faith in the crosshairs 1 peter (elders, 1 peter 5:1-5) (elders, 1 peter 5:1-5)

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Faith in the Faith in the Crosshairs Crosshairs 1 Peter 1 Peter (Elders, 1 Peter 5:1-5) (Elders, 1 Peter 5:1-5)

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Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 Peter (Elders, 1 Peter 5:1-5)(Elders, 1 Peter 5:1-5)

ReviewReview

……do not be surprised at the do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as on you to test you, as though something strange though something strange were happening to youwere happening to you

To the elders among you, I To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will sufferings who also will share in the glory to be share in the glory to be revealed:revealed:

Be shepherds of God’s flock Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, that is under your care, watching over them—not watching over them—not because you must, but because you must, but because you are willing, as because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; eager to serve;

……not lording it over those not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will crown of glory that will never fade away… never fade away…

In the same way, you who are In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves younger, submit yourselves to your elders.to your elders.

• How to How to submitsubmit well well

• How to How to suffersuffer well well

• How to How to lead/be led lead/be led wellwell

In all of these things, it’s In all of these things, it’s about more than just about more than just actions. It’s about actions. It’s about motivation and attitudemotivation and attitude

• How to How to submitsubmit well well

• How toHow to suffer suffer wellwell

• How to How to lead/be lead lead/be lead wellwell

In all of these, Christ desires In all of these, Christ desires to to sanctifysanctify us us

To the elders among you, I To the elders among you, I appeal as a appeal as a fellow elderfellow elder

• Peter?Peter?

To the elders among you, I To the elders among you, I appeal as a appeal as a fellow elderfellow elder

• PeterPeter

−Original 12Original 12−Inner 3Inner 3−11stst among equals among equals−11stst sermon sermon−Fellow elderFellow elder

To the elders among you, I To the elders among you, I appeal as a appeal as a fellow elderfellow elder

• Knowing Jesus Knowing Jesus wellwell changes changes our view of position and our view of position and powerpower

• It is It is impossibleimpossible to rise in to rise in position or power in a church position or power in a church while serving Jesuswhile serving Jesus

To the elders among you, I appeal as aTo the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder fellow elder and a and a witness witness of Christ’s of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the sufferings who also will share in the gloryglory to be revealed: to be revealed:

−Fellow elderFellow elder- now- now−Witness- Witness- thenthen−GloryGlory- soon- soon

−Fellow elderFellow elder- now- now−Witness- Witness- thenthen−GloryGlory- soon- soon

We ministerWe minister::

• Because of Christ’s sufferings Because of Christ’s sufferings (Privilege)(Privilege)

• On the basis of the Call (Ministry)On the basis of the Call (Ministry)

• Looking forward to the glory of Looking forward to the glory of God (Reward)God (Reward)

To the To the elderselders among you, I among you, I appeal…appeal…

Note: Note: EldersElders is plural is plural

• Biblical Norm= MultipleBiblical Norm= Multiple

• Elders: Vocational and Non-Elders: Vocational and Non-vocational (Aged and Wise)vocational (Aged and Wise)

Be shepherds of God’s flock Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, that is under your care, watching over them…watching over them…

ShepherdsShepherds- poimen- ones - poimen- ones (plural) who tend, guide and (plural) who tend, guide and take care oftake care of

Watching overWatching over- episkopos- - episkopos- oversight with authorityoversight with authority

EldersElders- teach, guide, rebuke, - teach, guide, rebuke, correct, protect, lead- correct, protect, lead- out of out of love love for God and his peoplefor God and his people

Elders- teach, guide, rebuke, Elders- teach, guide, rebuke, correct, protect, leadcorrect, protect, lead

Why?Why?

Elders- teach, guide, rebuke, Elders- teach, guide, rebuke, correct, protect, leadcorrect, protect, lead

Within every church:Within every church:

• SheepSheep

• ShepherdsShepherds

• WolvesWolves

Be shepherds of God’s flock Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, that is under your care, watching over themwatching over them

The biblical norm is not The biblical norm is not democracy, but democracy, but accountabilityaccountability

NextNext: Only the : Only the right actionright action with the with the right attituderight attitude is is right in God's sightright in God's sight

Be shepherds of God’s flock Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, that is under your care, watching over them—watching over them—notnot because you must, but because you must, but because you are willingbecause you are willing, as , as God wants you to beGod wants you to be

Sanctification:Sanctification:

• Leaders learn to love wellLeaders learn to love well

• Believers learn to submit wellBelievers learn to submit well

SSubmit? Are you out of your ubmit? Are you out of your ever-loving mind? ever-loving mind?

ObeyObey your leaders and your leaders and submitsubmit to to them, for they are them, for they are keeping keeping watch over your soulswatch over your souls, as those , as those who will have to give an who will have to give an account. Let them do this account. Let them do this with with joyjoy and not with groaning, for and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage that would be of no advantage to you- Hebrews 13:7to you- Hebrews 13:7

I want to make it a pleasure to I want to make it a pleasure to pastor me and my family…not a pastor me and my family…not a painpain

……not pursuing not pursuing dishonest dishonest gaingain, but , but eager to serveeager to serve……

Career-building?Career-building?

……not pursuing dishonest gain, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve…but eager to serve…

Let the elders who rule well be Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double considered worthy of double honor, especially those who honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages”- 1 laborer deserves his wages”- 1 Timothy 5:17-18Timothy 5:17-18

Calm down- You’re 2 Tents!Calm down- You’re 2 Tents!

Pastors shouldn’t take Pastors shouldn’t take positions based on money. positions based on money. Nor should they do the Nor should they do the minimum just to get paidminimum just to get paid

People shouldn’t serve People shouldn’t serve themselves and let pastors themselves and let pastors languishlanguish

If we have sown spiritual If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too things among you, is it too much if we reap material much if we reap material things from you? - 1 things from you? - 1 Corinthians 9:11Corinthians 9:11

General Principle- Anyone General Principle- Anyone who serves should see it as who serves should see it as a privilege and an honor to a privilege and an honor to serve God and his peopleserve God and his people

……not lording it over those not lording it over those entrustedentrusted to you, but being to you, but being examples to the flockexamples to the flock

2 Types of Leadership2 Types of Leadership::

−PowerPower−InfluenceInfluence

PowerPower

−Comes from insecurityComes from insecurity−Is full of prideIs full of pride−Needs to controlNeeds to control−Produces fearProduces fear−Cannot be challengedCannot be challenged−Is Is antithetical to the faithantithetical to the faith

InfluenceInfluence

−Comes from humble Comes from humble confidenceconfidence

−Desires their bestDesires their best−Gives freedomGives freedom−Produces loveProduces love−Is open to being challenged for Is open to being challenged for

the sake of Christthe sake of Christ−Mirrors JesusMirrors Jesus

……not lording it over those not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being entrusted to you, but being examplesexamples to the flock to the flock

ExamplesExamples- tupos- form, - tupos- form, manner, patternmanner, pattern

1 Tim. 3- Character qualities 1 Tim. 3- Character qualities that apply to that apply to allall Christians Christians

Therefore an overseer must Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money… a lover of money…

He must manage his own He must manage his own household well, with all household well, with all dignity keeping his children dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone submissive, for if someone does not know how to does not know how to manage his own household, manage his own household, how will he care for God’s how will he care for God’s church? church?

He must not be a recent He must not be a recent convert, or he may become convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil- 1 Tim. 3snare of the devil- 1 Tim. 3

……not lording it over those not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being entrusted to you, but being examplesexamples to the flock to the flock

ExamplesExamples

−Kills the “hypocritical Kills the “hypocritical divide”divide”

−Ends unqualified Ends unqualified leadershipleadership

And when the And when the Chief Shepherd Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will crown of glory that will never fade awaynever fade away

Who’s the Senior Pastor? Who’s the Senior Pastor?

And when the Chief Shepherd And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never crown of glory that will never fade awayfade away

Who’s the Senior Pastor? Jesus!Who’s the Senior Pastor? Jesus!

Those who shepherd willingly, eager Those who shepherd willingly, eager to serve, living as an example to to serve, living as an example to the flock- can look forward Christ’s the flock- can look forward Christ’s rewardreward

In the same way, you who are In the same way, you who are younger, younger, submit yourselves submit yourselves to your eldersto your elders

Implies:Implies:−Church membershipChurch membership−Servant AuthorityServant Authority−Willing SubmissionWilling Submission−““I don’t know it all. And I I don’t know it all. And I

honestly desire growth in honestly desire growth in Christ”Christ”

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• In what way has scripture In what way has scripture challenged my attitudes this challenged my attitudes this morning? Am I willing to morning? Am I willing to change?change?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• In what way has scripture In what way has scripture challenged my actions this challenged my actions this morning? What changes do morning? What changes do I need to make? Will I?I need to make? Will I?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• Do I pray for and support Do I pray for and support the leaders at Layman? Will the leaders at Layman? Will I?I?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• Do I know the Chief Do I know the Chief Shepherd? Shepherd?