On June 17, 2002 Federal authorities arrested a United States Forest Service employee for starting the largest fire in Colorado’s history. Terry Barton is a 38-year-old woman and had worked every summer for the Forest Service for 18 or 19 years. She had ventured into the forest to burn a letter from her estranged husband. She had evidently become angry with him and burning the note was perhaps her emotional release. Yet, because of dry conditions in the Pike National Forest, she was unable to extinguish the fire as quickly as she had desired and the fire burned out of control. At the time the fire began, Barton was under orders to patrol for fires in the vicinity where she had started the fire. This fire that was to be the largest in the state’s history burning over 130 homes with an estimated total cost of damage ranging anywhere from $27 million to almost $40 million dollars. In this strange juxtaposition of events, Terry Barton who was to prevent fires in the Colorado forest had now begun a fire.
It is impossible to separate the message from the messengers. Our reflection of what is being said is influenced by who is saying it and how it is being said. This isn’t just true for preachers of the Christian faith; it is universally true for all communicators no matter their message. Church leadership is important.
Today’s Scripture
“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. 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” (1 Peter 5:1-5).
This is a text about how to shepherd a suffering church: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). The word “therefore” or “so” in the ESV is important. Peter has just talked about judgment in chapter four. “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)? As Peter contemplates the judgment that is coming upon the church, he thinks of the church’s leaders – the elders. He knows they are to be judged first. All throughout this small letter, 1 Peter, Peter has consistently called on the believers in modern day Turkey to possess two attitudes throughout their difficulties:
1) Humility toward others;
2) Be Bold in resisting evil.
This letter you remember (1:1) is written to churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia. This is a huge and diverse area, and probably included dozens or hundreds of churches. The churches were spread over hundreds of thousands of square miles. Peter turns to address the leaders of the church of this vast region. Much of this church’s history after Peter’s letters is shrouded in mystery. Historians today know little of the stories of the church’s growth after Peter’s death. Yet, Peter’s words here are important. This area, now known as Turkey, became the cradle of Christian doctrine in the first four centuries. In a little more than 100 years, the churches in this area were flourishing.
Most churches rise and fall with the quality of leadership. This is especially true when the church is going through a time of stress and under attack. This is true of the church to which Peter writes. Yet, Peter’s instructions are timeless. Yet, leaders can’t lead without supportive people around them.
WHAT IS A PASTOR? A Pastor is a Biblically Qualified Leader who Shepherds the Church by Guarding, Leading, Feeding, and Caring for His Church.
1. What is the Function of Your Pastor?
1.1 A Pastor Guards
“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. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears” (Acts 20:28-31)
1.2 A Pastor Cares
“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” (James 5:14).
1.3 A Pastor Directs
“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…” (1 Peter 5:2). The word “oversight” is made up of two words in Greek just like it is in English: “over” and “sight.” Elder-shepherds exercise oversight. Remember they are sheep just like everyone else. Shepherds/Elders are under the Chief Shepherd: “And when the chief Shepherd appears” in verse four. They are “overseers.” They lookout over the flock. God holds them accountable for seeing the big picture and acting for the good of the whole flock.
1.4 A Pastor Nourishes
“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.’ 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.’ 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.’” (John 21:15-17).
2. What Should be the Attitude of Your Pastor?
“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” (1 Peter 5:2-3).
2.1 Lead Willingly, not by Compulsion
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1).
God wants leaders. What He doesn’t want is leaders who serve with unworthy motivation. The word ambition comes from a Latin word meaning “campaigning for promotion.” The phrase suggests a variety of elements: social visibility popularity and exercise of authority. The leaders of the flock are the most visible and the most vulnerable to persecution. Therefore, it is easy to see why Peter wants the pastors to lead willingly and not under compulsion. If you are the shepherd of a suffering flock, you will be among the first to fall. That’s the way it was with Stephen and the Peter and James in the early church. Stephen was probably the most eloquent spokesman of the Hellenistic wing. Stephen provokes the men in Acts 7 in his lengthy speech. “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). Stephen was killed in Acts 7; and James was killed in Acts 12; and Peter barely escaped the sword of Herod by a miracle. The leaders of the church are first to God’s judgment as well.
“And the Lord said to him, ‘Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.’ And to the others he said in my hearing, ‘Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders who were before the house” (Ezekiel 9:4-6).
2.2 Lead Eagerly, not for Greed
“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.”
1 Peter 5:2
Bishop Randy White lead one of the fastest growing churches in the country. Without Walls International Church boasted more than 23,000 members and took in as much as $40 million. In addition to the regular members, White attracted a number of popular athletes to his Tampa Bay congregation. Including baseball players Gary Sheffield and Darryl Strawberry. They were given preferred parking spaces and front-row seating. They were also granted “private time” with the Bishop and his wife. He boats that he married Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson. White is usually surrounded by bodyguards and according to the Florida motor vehicle records, he owns a 2006 Bentley and a Mercedes. In July 2005, Bishop Randy and his wife Paul purchased a luxury condominium in New York City’s Trump Park Avenue Building valued at $3.5 million. In 2006, the couple bought a home in an exclusive neighborhood in Tampa Bay for $2.1 million. They preached a gospel that told others that when you tithe, God will reward you not only spiritually but financially. Iowa senator Charles Grassley called for a federal investigation into the White’s ministry because of reported abuse.
A minister you can trust isn’t just thinking about retirement and vacations. True greatness and true leadership is found in giving yourself in service to others. Not in coaxing them to serve you.
2.3 Lead by Example, Do not Domineer
“ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).
And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40).
What about his family? His wife? His children? What about his finances? What about his hospitality? His discernment and reputation among spiritual people? What about his those outside? You as members of the church must be vigilant. We are a congregational church meaning that you shouldn’t invest this authority who abuses their power. We must vigilant be in our prayer. We must vigilant be in our watching. We shouldn’t never allow someone like this to remain.
3. What Fuels Your Pastor?
“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 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.” (1 Peter 5:4-5). It’s the people response and God’s response. What keeps them going is not the love of money or the love of power. What keeps them going is that when the Chief Shepherd comes, He is going to call us to account and say, “Did you feed my sheep? Were you vigilant over the souls of my sheep? Did you seek my lost sheep? Did you guard the deposit of my truth? Did you stand watch against the wolves? Did you love my flock?”
