Peter knew... he just knew... after it was all said and done… after Jesus had risen from the dead, after his cowardly betrayal… Peter just knew... he was out. He not "the Rock" or the leader he imagined. What was he going to do now?
Well a man has to earn a living… so he went back to what he knew… fishing. You know the story. He clocks in at his old workplace... and settles in for a day of back breaking labor. And then there is a stranger on the shore. Jesus comes and recreates the events that caused Peter to leave his nets in the first place.
And then very gently... restores Peter to his destiny... replacing his fishing pole with a shepherd’s crook. He goes from “Clean those fish” to “Feed my sheep!”
As you read the book of 1 Peter you discover that Peter was a good study… He transitioned well to his new career… and he passes on some of what he learned to us.
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Let’s look at some principles about Shepherding from the passage this morning.
1. Good Shepherds Possess Humility.
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,
Life has a way of knocking you down a peg.
Lt. Gary Malcolmson was stationed on a destroyer in Long Beach, Calif., and his wife’s parents came to visit. They arranged to take them to a waterfront restaurant for dinner right after he returned from an official Navy function, still dressed in his crisp white uniform, complete with colorful rows of ribbons on my chest and black shoulder boards displaying gold stripes,
While waiting for their table, Gary stood outside by the main entrance with his father-in-law, a World War II veteran, and began explaining the responsibilities of a Navy officer.
Just then, an attractive woman got out of her car and walked toward them. "Here," she said, handing Gary her car keys, "and be careful not to scratch my car when you park it." - Contributed to "Humor In Uniform" by Lt. Gary - R. Malcolmson (Reader’s Digest)
Fellow elder: This seems odd to me coming from Peter. You know, Peter, the loud, foot in the mouth, braggart of the Gospels. “Though every one else forsake you (I’m sure he made a sweeping gesture.) I will never forsake you.” Yet he did. But here, the Disciple (formerly known as Arrogant) is now a humble “fellow elder”. He calls himself here a “Sympresbyteros,” literally: “fellow shepherd.” He is putting himself on the same level as the pastors he is writing to.
One person put it: “This is Pavorotti joining the barber shop quartet.”
But a good leader never sees himself as above those he is leading. He is called to labor alongside them.
2. Good Shepherd Have Authority.
“…a witness of Christ’s sufferings…”
This is not an insignificant. The New Concise Bible Dictionary refers to an Apostle as: “those called by God and witnesses to the resurrection.”
To say that he was “a witness of Christ’s sufferings” is to say that he is an apostle… and therefore has the right to lead them. So as a Fellow Shepherd, Peter speaks to them with shared experience. As a witness of Christ, he speaks to them with endowed authority.
We each have our calling from God. If it takes us to a leadership type of role… we need to speak from that position.
(If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.)
Don’t be afraid to take up the role of Leader if God has places you there. Take your role seriously and then remember…
3. Good Shepherds are Hopeful.
"and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:"
A leader can be humble and authoritative and… downright uninspiring. You have to communicate hope as well.
William Willimon says it well: ‘People are ripe for a voice that gives them something significant worth living and dying for.’
– H.B. London (The Heart of the Pastor, p.22)
Staff member Rick Marshall recalls the spring of 1991 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Billy [Graham] had been visiting with dignitaries, and Marshall came to escort him to preach. He found him completely exhausted.
“Dr. Graham, it is time to take the stage,” Marshall said.
“I can’t do it. I’m so tired.”
Marshall looked for a smile, thinking he was kidding. He wasn’t—he was physically spent.
The young associate sat down beside him and they prayed together. Marshall, who, as crusade director was in charge of the meetings, felt desperate. This mission is finished before it begins, he thought.
Somehow, Billy got to his feet and slowly made his way to the stage. Yet when he took the pulpit, Marshall recalls, “I could not believe the strength of the man’s voice and the ability God gave him that evening.”
Marshall remembered: “Much of that amazing resiliency is due to his choice of scripts and his determination to lead with optimism and hope.”
Does that mean we can never get discouraged? No. It means we never give in to despair. We need to remember the message of hope we are to embody. If we are moping about and we are in a position of leadership… we need to take a second look at where we are leading people.
Peter writes here to a group of discouraged, persecuted believers that are experiencing intense suffering. And yet this letter is among the most encouraging in the NT. Peter, who was heading for martyrdom himself, says: we may share suffering now, but we will one day share glory.
Good leaders focus on the positives of what will be.
4. Good Shepherds Know that the Sheep Need them.
"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care,"
Shepherds were eating breakfast outside the town of Gevas, Turkey, When they saw a lone sheep jump off of a nearby cliff and fall to its death. They were further stunned when the rest of the nearly 1,500 sheep in the herd followed, each leaping off of the same cliff.
When it was all over, the local Aksam newspaper reported that "450 of the sheep perished in a billowy, white pile" (those that jumped from the middle and end of the herd were saved as the pile became higher and the fall more cushioned). The estimated loss to the families of Gevas tops $100,000—an extremely significant amount of money in a country where the average person earns about $2,700 annually.
"There’s nothing we can do. They’re all wasted," said Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of the 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd.
Sam O’Neal, St. Charles, Illinois; sources: "450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey", washingtonpost.com (7-8-05); "Sheep in Mass ’Ewe-icide,’" The Sun Online (7-8-05)
Sheep make terrible shepherds. They need you… to fulfill your role.
Not everyone is called to be a shepherd.
Being a shepherd is a calling. It is something that cannot be taught… it is a gift. Whenever there is an event at the church that I cannot attend… usually one of my first questions is: How many were there? Then… Who was there? This used to bother Janine.
But we were in a breakout session at the last Bay Area Sunday School workshop and listened to someone talk about shepherding. He said: “The chief word for shepherds is COUNT.” Shepherds count sheep. How did the good shepherd know there were only 99 sheep in the fold? He counted them of course.
We need more individuals with this “Shepherd Gene.” Sunday School teachers that are concerned when someone has missed a couple classes. Deacons that are aware when a family under their charge has gone AWOL.
Pastors that go after the one… just as Jesus would.
5. Good Shepherds Have Pure Motives.
a. Not Half Hearted.
"...serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;"
When I worked at the seminary years ago, we lived next door to a fellow student that played the trumpet and was very interested in music ministry. His wife however felt there was no money there. He needed to preach. The problem? The man couldn’t do it.
After one particularly bad outing... a group of us saw one of our Hispanic members leaving the service shaking her head. We knew that she struggled with English so we asked her if she had understood the message. She responded: Yes, I understand, but BORING... no reason for Bible to be boring!"
I suspect that he didn’t preach well because his heart wasn’t in it. He didn’t have the want-to.
If you are doing ministry because you feel like you have to… you need to examine your motives. God wants you to WANT to. Every year we have the same problem with a lot of our committees here at church. No one wants to be the chair of the committee. No one wants to take the reigns of leadership. This will make the committee weak.
You might say: “I don’t have the skills.” I would ask: “But do you have the want to?” Pray that God will move you to a position where you can lead for his glory. WE NEED MORE LEADERS.
b. Not greedy.
"...not greedy for money, but eager to serve;"
In the age of televangelists and such, do I have to say anything much here? Let me just state that we need to be more concerned about what you give than what you get out of ministry.
c. Not power hungry
.
"...not lording it over those entrusted to you,"
A young somewhat cocky cowboy was riding his horse one day when he spied a hunched over old farm hand on a mule. Deciding to have a little fun the young cowboy drew his 6 shooter and told the old man to get down of his mule. He then asked the old man "if he had ever danced" and began to empty his revolver at his feet with great laughter. The old man slowly turned back to his mule (unamused ) and put his hand into his pack and drew a shotgun and aimed it at the now bulletless young cowboy and he said "did you ever kiss a mule?" To which the young cowboy said with fright "no but I have always wanted to!"
There is nothing like a bullet for motivation.
But you are called to be a shepherd not a drill sergeant… and to have sheep under your care… not under your boot.
Find the right motive for ministry and then know...
5. Good Shepherds Lead by Example.
",,,but being examples to the flock."
I have heard it said that it is a tradition in firefighting that the captain is always the first in and the last out of any fire. As the old saying goes: “You can’t teach what you don’t know, you can’t lead where you won’t go.” I understand that.
But you also have to stay close enough to the flock to actually lead them.
A church member recently joined one of the two new Nashville platoons of firefighter recruits. In his 30’s he is one of the oldest recruits. He holds his own but isn’t as physical as some of the young bucks. One of their tasks is to run the steps of the fire towers.
One of the female recruits remarked to him… I want to follow you up the tower. She didn’t want to follow a 22 year old that would sprint up the stairs and leave her behind… in an attempt to stand out from the rest of the recruits.
Are you hanging back just enough to let the sheep know where you are heading? Or is your flock chocking on your dust?
7. Good leaders HAVE a Shepherd.
"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
Where does a leader look when he’s scared? Admit it… you have been there. Money is down… afraid you won’t make payroll. Enthusiasm is down… and the church down the street is growing like gang busters. A minor scuffle in the church is growing and you fear a split might be on the horizon. You are scared. Where do you look? Look to THE Shepherd.
It is He to whom you will ultimately be held accountable to… but He is also the source of your strength… & your solace. He is your power… your wisdom… your comfort. He is your Shepherd. You shall not want.
Our reward? It doesn’t always come in this life does it? Peter promises there will be a crown of glory that will not fade. In his day in the games the victor was given a crown of leaves for their victory… not something that would look all that impressive months later. Heaven’s rewards last.
So Shepherd…. Are you discouraged? Are you thinking of giving up? I read recently of a pastor that left the pastorate after 9 years, because he was tired of having a “Joyless” Ministry. Can I encourage you a minute? The task may be tiresome… but you are needed right where you are.
In his book, A Turtle on the Fencepost, Allen C. Emery tells of a night he spent on the Texas plains with a shepherd who was keeping two thousand sheep. The shepherd prepared a bonfire for cooking supper and providing warmth. The sheep dogs lay down near the fire as the stars filled the sky.
Suddenly Emery heard the unmistakable wail of a coyote with an answering call from the other side of the range. The dogs weren’t patrolling at the moment, and the coyotes seemed to know it. Rising quickly, the shepherd tossed some logs on the fire; and in this light, Emery looked out at the sheep and saw thousands of little lights.
Emery writes, "I realized that these were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. In the midst of danger, the sheep were not looking out into the darkness, but were keeping their eyes set toward the shepherd."
(Turning Point Daily Devotional, 12-10-04)
So whose eyes are on you? Who are you leading? What kind of example are you?
Now is not the time to go back to fishing… but to lay down your pole and pick up your staff… and Shepherd the flock of God.
