Biblical Leadership: Elders' Call to Serve with Integrity

Well, good morning, New Union. We are continuing in this wonderful book that we've been in for the last few months. We are headed toward the finish, winding down toward the end, and we're going to look at the first four verses of 1 Peter chapter 5 this morning. This is a passage that may not be in its entirety totally directed at you, but it's a very key text to us, especially our church and in churches of our day. Of all the texts of the book of Peter, the one that the church is most into habitual disobedience against is probably this one right here, chapter 5, verses 1 through 4. [00:00:27]

It's not just the church, it's the leaders that have a problem. This text has been a plumb line throughout history for the church to always look at what a leader, an elder, a pastor is supposed to look like. And I'm going to show you this standard this morning. But we need to talk about the context first. Like, why is this passage here on elders? [00:03:15]

You are not an elder because you are gifted, smart, or successful in the business world. You are not even an elder because a bunch of people vote you in as an elder. You are an elder because you are wise. You are seasoned, and a proven success in ministry. Bottom line is you do what everybody else in the body of Christ is supposed to do. [00:06:53]

Peter here calls himself something he calls himself a fellow elder and that is that is those are strange words here from this this chief apostle he will not elevate himself because that runs against that runs in the face of of everything that Jesus has ever said about what leadership should be he doesn't try to put himself over anybody but he follows along the lines of what the scriptures say that the greatest among you is the least and so Peter merely calls himself a fellow elder now your standard is the next phrase that he is a witness of the sufferings of Christ this was Peter's model the the model of Christian leadership is Christ himself the model of leadership is that you come not to be served but to serve and to give your life as a ransom for many a leader follows Christ he lays his life down so that other people can step on him and rise up themselves a leader does not step on other people to elevate him in his own position to advance his own career see also politics and every other means of elevation that is out there we are going to have a divine sense of leadership in the church and so Peter says that he is just one of them and that this is the model it is it is Christ that church leadership follows the example of Jesus and notice what he also says that there's a great reason for this that he is also a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed Jesus did have glory but it came after his sufferings after his sufferings he was raised from the dead he ascended and all authority was given to him and someday he will gather his elect he will come back and he will rule again amen [00:09:30]

There is for a leader, verse 4, the unfading crown of glory. But first is the example of Jesus, and we are partakers in glory. When He comes and rules, we will rule with Him. We will be rewarded and enter into His glory, but first, but first, we suffer. [00:12:11]

They are not trying to be dominant, mighty people. That's not why they're in it. They are to be lowly people that make other people successful, just like Jesus Christ did. In verse 2, here is their responsibility. We already have looked at the standard. Here is their responsibility. Write that down. [00:12:53]

These people of the church that God has saved, that God has called, that God has left here. He has given these men the responsibility to shepherd the flock. They are not autonomous over them. They answer, verse 4, to the chief shepherd who bought the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, we will answer to him. [00:13:36]

Now the shepherd in the New Testament and in the Old Testament, it means five things. And I want you to write these five things down about a shepherd. And the first one that I want you to see is that a shepherd was to gather lost sheep. They are to gather lost sheep. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. [00:14:29]

A shepherd protects his sheep from the bear, from the lion, from the wolf. David said that the wolf and the bear came, and he said that he confronted them, and David actually lays down his life. Jesus said in John 10, the hireling will run, but the shepherd lays his life down. [00:16:08]

And the motive is, it says there, not under compulsion, but willingly or voluntarily. That you're not an elder because you feel constrained to be. Because someone forces you to be. The word willingly literally means out of your nature. That it is something that comes naturally to you. You're an elder because you want to be one. [00:21:09]

And it's ministering out of this willing spirit. That is God's will. That is how He wants it to be. Well, watch this. Verse 2. It's not only willingly, but it is not for shameful gain, but eagerly. That an elder or a pastor has to have no ulterior motive. [00:21:46]

And I always marvel at these preachers that will not hold, these liberal preachers that will not hold to the inerrancy of Scripture. I look at guys who will not hold to the virgin birth of Christ, these essentials. And I look at them and I go, have you no fear of God? Have you no fear of Him? Of His judgment that is sure to come? [00:37:21]