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.359
 he's already worked me

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:04.139
 over on this one.

00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:05.500
 But he wanted,

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.579
 Peter wanted to include

00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.240
 everybody in here

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.960
 in verse number five.

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.900
 He said,

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.720
 likewise, you younger,

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.480
 submit yourselves

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.139
 unto the elder.

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.320
 Yea, all of you

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.679
 be subject

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.679
 one to another

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:18.220
 and be clothed

00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:18.840
 with humility

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.519
 for God resisteth

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.300
 the proud

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.420
 and giveth grace

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:24.500
 to the humble.

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.780
 See, Peter has talked

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.480
 to the shepherds.

00:34:28.240 --> 00:34:29.400
 He's reminded all of us,

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.440
 but especially the shepherds,

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.579
 that the chief shepherd

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.500
 is the one we answer to.

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.400
 But now he turns

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.059
 to the flock.

00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:36.400
 And this verse

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.360
 brings us to the,

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.139
 all of us

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.820
 to the very same place.

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.539
 Here's what he said

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.420
 we should all have

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.759
 in our life.

00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.880
 We should clothe ourselves

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.840
 with humility.

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.699
 That should be

00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.059
 a defining characteristic.

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:48.659
 We see this lovely word

00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.460
 that everybody loves

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.179
 and I don't think it was,

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.559
 everybody loved it

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.079
 in the first century

00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:53.159
 as well as they do today,

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.940
 submission.

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:56.099
 Everybody loves that word.

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.619
 And I've been to weddings

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:59.340
 where they give the vows

00:34:59.340 --> 00:34:59.860
 and they say,

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.340
 will you submit to them?

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:01.480
 Everybody,

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:03.159
 you can't say that,

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:03.980
 it's 2026.

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.299
 We give this word

00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:07.440
 a really bad rap.

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.079
 We hear it

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.179
 and we immediately think,

00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.320
 so I'm just supposed

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.259
 to do what somebody

00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:13.179
 tells me to do?

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.759
 I'm just supposed

00:35:14.759 --> 00:35:16.460
 to kind of follow blindly?

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.779
 That's not what Peter's

00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.480
 teaching right here.

00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.320
 I mean,

00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:21.279
 when you place it

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:21.820
 in the context

00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:22.619
 of these verses,

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:24.440
 he just spent three verses

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.579
 placing limits

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:27.259
 on how spiritual authority

00:35:27.259 --> 00:35:28.500
 is supposed to be exercised.

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.739
 He's reminded pastors,

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.340
 you're not supposed

00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.320
 to dominate

00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:33.059
 or manipulate

00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.019
 or use people,

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.500
 you're supposed

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.219
 to shepherd them

00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:35.900
 and love them

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.539
 and guide them

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.000
 and feed them

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:38.420
 and just care for them.

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.840
 That you were to pour

00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.699
 your life out for them,

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.659
 you're willing to lay

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.139
 your life down,

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:42.739
 that's what a shepherd

00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:43.239
 would do.

00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.579
 He's given that context,

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.960
 so we see that

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.820
 biblical submission,

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.539
 when he talks about it

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.159
 here in verse five,

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.940
 is not blind obedience

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.960
 to a controlling leader.

00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:54.039
 That's nowhere

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.799
 in this passage.

00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:56.640
 And that's why

00:35:56.640 --> 00:35:58.480
 there is ways

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.580
 and God protects

00:35:59.580 --> 00:36:00.100
 the church

00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:01.160
 and he allows

00:36:01.160 --> 00:36:01.680
 the church

00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.940
 to have a voice

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.360
 within it.

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.280
 But here's what it is,

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.060
 here's biblical submission,

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.640
 it's willing recognition

00:36:06.640 --> 00:36:08.039
 of the spiritual leadership

00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:08.840
 that God has placed

00:36:08.840 --> 00:36:09.480
 within the church

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.280
 and within your life.

00:36:11.560 --> 00:36:12.320
 For teenagers

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.220
 it will be your parents.

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.580
 For the church

00:36:14.580 --> 00:36:15.960
 it will be the pastors

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.519
 and the elders,

00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:17.160
 the leaders

00:36:17.160 --> 00:36:18.180
 of the church.

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.600
 And we see how beautifully

00:36:19.600 --> 00:36:20.640
 this works together.

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:22.579
 In our world

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:22.879
 we think,

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.059
 man,

00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.759
 that's just going

00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:24.480
 to butt heads.

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.400
 But Jesus says

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.359
 when the shepherd

00:36:27.359 --> 00:36:28.400
 leads humbly

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:30.119
 and the flock

00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:31.179
 follows humbly,

00:36:31.859 --> 00:36:32.920
 then nobody's fighting

00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.699
 to be the most important

00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:34.379
 person in the room.

00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:37.559
 That's not the goal here.

00:36:38.739 --> 00:36:40.079
 That's not the aim.

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:42.920
 When we take this approach,

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.079
 when we clothe ourselves

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.719
 with humility,

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.980
 nobody's trying

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.139
 to get their own way.

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.599
 It's not a group

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.000
 of people

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.860
 that come together

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.440
 to find out

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.539
 who's in charge.

00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.900
 We're not trying

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:56.199
 to all be the chief Indian.

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.119
 No, no,

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.839
 we're just trying

00:36:57.839 --> 00:36:58.440
 to serve the Lord

00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.460
 because everybody

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:01.079
 remembers Jesus

00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:02.019
 is the one we're serving.

00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:04.460
 Jesus is the chief shepherd.

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.000
 And that brings us

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.460
 to the phrase

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:06.980
 that kind of really

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.940
 opens this passage

00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:08.799
 and we're going to see

00:37:08.799 --> 00:37:10.279
 later as we move

00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:11.000
 into the ending

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.659
 of this letter.

00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.460
 He says this,

00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:13.639
 yea,

00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:14.599
 all of you

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:17.000
 be subject

00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.519
 one to another

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.380
 and be clothed

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.019
 with humility.

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:19.719
 Why?

00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:21.019
 For God

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.839
 resisteth

00:37:21.839 --> 00:37:22.539
 the proud

00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.699
 and giveth

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:24.279
 grace

00:37:24.279 --> 00:37:25.959
 to the humble.

00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:28.279
 I mean,

00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:29.059
 that brings everybody

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.799
 into this sermon.

00:37:30.919 --> 00:37:31.059
 Yeah,

00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:31.959
 he started with elders.

00:37:32.439 --> 00:37:32.859
 He started

00:37:32.859 --> 00:37:33.419
 with leadership.

00:37:34.319 --> 00:37:35.000
 But you can be

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.439
 the pastor,

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:36.339
 a Sunday school teacher,

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.259
 an older believer,

00:37:37.379 --> 00:37:37.980
 a younger believer,

00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:38.799
 a long time member.

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.299
 You could be just here

00:37:40.299 --> 00:37:41.139
 just a few months

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.039
 or whatever it may be.

00:37:42.419 --> 00:37:43.659
 Everybody is commanded

00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:44.779
 to live this way.

00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:46.900
 to clothe yourself

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:48.040
 in humility.

00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:49.740
 And I love that picture.

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.600
 It's easy for us

00:37:50.600 --> 00:37:51.120
 to understand.

00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:52.700
 Because when you got up

00:37:52.700 --> 00:37:53.120
 this morning,

00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.480
 you got dressed.

00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.500
 Some of you made

00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.740
 bad fashion decisions,

00:37:57.560 --> 00:37:58.120
 Jamie Baldwin.

00:37:59.120 --> 00:38:00.460
 But we love you anyways.

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:01.600
 We're just glad

00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:02.380
 you put the shirt on,

00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:03.280
 but I wish you

00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:03.960
 would change colors,

00:38:04.080 --> 00:38:05.440
 but it's another sermon

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.160
 for another day.

00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:09.819
 But here's what

00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:10.500
 Peter's saying.

00:38:10.879 --> 00:38:11.339
 When he talks about

00:38:11.339 --> 00:38:11.779
 being clothed,

00:38:11.799 --> 00:38:12.239
 we understand

00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:13.279
 how simple that is.

00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:14.779
 We just get up,

00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.399
 we put our shirt on,

00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:16.159
 we put our pants on,

00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:17.000
 put our socks on.

00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.460
 And he says,

00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.420
 as Christians,

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.000
 no matter what position

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.480
 you hold,

00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:22.779
 you ought to clothe yourself

00:38:22.779 --> 00:38:23.699
 with this every single day,

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.279
 humility.

00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:27.379
 We not think highly

00:38:27.379 --> 00:38:28.139
 of ourselves.

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:30.559
 We're all just sinners

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.379
 saved by grace.

00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.940
 That God has placed us

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.940
 within this body.

00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:34.659
 Yes,

00:38:34.879 --> 00:38:36.139
 God is a God of order.

00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:37.440
 But just because

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:38.219
 somebody stands up here

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:38.960
 doesn't mean they're better

00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.779
 than anybody else

00:38:39.779 --> 00:38:40.359
 in this church.

00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.420
 I'm thankful that I'm

00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:42.319
 just a growing member

00:38:42.319 --> 00:38:43.460
 of Central Baptist Church.

00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.279
 Now,

00:38:44.339 --> 00:38:45.319
 the office of a pastor,

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.539
 there is certain requirements

00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:47.559
 and he lays them out

00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:48.079
 very clearly

00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:48.679
 and there's certain things

00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:50.219
 that are expected of me

00:38:50.219 --> 00:38:51.480
 and I'm thankful for that

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.099
 and we should

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:52.819
 that God is a God

00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.339
 that does things

00:38:53.339 --> 00:38:54.239
 decently and in order.

00:38:56.319 --> 00:38:57.460
 But when it comes to

00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:59.119
 just being a Christian,

00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.839
 humility ought to be

00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:01.659
 something that people

00:39:01.659 --> 00:39:02.460
 can see in us.

00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:04.299
 They can see that

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:05.379
 this is not about us.

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:06.879
 This church,

00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.619
 they shouldn't come in

00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:08.019
 and see,

00:39:08.279 --> 00:39:08.359
 man,

00:39:08.379 --> 00:39:08.839
 there's some sort of

00:39:08.839 --> 00:39:09.899
 power struggle going on.

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.239
 No,

00:39:10.359 --> 00:39:10.859
 I'm thankful.

00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.299
 It's just,

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.159
 we just feel like

00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:13.059
 we love each other

00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:15.219
 and there's that buzz.

00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:17.079
 Just next Sunday morning

00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:17.519
 when you come here,

00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.559
 just listen to it.

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:19.839
 It's life.

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.179
 It's people that are

00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:22.079
 doing life together

00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:23.159
 that are talking about it

00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:23.319
 and say,

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:23.599
 hey,

00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.199
 how's that going?

00:39:24.259 --> 00:39:25.179
 I prayed for you about that

00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:25.819
 and just kind of doing

00:39:25.819 --> 00:39:26.539
 all these things

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:28.519
 and just having a good time

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.079
 and laughing

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.279
 and fellowshipping together.

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:30.819
 Listen,

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.519
 humility,

00:39:31.699 --> 00:39:33.199
 when we live this way

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:34.539
 and when the leaders

00:39:34.539 --> 00:39:35.859
 lead this way,

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:37.579
 we are simply saying,

00:39:37.759 --> 00:39:37.879
 hey,

00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.579
 everything here

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.239
 is not about me.

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.319
 I don't always have

00:39:41.319 --> 00:39:41.980
 to get my way.

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.899
 I don't always have

00:39:42.899 --> 00:39:43.699
 to get the last word.

00:39:43.859 --> 00:39:44.980
 I don't have to be recognized.

00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:45.919
 I don't have to always

00:39:45.919 --> 00:39:46.779
 prove that I'm right.

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.099
 No,

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:47.440
 instead,

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:47.940
 Peter says,

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:48.699
 here's what you should do.

00:39:48.859 --> 00:39:49.539
 You can serve.

00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:50.339
 You can listen.

00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.299
 You can love.

00:39:51.300 --> 00:39:52.580
 You can put somebody else

00:39:52.580 --> 00:39:53.440
 before yourself.

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.060
 And when you look back

00:39:56.060 --> 00:39:56.800
 over this passage

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.880
 in these first five verses,

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.320
 especially,

00:39:58.600 --> 00:39:59.780
 you realize humility

00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:00.700
 has really been

00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:02.240
 underneath this whole thing.

00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:05.019
 That a pastor

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:06.360
 should shepherd willingly

00:40:06.360 --> 00:40:08.039
 because ministry

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.960
 is not about him.

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:12.740
 A pastor should shepherd

00:40:12.740 --> 00:40:14.039
 willingly because it's not

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:15.000
 about personal gain.

00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.900
 Ministry isn't,

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.060
 what can I get out of this?

00:40:18.640 --> 00:40:19.820
 It disgusts me,

00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.600
 some of these people

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.460
 that you see on TV

00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:23.000
 in these so-called ministries.

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.380
 I mean,

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:25.319
 you're profiting off

00:40:25.319 --> 00:40:26.000
 the gospel.

00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:27.179
 Now,

00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:27.380
 yes,

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.199
 we take offerings

00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:28.679
 and people get,

00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:29.139
 you know,

00:40:29.239 --> 00:40:30.119
 the world has all kinds

00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:30.460
 of opinions,

00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:31.960
 but we're just trying

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.599
 to keep the lights on

00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:32.900
 and we're trying

00:40:32.900 --> 00:40:33.500
 to move forward

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.259
 and do the things

00:40:34.259 --> 00:40:35.460
 that God has called us

00:40:35.460 --> 00:40:35.819
 to do.

00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:37.980
 A shepherd doesn't have

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:39.259
 to lord over the people

00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:40.659
 because it's not about power.

00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:42.119
 We're not trying

00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:43.480
 to gain all the control here.

00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:44.599
 Listen,

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:46.460
 the longer I pastor,

00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:47.599
 I want less control.

00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:48.299
 I just want God

00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:48.799
 to do it.

00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.000
 I want God

00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:51.019
 to move this church forward

00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.800
 because I've tried

00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:52.199
 to do things

00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:52.659
 in my own power

00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:53.039
 and the Lord said,

00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:54.420
 why don't you let me do that?

00:40:54.760 --> 00:40:55.699
 That's a great idea.

00:40:56.340 --> 00:40:57.599
 He's a lot better at it.

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.639
 And when that happens,

00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.820
 the church can follow

00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:03.340
 godly leadership

00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:04.179
 because the church

00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:05.019
 isn't about getting

00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:06.079
 everything our own way.

00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:08.199
 We're all under

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:09.340
 the same shepherd,

00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.099
 Jesus Christ.

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:13.780
 And we're all here

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:15.679
 for his glory.

00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:17.579
 That's the picture

00:41:17.579 --> 00:41:18.259
 Peter's painting.

00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.239
 Yes,

00:41:19.319 --> 00:41:19.799
 there's different

00:41:19.799 --> 00:41:20.480
 responsibilities.

00:41:21.379 --> 00:41:22.339
 There's different roles.

00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.379
 But it's the same posture

00:41:24.379 --> 00:41:25.659
 no matter what position

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.019
 you're in.

00:41:26.359 --> 00:41:26.839
 Humility.

00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.460
 It's what God

00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:29.559
 has called us to.

00:41:29.839 --> 00:41:30.059
 I mean,

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:30.819
 John told us,

00:41:30.859 --> 00:41:31.519
 John the Baptist said,

00:41:31.839 --> 00:41:33.239
 he must increase

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:34.899
 and I must decrease.

00:41:35.779 --> 00:41:36.759
 When a congregation

00:41:36.759 --> 00:41:37.559
 does that,

00:41:37.719 --> 00:41:38.319
 when the leadership

00:41:38.319 --> 00:41:38.879
 does that,

00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:39.699
 that creates

00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:40.599
 a healthy church.

00:41:41.179 --> 00:41:41.679
 That it's not,

00:41:41.759 --> 00:41:41.859
 hey,

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.940
 I'm going to take

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.379
 charge of this.

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:43.539
 No,

00:41:43.780 --> 00:41:44.099
 God,

00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:44.980
 would you lead this?

00:41:45.160 --> 00:41:45.300
 God,

00:41:45.340 --> 00:41:45.840
 would you grow

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.420
 this Sunday school?

00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:46.740
 God,

00:41:46.780 --> 00:41:47.240
 would you be

00:41:47.240 --> 00:41:47.980
 in the children's ministry?

00:41:48.220 --> 00:41:48.360
 God,

00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:49.140
 would you help this?

00:41:49.200 --> 00:41:49.920
 Would you do this?

00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:50.300
 Lord,

00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:51.320
 would you do that?

00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:52.180
 That's what makes

00:41:52.180 --> 00:41:52.940
 the difference.

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:55.280
 Because when we become proud,

00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:56.460
 here's what the Bible says,

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:57.800
 and it doesn't sound good at all,

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.240
 God,

00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:59.220
 resist us.

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:01.660
 We don't want to find

00:42:01.660 --> 00:42:02.360
 ourselves there.

00:42:03.660 --> 00:42:03.880
 I mean,

00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.119
 God,

00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:05.619
 it's like he's got his arm out

00:42:05.619 --> 00:42:06.940
 and as much as we're trying,

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:07.160
 he said,

00:42:07.240 --> 00:42:07.340
 no,

00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:07.960
 I don't want anything

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.940
 to do with you right now.

00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:10.500
 If that's how you're going to be,

00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:11.519
 that's not what I'm calling you to do.

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:14.199
 It's strong language Peter uses,

00:42:14.500 --> 00:42:15.059
 but pride,

00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:17.000
 it puts us in opposition to God.

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.800
 No matter where you sit,

00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:21.739
 that's not a great place to be.

00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.300
 And see,

00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:25.199
 when you step back

00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:27.179
 and look at these five verses,

00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:28.300
 Peter really gives us

00:42:28.300 --> 00:42:31.099
 this idea of what a healthy church

00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:31.759
 should look like.

00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:33.980
 He tells these elders,

00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:34.280
 listen,

00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:35.579
 I know where you are,

00:42:35.619 --> 00:42:36.259
 I'm one of you.

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:38.420
 And I just want to remind you

00:42:38.420 --> 00:42:40.019
 that you have a wonderful job to do.

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:42.059
 You have a great calling.

00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:45.320
 God takes it very seriously

00:42:45.320 --> 00:42:47.619
 and you need to shepherd God's people

00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:48.820
 like they're his people.

00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:50.420
 You need to remember

00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:51.840
 that one day you're going to answer to him

00:42:51.840 --> 00:42:54.119
 for how you shepherded his flock.

00:42:55.659 --> 00:42:57.179
 And then Peter turns to all of us

00:42:57.179 --> 00:42:58.480
 and reminds us

00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.719
 that we are to walk in humility,

00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:03.099
 that we are to follow godly leadership,

00:43:03.219 --> 00:43:04.739
 that we are to serve one another,

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:06.860
 that we're to put others before ourselves.

00:43:06.860 --> 00:43:10.519
 Because whether you're standing

00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:11.660
 behind a pulpit,

00:43:12.519 --> 00:43:13.420
 sitting in your chair,

00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:14.480
 teaching a class,

00:43:14.860 --> 00:43:16.000
 serving behind the scenes,

00:43:16.720 --> 00:43:18.599
 whatever God has placed you to do,

00:43:19.120 --> 00:43:19.840
 opening the door,

00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:20.460
 being a greeter,

00:43:20.579 --> 00:43:21.559
 all of these things,

00:43:21.820 --> 00:43:22.680
 the ground is level

00:43:22.680 --> 00:43:23.480
 under the chief shepherd.

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:27.840
 So here's the take home thought.

00:43:28.220 --> 00:43:28.980
 It's pretty simple.

00:43:29.740 --> 00:43:31.240
 The church belongs to Jesus.

00:43:32.139 --> 00:43:33.299
 It's his church

00:43:33.299 --> 00:43:34.579
 and it's his people.

00:43:35.299 --> 00:43:36.839
 So let's serve one another

00:43:36.839 --> 00:43:38.119
 like it does.

00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:40.859
 That's what God has called you to do.

00:43:41.319 --> 00:43:42.759
 That's why he has placed you here.

00:43:43.919 --> 00:43:45.079
 And that's really the serpent.

00:43:46.219 --> 00:43:48.019
 That I'm not the chief shepherd.

00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.739
 You're not the chief shepherd.

00:43:51.079 --> 00:43:52.939
 Whether you're inside these four walls

00:43:52.939 --> 00:43:53.799
 or you're living your life,

00:43:54.019 --> 00:43:55.239
 we should be under submission

00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:56.179
 to Jesus Christ.

00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.899
 That he is the one guiding.

00:43:58.159 --> 00:43:59.159
 He is the one leading.

00:43:59.159 --> 00:44:01.279
 So let's faithfully serve him.

00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:02.980
 Let's humbly serve one another

00:44:02.980 --> 00:44:06.219
 until he appears again.

00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:07.500
 What do we stand with our heads?