1. Spiritual leadership is NOT something one takes upon himself.
a. It’s a privilege, a stewardship God entrusts to men & women in overseeing the ministry of His flock.
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
b. When serving God’s people is no longer viewed as a privilege, man has a tendency to corrupt spiritual leadership… I believe many go wrong right here!
c. Some just think they deserve to lead. They’ve earned it!
d. But spiritual leadership, like salvation is a gift received, not earned because we’ve done something to deserve it!
Psalm 75.6-7 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
NOTE: I believe that God has always been and is now looking for pastors NOT professionals. Ministers NOT Masters.
• Shepherds & Servants not secular CEO’s.
• It’s not gathering a crowd that counts, but a man that lays down his life for the flock.
• Look at John 10:7ff
A PRIVILEGE… the reality is that God DOESN’T NEED any of us!
• But has chosen to choose, use, & empower us!
• What an honor it is to be a vessel for His glory. It’s wonderful!
SO Pastor Peter here, winding down his letter, addresses the leadership, because he knows…
1 Peter 4.17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…
I. (5:1-4) Shepherd the Flock
1. (1) I exhort the elders among you.
a. Peter comes with an exhortation, not as above the leaders.
b. Not as over the leaders. But as a FELLOW elder.
c. He doesn’t call himself the pope, or the absolute authority of the church… just a fellow elder.
NOTE: Word ‘ELDER’ can be translated ‘pastor, elder, overseer’.
a. You’ll find they are all used interchangeably in the NT.
b. Keep in mind ELDER ‘presbuteros’ describes the MAN, a mature man, not necessarily in age, but in spiritual maturity.
c. BISHOP, episcopos, describes the MINISTRY, it means overseeing, not overbearing or lording over, but watching over and caring for the flock of God.
d. PASTOR is the METHOD, one who feeds & tends the flock.
e. And as you read through the NT you’ll see them used interchangeably by the Holy Spirit.
THIS has led to some confusion among churches then & now because of the different styles of church government.
• There are basically 4 types of church government today.
• Each one can point to various scriptures to support their view.
• That’s why we can’t make it a point of division.
PRESBYTERIAN – You have a plurality of elders ruling with co-equal authority within the church.
EPISCOPAL – One person (bishop) oversees many other leaders & churches throughout a specific region.
CONGREGATIONAL – everything in the church is ratified by a church vote & nothing moves forward without full approvals.
PASTOR LED – Like with Moses, Paul, Timothy, and such, God raises up a man to pastor his flock raising up spiritual leadership from within the local body.
There is another model that is not biblical that has recently come up in the last 20 years…
CEO BUSINESS MODEL – The pastor is the CEO of the corporation makes decisions using worldly business schemes & techniques.
• This one we can reject wholeheartedly. God doesn’t want CEO’s or business gurus to RUN his church.
• But as to the other 4 we see in Scripture.
NOTE: I find that the form of government is not as important as the character & integrity of those entrusted with spiritual leadership.
• It’s not a position for the person, it’s a position of their heart.
• God is looking for:
• “LEADERS WHO SERVE & SERVANTS WHO LEAD!”
NOW every single spiritual leader in our church and every church would do well to meditate through the next few verses.
• I see at least 8 ingredients here that will help guide your Servanthood and keep your eyes on Jesus.
#1 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders ARE UNDERSHEPHERDS.
• Right? Jesus v4, is the Chief Shepherd.
• We need to always remember, this church is not ours!
• This is His church, His flock, and His bride.
• We don’t serve in our own authority, but in His!
• A LOT OF GUYS get off thinking They ARE the shepherd and that the church or particular ministry is theirs. It’s not!
#2 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders are SHEEP TOO. (among you)
• We need to always rem: we’re sheep alongside each other.
• Spiritual leadership doesn’t place you over but really under.
#3 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders are SERVANTS.
• Jesus our great Shepherd laid his life down for the sheep.
• He came NOT TO BE served, but to serve!
• Leaders in the church ought to be the greatest servants of all.
• PERIOD. There is no other alternative.
• If you’re not a servant, then you cannot lead.
John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
#4 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE WILLINGLY.
• Here is where many falter. They begin to serve unwillingly.
• If you’re serving in any ministry in this church or any other church and you’re feeling tired & burned out… TAKE A BREAK.
• Don’t keep serving with a grudge. You’ll hurt people that way!
• Serving the Lord is a joy, filled with hope & love & His Spirit.
• In the EC men pastored the flock and preached the Word because there was BURNING in their hearts!
2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
1 Cor. 9.16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
I love what Charles Spurgeon taught his young students and future ministers of the gospel…
If any student in this room could be content to be a newspaper editor, or a grocer, or a farmer, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a senator, or a king, in the name of heaven and earth let him go his way… we must feel that woe is unto us if we preach not the gospel; the word of God must be unto as a fire in our bones, otherwise, if we undertake the ministry we shall be unhappy in it, shall be unable to bear the self-denials incident to it, and shall be of little service to those among whom we minister! Lectures to My Students pp26-27
#5 – v2 - Sp Leaders SERVE HONESTLY. (not dishonest gain)
• Don’t get into spiritual leadership to rip God’s people off!
• It’s sad to say & see, it’s not just on TV, but throughout the Denver Metro area men are stealing from the people of God!
• The ministry is not a place to fleece the flock, but feed them.
• That’s why we’re very careful with who we allow access to this church… which ministries. Which pastors.
• Too many men jump into the ministry for what THEY CAN GET FROM IT when in reality all you need you should get from Jesus.
#6 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE HUMBLY. (not being lords)
• Please don’t get into spiritual leadership because you want to boss people around. This isn’t the right place.
• I’ve met many who just want the control & power ministry positions affords them. BUT They DON’T LAST!
#7 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE AS STEWARDS.
• Guys, notice, those that serve are entrusted with souls.
• It’s a privilege, an honor to serve the Lord. Not deserved!
• It’s not some ministry we’re building. Not some MEGA-Church or MEGA-this or MEGA-that.
• These are the souls of men & women Jesus died for!
#8 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders ARE EXAMPLES!
• This is so important. In the house of God, among the leaders in any church we have to have godly men & women that we can see as examples of what the life of Christ is all about!
• Leaders aren’t perfect, but they are living in unity & fellowship with Jesus Christ and it’s evident that Jesus is their life!
• But because we’re examples, that’s why it’s so serious & so hurtful when a pastor, an elder, an overseer falls into sin.
• Because they weren’t just another sheep, they filled a role to model how to walk in Jesus Christ. Its’ serious.
• We lead by example… out in front, leading not pushing!
#1 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders ARE UNDERSHEPHERDS.
#2 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders are SHEEP TOO. (among you)
#3 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders are SERVANTS.
#4 – v2 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE WILLINGLY.
#5 – v2 - Sp Leaders SERVE HONESTLY. (not dishonest gain)
#6 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE HUMBLY. (not being lords)
#7 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders SERVE AS STEWARDS.
#8 – v3 - Spiritual Leaders ARE EXAMPLES!
#9 – v4 - Spiritual Leadership is REWARDING!
• Yes, the Chief Shepherd will appear and those who served Him will receive the crown of glory!
• Spiritual leadership may not be glorious on this side of heaven, but Jesus takes special joy in those committed to serving Him!
• And there is a special reward for those who lead the flock!
IT’S SO important guys that we grasp these truths & meditate through these truths… Because God says…
Jeremiah 3.15 "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 23.4 "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD.
ALL OF THIS COMES from Peter, a pastor.
• At one time in his life, I’m sure nobody thought Peter would amount to much of anything. He’s the DENIER remember?!
• His faith faltered. His stability stumbled.
Luke 22.31-32 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
WELL… Peter did return to Jesus and received instructions on how to minister to the flock… Let’s flip over to John 21:15ff
One final thing… God takes SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP very seriously.
• We can’t enter into serving Jesus by serving His flock lightly.
• Let’s end with looking at Ezekiel 34.
