Shepherdology 101 (1 Peter 5:1-14)
- I’m going to ask you to play a little word-association game with me this morning
- let me give you a few words, and I am going to ask that somebody give me the first word that comes to mind
- here we go:
- Blue Jays
- new municipal tax bills
- Labor Day
- back-to-school
- short sermons
- pastors
- it’s hard to know what to make of pastors these days
- Christian people everywhere are crying out for spiritual leadership
- and yet as our culture spins faster and faster, churches are caught up in a whirlwind of change, and people sometimes get lost in the shuffle – sheep without a shepherd
- pastors, many times, simply don’t know what to do
- faced with overwhelming expectations and hampered by unworkable systems, some dash into the fray, and get demolished
- others go in and in short order leave a trail of trouble
- still others are searching for what it means to be a true leader in the 20th century, and unfortunately get hamstrung with business models rather than the pattern of Jesus
- some become adversarial and wind up with broken spirits and broken churches
- others plod on, with little hope
- and many churches end up having a love/hate relationship with them
- and yet we come back to point: Christian people everywhere are crying out for spiritual leadership
- most Christians want to follow real shepherds – people whose lives are credible, whose relationships are authentic and warm, and whose ministry is genuine and helpful
- speaking personally as a pastor, I believe that most pastors long to be that type of spiritual leader and to make that kind of difference in the lives of others
- the Bible paints a picture of what a spiritual leader should look like
- it’s not a picture of a CEO of a church – sitting behind a desk or in a boardroom, making decisions, tapping gavels, dispatching memos, and announcing edicts
- it’s not a picture of a dynamic speaker who can hold an audience in his hand and bring people to tears
- and it’s not even a learned scholar whose skills are so sharp he could exegete the church bulletin for half an hour
- the picture is that of a shepherd
- (1 Peter 5:1) To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
- (1 Peter 5:2) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…
- shepherd is a bit of an antiquated term, but I don’t think there’s a better metaphor of what a pastor should be
- in Bible times, shepherds were as common and familiar to most Middle Easterners as telephones and supermarkets are to us
- almost anywhere in the Bible world, if you gazed across a landscape you would likely see at least one flock of sheep
- a shepherd wasn’t really in authority over sheep as much as he was a servant of sheep
- when a tiny lamb was born, one of the first sensations felt by the shivering lamb was the tender hands of the shepherd
- his gentle voice was one of the first sounds to awaken his delicate eardrums
- “The shepherd lived with the lambs for their entire lives – protecting them, caressing them, feeding and watering them, and leading them to the freshest pools and the most luxuriant pastures – day and night, year in and year out…Each sheep came to rely on the shepherd and to know his voice and his alone. They followed him and no one else.” (Dr. Lynn Anderson, They Smell Like Sheep)
- the sheep, of course, knew who was in charge
- they might occasionally feel the tap of the shepherd’s crook, but only necessary
- in short, as one person puts it, the shepherd smelled like sheep
- I am hungry to be a shepherd to the flock here at Richview
- I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe this is where God has brought me to serve you, to live along you, to live a credible life so that you learn to trust my voice
- I long to be a godly leader who senses the urgency of God’s mission and leads the church into the twenty-first century the way Jesus would want me to
- if you long to be part of a church that functions as God designs, you need to hear this too
- you need to be able to pray for your pastor
- and what’s more, you have some responsibilities too!
- look with me this morning at 1 Peter 5 as we outline three critical guidelines for shepherds and three critical outlines for sheep
- this is how the church should operate
- Peter is writing to a church under pressure – experiencing or about to experience great persecution
- the theme of his book has been how to live as God’s people in a hostile world
- and he wraps up this important book by giving some very important guidelines for shepherds and for sheep
- FIRST, FOR THE SHEPHERDS OR PASTORS
- three questions, found in verses two to four
- let me preach to myself for a minute – but this will apply to some of you
- we are all shepherds in one sense
- and you should hear this, because you need to pray for your leaders and understand and sympathize with our calling
- to those involved in church leadership, Peter gives a virtual checklist of proper and improper pastoral motives
- things haven’t changed very much between his time and our time
- Peter asks spiritual leaders three questions:
- DO YOU SERVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO OR BECAUSE YOU WANT TO?
- (1 Peter 5:2) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be
- many pastors neither enjoy nor want to be pastors
- to be sure, there are weeks where the pain that is associated with people-oriented ministries are acute
- but over time, emotional and spiritual burnout and the trend to “cool down” after years of service can take its toll
- and ministry can become an obligation
- but when a man has a pastor’s heart, he serves the sheep not because he has to, but because he wants to
- the word willing here means an unrestrained or free choice
- given all the options in the world, I’d chose to be a pastor!
- God wants our ungrudging service
- nobody should be pressured into a church office which he or she does not really want!
- I’ve learned there’s a tremendous difference between getting up and preaching because I have to, and getting up and preaching because I want to
- a pastor came home on a Sunday night
- he had re-used an old sermon from a previous church
- in fact, it had been years since he had sat down with the creative juices flowing and served up a fresh meal to his flock
- and in a moment of honesty, his wife turned to him and said, “Either rekindle your passion for the ministry or get out”
- shepherds, are you doing your tasks because you want to or because you have to?
- are you performing tasks under a sense of calling from God, or because you have nothing else to do?
- second question for shepherds:
- (1 Peter 5:2) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
- SHEPHERDS, ARE YOU SERVING BECAUSE OF THE MONEY YOU CAN ACQUIRE OR BECAUSE OF YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR MINISTRY?
- now, the average pastor of a church did not enter the ministry motivated by money
- but it’s not hard for the temptation to creep in
- Peter contrasts serving for money with “eager” service – service that is done with a positive emotional desire
- he’s not saying that pastor’s shouldn’t be paid for their work, but keep greed and selfish interests far away
- ministry is a sacred position – not a profession to practice, but a debt to discharge
- not to be done because you’re getting paid for it, but out of an enthusiasm that bubbles from the subterranean springs of the heart
- third questions for shepherds:
- ARE YOU SERVING BECAUSE OF YOUR DESIRE FOR POWER, OR BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT YOUR LIFE MAKES ON OTHERS?
- (1 Peter 5:3) not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- the word “lording” literally means domineering; forcefully ruling over
- Peter here forbids arbitrary, arrogant, selfish, and excessively restrictive rule
- there is no place for pastoral dictatorship, for emotional intimidation, or the flaunting of power
- shepherds, what happens when you don’t get your way?
- are you threatened by the gifts of others?
- you are not sovereigns, but servants
- you are not an authority, but an example
- and shepherds, for those of you who fulfill the job description in 1 Peter 5:1-3, look what’s waiting for you:
- (1 Peter 5:4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- that’s what I’m waiting for
- that’s what I care about
- much more than the evaluation of the sheep, as important as that might be, I’ve got to answer to the Chief Shepherd
- I need you to pray for me and for the other leaders of this church
- I need you to pray that God would preserve all of us from succumbing to the temptations of ministry
- we need to keep a healthy balance, to rejoice in our service, to find joy in serving as Christ did
- Spurgeon said a century ago:
- Every workman knows the necessity of keeping his tools in a good state of repair…If the workman lose the edge…he knows that there will be a greater draught upon his energies, or his work will be badly done…
- It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organize societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service; my spiritual faculties, and my inner life, are my battle axe and weapons of war.
- could we pray for a minute for pastors?
- well, we’re not done yet
- BECAUSE PETER GIVES THREE INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOU SHEEP
- listen up, now, sheep!
- THE FIRST THING YOU’VE GOT TO DO IS TO FOLLOW YOUR SHEPHERDS
- one of the greatest needs in the church is not just leadership, but followership
- sheep need to learn the fine art of following credible and gifted shepherds when they lead
- I’m convinced that many churches thwart the God-given gift of leadership – they don’t allow leaders to lead
- but when God gives you a shepherd who is willing to serve you eagerly, willingly, and humbly, follow him!
- (1 Peter 5:5) Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
- there is some debate as to who the “young men” refers to
- the majority of scholars believe that Peter is here speaking generically of all those who are under the authority of elders, both men and women
- and his instruction is, follow the lead of your shepherds
- in fact, submit to them
- it won’t mean that you don’t sometimes disagree with them; it doesn’t mean that you give a blanket endorsement of every pastor in the world
- but support your shepherd! get behind him!
- when able leadership is present, following the leaders is both healthy and effective
- remember God’s call on your pastor’s life and ministry, as well as the high calling he has to preach and teach God’s truth
- and come to terms with your calling to be recipients of that person’s ministry, and support him
- THE SECOND THING YOU’VE GOT TO DO IS BE HUMBLE
- (1 Peter 5:5) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- (1 Peter 5:6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
- (1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- somebody said, “The person who looks up to God rarely looks down on people”
- literally clothe yourself with humility
- Peter uses a wonderful metaphor
- the word clothe was used of a slave who tied on an apron before serving those in the house
- we’re to metaphorically dress ourselves in servant’s clothing to minister to one another
- we’re to humble ourselves to each other, but also according to verses 6 and 7, under God’s hand
- what Peter has in mind is that we submit to God’s will even when we don’t understand it
- we might have questions about God, but Peter says, “Don’t worry – submit to him anyway. Eventually it will all make sense. In the mean time, cast all your anxieties on him.”
- so be humble
- sheep, follow your leaders, stay humble, and finally:
- BE VIGILANT
- (1 Peter 5:8) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
- (1 Peter 5:9) Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
- (1 Peter 5:10) And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
- sheep should really pay attention when a lion’s roaming around
- lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals
- Peter says, “Watch out for the devil when you’re being persecuted!”
- don’t get cut off from other believers, so focused on your own troubles that you don’t watch out for danger
- look to other Christians for strength, and resist him
- refuse to succumb to his temptation
- Satan does flee when a child of God stands up to him in Christ’s strength
- verse 10 says, when this whole thing is sorted out in the end, we know who wins
- we’re on the winning side, and no matter how much you go through in this world, you’re guaranteed, eventually, that you’ll be strong, firm, and steadfast
- what do you say to sheep who are getting chased around by lions?
- what do you say to shepherds who are putting their lives on the line for their sheep?
- keep serving one another
- stay humble; be vigilant; and it will all come out all right in the end
- now, look at me
- I’m so grateful to be your pastor
- I believe we have great things ahead of us here
- but let’s be clear
- you’re a bunch of sheep
- I’m a shepherd
- my job is to have the right motive to serve you
- your job is to follow, and to stay humble and vigilant
- because the enemy is prowling around as we speak looking for someone to devour
- so be on your toes! fulfill your end of the bargain, and pray for me that I’ll fulfill my end
- and when we do this, according to verse 11, look who has the power and look who gets the glory:
- (1 Peter 5:11) To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
- let’s pray
