1 Peter 5:1-5

“And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t Lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

After talking to us about trials and how to handle hard times Peter now turns his attention to how the church is to be fed and led. In order to survive suffering, a church needs loving leaders and faithful followers. When each person on the team tackles their task, the kingdom wins. Now this passage is not a very popular one due to two problems, one has to do with the responsibility of pastors the other the response of parishioners. When it comes to the responsibility of pastors there are many preachers who have abused their position, and instead of feeding the flock they are fleecing the flock. The second problem has to do with the response of the sheep, we are called to submit to leadership, and when it comes to submission we tend to struggle. Instead of following we end up fighting. So today we are going to look at what God intended, His Will for His church not my wants and my way. On God’s team everyone has a position to play and a task to tackle, the question is are we going to respond to God’s way and Will or rebel? When it comes to leading Peter starts with the:

1. Requirements / Call

What are the requirements of being an Elder? Well the requirements for elders are fleshed out in greater detail in Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and give us a great picture of what leaders should look like. But what’s interesting is Peter doesn’t give us a list of rules as a requirement he simply reminds us that the most important requirement for an elder is a close relationship with Christ. Peter tells us that he is not only an elder but a witness to the sufferings of Christ and that he will share in his glory when Christ returns. Peter is reminding us that it’s not about the position it’s about the Prince, the person of Jesus Christ. Effective leadership doesn’t revolve around a list of rules it revolves around our relationship with Jesus. Today most ministry seminars for church leaders focus on developing leadership skills not on developing our love for the Lord. Now there is nothing wrong with developing your leadership skills but if they are not tied to your time with Jesus then they will turn out to be a train wreck not a treasure. 

In over emphasizing leadership skills I think we have traded servants that lead for leaders who serve. What’s the difference, the motive behind the ministry driven by your identity. I am a servant who leads verses I am a leader that serves. We are servants first, position drives practice. How did the heroes of the faith fight and win the war, was it as a result of their great leadership skills or their time spent with the Lord? Successful leaders are not the most skilled they are the ones who spend the most time with the Savior. Look at the man preaching, Peter he wasn’t the founder of a Fortune 500 company he was a fishermen. Today we seem to have forgotten that God used fishermen to found the church. The list of requirements in Timothy and Titus are really just a reflection of a leaders relationship with the Redeemer. Our problem is that we make it about a list of rules and so we miss what the list is really reflecting, its reflecting time with the Lord. The requirements are really a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. Look at 1 Timothy 3:1-7, above reproach a reflection of my relationship with Jesus, faithful to his wife, a reflection of his relationship with Jesus, hospitable a reflection of his relationship with Jesus. They are not rules they are reflections, they paint a picture of a leader’s life with the Lord. What does the list reveal about your life with the Lord? It’s not that we shouldn’t sharpen our skills but many men in ministry today are spending more time honing their skills than sitting with the Savior. You want to develop your leadership, then spent time listening to the Lord. When it comes to leaders in the church today our problem is that we have made it about the list not the Lord. Look its not about a list of rules its about a relationship with the Lord. Maybe what we need in the church isn’t more skills and talents but more time with the Savior. You can’t lead the flock if you are not following the Lord. You will never successfully shepherd the sheep if you are not living in submission to the Savior.