FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS

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SEVERAL REALITES OF A FAITHFUL SHEPHERD

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INTRODUCTION:

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Why I came to CRBC
Why I came to CRBC
This is a challenge to shepherds because shepherds are needed during trials
What is a church and why Elders?
This passage is applicable for all of us: those that are Elders; those that desire to be Elders; and those who sit under Elders
Notice with me four realities about faithful shepherds:
Notice with me four realities about faithful shepherds:

REALITY #1—FAITHFUL ELDERS SERVE AS A GROUP (1)

EXPLANATION:
Peter begins by identifying his relationship to these Elders and by establishing his authority for what he is about to say to them (Elder, Apostle, Participant with them in glory)
The word Elder does not stress age but position within the church
The apostles appointed Elders in every church ()
The apostles charged the elders to provide spiritual care for the members of the church by teaching and preaching the Word; to guard the purity of the Christian faith by warning God’s people against false doctrines; and to promote peace and order in the church by setting examples in their own households
The regular practice of the NT is to have a group of Elders overseeing a church whenever possible
The apostles charged the elders to provide spiritual care for the members of the church by teaching and preaching the Word; to guard the purity of the Christian faith by warning God’s people against false doctrines; and to promote peace and order in the church by setting examples in their own households
ARGUMENTATION:
Titus 1:5 ESV
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
James 5:14 ESV
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:5 ESV
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
ARGUMENTATION:
ILLUSTRATION:
APPLICATION(S):
A few things I want to consider regarding the plurality of Elders for the church:
These are Elders and not deacons…BIG difference
A plurality of Elders is there to give mutual accountability
A plurality of Elders is there to protect from monopolizing the position (multitude of counselors)

REALITY #2—FAITHFUL ELDERS SHEPHERD THE FLOCK (2)

EXPLANATION:
Shepherd is ποιμαίνω. The noun form is ποιμήν. The word means “to shepherd.”
This is an imperative or a command from Peter
ποιμαίνω (ποιμήν)
ARGUMENTATION:
ARGUMENTATION:
KJV and NKJV translate this “Feed the flock of God...”
This translation works from the sense that it describes what a shepherd was did for the sheep
Two ideas in focus here. The Shepherd tends to the sheep and leads them to pasture. He also protects the sheep from those that might hurt the sheep.
The Elder is a spiritual shepherd for the church. His role is to feed the flock of God through the preaching of God’s Word. He is also to defend them against those that would want to hurt them or to lead them astray. This is also done through proper preaching, teaching, and discipleship.
ARGUMENTATION:
Two ways that a pastor shepherds with the Word of God:
ILLUSTRATION:
ILLUSTRATION:
A. Preaching—the public proclamation of Christ to all and the public teaching of God’s Word to the Saints
2 Timothy 4:2 ESV
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
B. Counseling—the private, personal exhortation and warning from God’s Word designed to point a person to Christ.
We base our counseling on the Greek word, νουθετέω, which means , to admonish, warn, instruct
Acts 20:31 ESV
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
νουθετέω admonish, warn, instruct ; ; ; ; ; , ; ;
; ; ; ; ; , ; ;
Romans 15:14 ESV
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
; ; ; ; , ; ;
1 Corinthians 4:14 ESV
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
; ; ; , ; ;
Colossians 1:28 ESV
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
; , ; ;
Colossians 3:16 ESV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
; , ; ;
2 Thessalonians 3:15 ESV
Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
;
Titus 1:11 ESV
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
; ;
ILLUSTRATION:
APPLICATION(S):
APPLICATION(S):
APPLICATION(S):
Faithful shepherds are involved in the lives of their people
Faithful shepherds are involved in the lives of their people
Faithful shepherds are able to teach God’s Word ()
νουθετέω admonish, warn, instruct ; ; ; ; ; , ; ;
Faithful shepherds don’t leave it to others to protect the flock…they do it!

REALITY #3—FAITHFUL ELDERS OVERSEE THE FLOCK (2-3)

EXPLANATION:
The idea is that while shepherding and feeding, the Elders are also overseeing the flock
Oversee--ἐπισκοπέω Meaning: 1) to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for 1a) of the care of the church which rested upon the elders 1b) to look carefully, beware
ARGUMENTATION:
ARGUMENTATION:
ἐπισκοπέω episkopeo {ep-ee-skop-eh'-o}
This is the day to day focus of the Elders. To make sure that the church is going in the right direction and overseeing all of the happenings of the church and its ministry. Deacons were give in to help the Elders in this.
Meaning: 1) to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for 1a) of the care of the church which rested upon the elders 1b) to look carefully, beware
Peter uses opposites to convey how this should happen properly:
not because you must.....but because you are willing, as God wants you to be
not because you must
but because you are willing,
not greedy for money....but eager to serve
as God wants you to be
not greedy for money....but eager to serve

not because you must

but because you are willing,

as God wants you to be

not greedy for money

but eager to serve

not lording it over

but being examples to the

those entrusted

flock

to you

not greedy for money
but eager to serve
not lording it over...but being examples
not lording it over...but being examples
not lording it over
but being examples to the
those entrusted
flock
to you
Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude, vol. 16, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 191.
ILLUSTRATION:
ILLUSTRATION:
APPLICATION(S):
APPLICATION(S):
APPLICATION(S):
This is probably the leased liked responsibility that Elders have
This can be the source of friction in the church (who has the authority)
Our church philosophy…Elders lead and the congregation confirms

REALITY #4—FAITHFUL ELDERS RECEIVE A REWARD (4)

EXPLANATION:
ARGUMENTATION:
ARGUMENTATION:
ARGUMENTATION:
ILLUSTRATION:
ILLUSTRATION:
APPLICATION(S):
ILLUSTRATION:
APPLICATION(S):
When an athlete consistently scores in a particular game, he receives the adulation of the spectators. He basks in glory because he is the hero of the day. But when in the next game he fails to perform according to the crowd’s expectations, his glory disappears as green leaves on the morning of a severe frost. Particularly in sports, the glory of the players is transient.
When an athlete consistently scores in a particular game, he receives the adulation of the spectators. He basks in glory because he is the hero of the day. But when in the next game he fails to perform according to the crowd’s expectations, his glory disappears as green leaves on the morning of a severe frost. Particularly in sports, the glory of the players is transient.
A person’s physical appearance can be strikingly beautiful in youth and the early years of adulthood. But when the wrinkles begin to appear, youth’s glory vanishes. Achievements, in whatever area these may be, often garner glory and honor. Yet they are temporal and soon forgotten. Therefore the Latin proverb is pertinent: Sic transit gloria mundi (So the glory of the world passes on).
Scripture, however, reveals a glory that is heavenly, divine, and eternal. Persons who were permitted to see this glory have seen it only momentarily: the shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields witnessed heaven’s glory when Jesus was born (); Peter, James, and John were with Jesus at his transfiguration (); Paul on the way to Damascus was blinded by the heavenly brilliance of Jesus’ glory (); and John at Patmos saw Jesus in all his splendor ().
In his epistle Peter teaches that heavenly glory is abiding. This is what he says: we share in the glory that God will continue to reveal (5:1), we will receive an unfading crown of glory (5:4), and we have been called to God’s eternal glory in Christ (5:10). The heavenly glory which we shall share with Christ is eternal.
(Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude, vol. 16, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 189–190.)
APPLICATION(S):

CONCLUSION:

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