According to several confirmed sources across denominational lines:
Today: in regards to: Pastors:
-Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.
-Four thousand new churches begin each year, but over seven thousand churches close.
-Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
-Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
-Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
-Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.
Pastors’ Wives:
-Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
-Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
-The majority of pastor’s wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.
Pastors’ Marriages:
-Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.
Pastors’ Children:
-Eighty percent of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression.
These statistics came from across denomination lines, and have been gleaned from various reliable sources such as Pastor to Pastor, Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, Campus Crusade for Christ and the Global Pastors Network. Sited at: http://maranathalife.com/lifeline/stats.htm
Perhaps at this point your thought is I’m glad I’m not a pastor, or they only work one hour a week, what are they complaining about? It should be pretty obvious from our study of 1 Peter, that godly regard for authority all ties together. How we regard Elders, Government, employers or household authority, all relates to what we think of God. But, as we will see, it relates even more so for members of the local church.
What’s your thought of the ministry? Do these statistics surprise you? Pastoral ministry has changed so much that it would be unrecognizable to pastors 50-60 years ago, and it’s hard to fathom for those retiring from the ministry now.
What do you think a pastor should be responsible for? How should a pastor minister to the flock of God? Why should he do what he does? What difference does it make to me?
Peter, writing to the elders of various churches in Asia Minor (1:1) and to church and elders of all eras, issues several fundamental and crucial commands concerning shepherding. Those commands may be understood by asking four basic questions of this passage: 1) What are the issues in shepherding? 2) Who must be shepherded? 3) How must shepherding be done? 4) Why should shepherds serve?
1) WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN SHEPHERDING? 1 PETER 5:1–2a
1 Peter 5:1-2a [5:1]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: [2]shepherd…
Chapter 5 of 1 Peter is actually an application of admonitions, exhortations and personal greetings based on what has been written in the previous four chapters. The next time I preach will be the last message in 1 Peter and this and that last message, apply what Peter has written.
Exhort (parakaleô) means literally “to call alongside,” or in the general sense, “to encourage or compel someone in a certain direction.” Here Peter directs the appeal to the elders, who are the Lord’s appointed and gifted leaders of the church.
The first mention of elders is in Acts 11:30, where the writer Luke identifies them as the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Subsequent references in Acts (14:23; 15:4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18) continue to make clear their role.
Look at the insert in your bulletin for today
The early church broadly adopted a similar model (cf. Acts 2:42–47; 6:4), appointed a plurality of godly and gifted men to lead, guard, and feed each local congregation (cf. Titus 1:5).
Titus 1:5 [5]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-- (ESV)
Please turn to Hebrews 13
Peter referred to himself as a fellow elder. It was neither Christ’s nor his intention for a supreme pontiff, or pope to follow from him.
-The head of the church is not Peter, nor elders/pastors etc. but Christ. We will see this most clearly when Christ will be referred to as the Chief Shepherd.
The task of the shepherd carries with it an unequalled responsibility before the Lord of the church (Heb. 13:17; cf. 1 Cor. 4:1–5).
Hebrews 13:17 [17]Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (ESV)
-Two things stand out from this: The tremendous task of keeping watch over your souls, which is not a casual endeavor. And, the fact that Elders will have to give an account to God above all other responsibilities, as to how they performed their duties.
-The role of Elder is not a part time job.
-A part time job has responsibilities for a time, and then time off.
-The role of Elder, is a full time responsibility with duties that will have to be performed from time to time.
-When the church functions as it should, and the duties can be discharged with joy, it is actually a benefit for the recipients.
-In the discharging of the role to watch over your souls, is fought, based on issues of preference or withdrawal, then it is detrimental to you and actually a rebellion against God.
-Just like the employer and government is an authority which properly must be submitted to, so is the Elder has spiritual responsibilities which must be discharged and they are most effectively discharged when there is godly submission by the recipients.
-One of the simple reasons why Pastors are finding it harder and harder to discharge their duties is that there is no longer a common ground of respect for authority that their once was.
-The 1960’s rebellion against authority in the home, workplace, and government spilled over to the church. It is now to the point, where many churches function de facto as democracies, where popular opinion and not God given mandates and responsibilities as defined by the Word of God, rule.
Please turn to John 21
What then is the primary responsibility of the shepherd? It is not to be popular, or make everyone happy, or bring in as many new people as possible, or just do whatever feels right at the moment.
Peter received firsthand instruction on the shepherd’s foremost responsibility from the risen Lord Himself:
John 21:15-17 [15]When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." [16]He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." [17]He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. (ESV)
The shepherd’s primary task is to edify and strengthen them with the deep truths of solid spiritual food that produces discernment, conviction, consistency, power, and effective testimony to the greatness of the saving work of Christ. No matter what New Testament terminology identifies the shepherd and his task, underneath it all is the primacy of biblical truth. He is to feed the sheep.
This will not put the most bodies in the pews. God warned of the tendency, as seen by the Old Covenant false teaches before, of telling people what they want to hear, what makes them most comfortable and feel good about themselves.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 [3]For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4]and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV)
Peter reminded his hearers that he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ. Witness (martus) has a twofold meaning: one who personally saw and experienced something, and one who testified to what he saw. This testifying for Christ might require the ultimate sacrifice.
Because the Greek term for this witness is martus and so many who gave testimony to their experiences with Christ were and are still killed, the term martyred came to refer to one who was killed for being a Christian witness (cf. Matt. 16:24–25; 24:9; Rev. 6:9; 20:4).
We are thus commissioned to proclaim the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ which is the heart of the gospel message (cf. Luke 24:45–48; Acts 22:15), The Lord’s redemptive work was a primary focus in Peter’s preaching (Acts 2:14–36; 3:12–26; 4:8–12), and a major theme in this letter (1:11, 19; 2:21–24; 3:18; 4:1, 13).
Peter’s mention of future glory motivates by anticipation. As one who was a partaker in/also of the glory that is going to be revealed, Peter could offer the other elders the genuine hope of an eternal reward for their faithful service. The glory that is going to be revealed looks at the return of Christ (cf. 1:7–9; 4:7, 12–13; Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27) when He comes in full expression of His glory to destroy the ungodly, reward His own, and finalize His kingdom forever.
-This revelation is not a single event, but a continuous act. The unfolding of divine glory in an unbroken process.
Quote: Ten Basic Statements about Ministry
Warren and David Wiersbe, said in their book: Making Sense of the Ministry
1. The foundation of ministry is character.
2. The nature of ministry is service.
3. The motive for ministry is love.
4. The measure of ministry is sacrifice.
5. The authority of ministry is submission.
6. The purpose of ministry is the glory of God.
7. The tools of ministry are the Word and prayer.
8. The privilege of ministry is growth.
9. The power of ministry is the Holy Spirit.
10. The model for ministry is Jesus Christ
We have seen 1) WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN SHEPHERDING?
2) WHO MUST BE SHEPHERDED?
1 Peter 5:2b [2](shepherd) the flock of God that is among you,…
In form, the term rendered flock here (poimnion) is a diminutive, a term of endearment, further stressing the preciousness of the church (cf. John 10:1–5).
When Jn. 3:16 expresses the love of God, He mentioned about the sphere of redemption the world. Jesus left heaven, and came to a particular place, the world. When He send his son to this planet in an act of love, He intended to redeem, to save a particular people, His church (cf. John 10:11; Eph. 5:25–27b).
John 10:11 [11]I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV)
Please turn to Ephesians 5
Sometimes missed from who is addressed in the beginning of the verse, the recipients of God’s intended redemption are specified in:
Ephesians 5:25b-27 [25]… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26]that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27]so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (ESV)
Now back to Chapter 4 of Ephesians
After He ascended back to heaven, He sent His Spirit to empower His church (cf. John 16:5–11; Acts 1:4–9) with the necessary spiritual gifts and gifted men to shepherd the flock to Christlikeness (cf. John 14:26; 15:15–17; Eph. 4:11–12).
Ephesians 4:11-12 [11]And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (ESV)
In a statement of the antithesis of this:
Quote: A Parish Perished
An unknown author said:
There is a pastor, himself he cherished,
Who loved his position not his parish
So the more he preached
The less he reached
And this is why his parish perished.
(Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002).
We have seen 1) WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN SHEPHERDING? 2) WHO MUST BE SHEPHERDED?
3) HOW MUST SHEPHERDING BE DONE?
1 Peter 5:2c-3 [2](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; [3]not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (ESV)
To the key question of how elders are to shepherd, Peter provides both positive and negative answers. Exercising oversight actually translates a single Greek word, episkopeô, which literally means “to have scope over,” or “to look upon.” The noun is episkopos (“bishop,” or “overseer”; cf. 1 Tim. 3:1). Its clear connotation here in this first positive answer is that shepherds must watch over the sheep to assess their condition, so as to lead, guard, and feed them.
The second positive way elders exercise oversight is by being/proving to be examples to the flock.
Shepherds are to become sufficiently involved in the lives of the flock that they establish a godly pattern for the people to follow. Paul even went so far as to exhort his sheep to be imitators of him (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; cf. Heb. 13:7).
It was their responsibility to proclaim the truth so as to build up the people and protect them against sin and error, while always being the highest examples of godliness to the flock (5:3; 1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 13:7).
1 Timothy 4:12 [12]Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV)
Hebrews 13:7 [7]Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV)
Often the factor that determines the effectiveness of instruction is if it is lived out. Detailed in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9, the primary qualities for an Elder are moral so the nature of their instruction will not be detracted from by a character flaw.
Biblical spiritual oversight also involves avoiding three perils inherent in the shepherding task. The first danger Peter mentions is shepherding under compulsion, rather than as eager, willing servant-leaders who minister willingly/voluntarily. The obvious point is that the shepherd must be diligent rather than lazy, heart motivated rather than forced to be faithful, and passionate about his privileged duty rather than indifferent. When the heart is fully Christ’s and driven by love for Him and for souls, there is much internal compulsion that precludes any need for external motivational pressure.
-Elders should not need to be hounded as to duty but willingly and forthright in the excitement of exercising their duties.
-No one should ever pursue the task with the thought “well, someone has to do it”
From 1 Peter 5:2, shepherding should be done: as God would have you/according to the will of God.
The second peril for shepherds to avoid is the temptation to be motivated by money or material benefits. In Acts 20:33–35, Paul manifests the right attitude:
Acts 20:33-35 [33] I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. [34]You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. [35]In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" (ESV)(cf. 1 Thess. 2:8–9; 1 Tim. 6:6–11)
The basic scriptural qualifications for an elder also make it clear that he is characterized as a selfless servant committed to sacrifice and not preoccupied with money and materialism (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7; cf. 2 Tim. 3:1–2).
-One factor that most clearly shows the priority of false teachers is their primary interest in people for what they will finance their endeavours.
That is not to say, however, that shepherds should not be properly compensated. Paul taught that those who minister the Word have a right to live by that ministry (1 Cor. 9:7–14, Mt. 10:10). In fact, those elders who serve diligently, with greater commitment and excellence in teaching the Word and leading the sheep, should receive greater acknowledgment and more generous remuneration from their congregations (1 Tim. 5:17–18; cf. 1 Thess. 5:12–13).
When financial gain is the aim of what people falsely see as ministry, this is called:
Shameful/Sordid gain actually goes beyond just seeking wealth and speaks to the shameful acquisition of it. True shepherds will never use the ministry to steal the sheep’s money or acquire it dishonestly, like false prophets always do. (Isa. 56:11; Jer. 6:13; 8:10; Mic. 3:11).
-What is forbidden is not the desire for fair remuneration, but the shameful love of gain.
-I do my best to distance myself from all financial endeavours here: from the weekly collection, to spending to who gives what, the more distance I can put from not concerning myself with these things, the great the testimony of why I minister and what I concern myself with in peoples lives.
-The challenge arises when I have to provide oversight and teaching on financial matters publicly and privately while not appearing to do so from selfish motives.
Showing the opposite of being motivated from money, Peter mentions that shepherds should serve eagerly (prothumôs, “willingly, freely, eagerly”) because of the high calling and privilege (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12–17).
-Paul was convicted, when he persecuted Christians, he was persecuting Christ. Godly eldership is actually serving Christ.
Please turn to Matthew 20
Finally, those called to shepherd can be imperiled by the desire to sinfully dominate others. Domineering/Lording it over (katakurieuô) connotes intensity in domineering over people and circumstances (see Diotrephes as an example in 3 John 9–10). Any kind of autocratic, oppressive, and intimidating leadership, with elements of demagoguery—traits that typically characterize the leadership style and methodology of unregenerate men—is a perversion of the overseer’s office. In Matthew 20:25–28, the Lord Jesus set the standard:
Matthew 20:25-28 [25]But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26]It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [27]and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [28]even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (ESV).
Every shepherd has a flock allotted to his charge (klçrôn, “that which is given to another’s care”) by the Lord Himself.
Acts 20:28 [28]Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (ESV)
-The term Clergy came from this sense, from the Greek work kleeros which in the original means “lot”, or in this verse, “an allotment of members” of the church. “Laity”, from the Greek work laos are the people allotted to a cleric.
-In our earlier studies of 1 Peter 2 we saw the priesthood of believers, in the sense that all who have been born again are ministers of the gospel of Grace but there are those who God uniquely calls as overseers of this priesthood.
The job of a local congregation is to recognize the calling upon the life of a shepherd to which the Holy Spirit has already made him an overseer.
Quote: Spiritual Leadership
Samuel Logan Brengle said: Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified.
This is a great price, but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell.”
(Samuel Logan Brengle, quoted in Spirit of Revival, Life Action Ministries, Vol. 28, No. 1, March, 1998, p. 40)
We have seen 1) WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN SHEPHERDING? 2) WHO MUST BE SHEPHERDED? 3) HOW MUST SHEPHERDING BE DONE?
4) WHY SHOULD SHEPHERDS SERVE?
1 Peter 5:4 [4]And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (ESV)
The drive that is to be inherent in an elder, was exemplified by Paul when he said:
1 Corinthians 9:16 [16]For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity/compulsion is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Paul’s personal passion is also evident in:
Romans 1:14-16 [14]I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. [15]So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. [16]For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (ESV)
He defined the proper compulsion to ministry when he wrote:
2 Corinthians 5:14 [14]For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; (ESV)
Shepherding the flock is a serious, sobering responsibility, and elders are accountable to God for their ministry. James was fully aware of that accountability when he wrote the following warning:
James 3:1 [3:1]Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (ESV)cf. Ezek. 3:17–19; 33:7–9; Acts 20:26–27; 2 Tim. 4:1–2; Heb. 13:17).
-God takes very seriously what is done on behalf of those who would hold the office of elder. Every attitude of complacency or lax teaching will be brought into account.
1 Peter 5:4 specifies who will have the accounting of the Elders: the Chief Shepherd The shepherd imagery for Messiah first appears in the Old Testament (Zech. 13:7; cf. Ps. 23:1). The gospel of John calls Him the Good Shepherd (10:11; cf. vv. 2, 12, 16, 26–27). The writer of Hebrews calls Christ the Great Shepherd (13:20–21). Earlier in this letter, Peter calls Him the Shepherd and Guardian of souls (2:25).
Appears (phaneroô) means “to make manifest,” “to make clear,” or “to reveal.” Here, as in 5:1, the reference is to Christ’s revelation at the Second Coming, at which time faithful shepherds will receive the unfading crown of glory. In the Greco-Roman world of Peter’s day, crowns rather than trophies were the awards for victory at athletic events. (1 Cor. 9:24–25).
Temporal crowns would eventually rust, fade, or, if made from plants, die quickly. Peter was not looking forward merely to some unfading version of an earthly crown, but metaphorically to eternal glory, which can never fade. The term unfading is from the same cognate as the name of the flower (amaranth) that supposedly never faded or lost its bloom. Peter’s phrase can be expressed “the unfading crown that is glory.”
There seems to be a strong indication the it is Christ Himself, based on Isa 28:5, who will be that crown. Like the 24 elders of Rev. 4:10, we will cast the crowns of glory before the throne of him who once wore the crown of thorns for them.
Shepherding is a serious work of oversight of God’s flock that must be done out of love. It needs great encouragement and prayer both by the shepherd and the flock.
