Know What Time It Is (1 Peter 5)

As we come to the close of 1 Peter, we are reminded of the tension between our present reality and the hope of future glory. The call is to understand the times we live in, to recognize the urgency of the moment, and to make decisions that reflect an eternal perspective. Just as King Leonidas and his Spartans stood in the gap at Thermopylae, we are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing what time it is—not just on the clock, but in God’s redemptive story.

Peter exhorts the elders to shepherd the flock with integrity, humility, and a willingness that comes from God, not for personal gain or power. The role of leadership in the church is not about authority for its own sake, but about setting an example, protecting the flock from false teaching, and ensuring that the Word of God remains central. Elders are to serve eagerly, not under compulsion, and to lead with a spirit of humility, knowing that they are accountable to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who will reward faithfulness with an unfading crown of glory.

The congregation, too, is called to humility—toward leaders and toward one another. Humility is not just an internal attitude but something to be lived out in our relationships, especially across generational lines and in the midst of disagreements. We are to clothe ourselves with humility, recognizing that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This humility is rooted in a deep trust in God’s mighty hand, both in suffering and in repentance, knowing that He cares for us and will exalt us in due time.

Peter warns us to be sober-minded and watchful, for our adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour. Spiritual warfare is real, and we must resist the enemy by standing firm in our faith, grounded in the Word of God. Yet, we are not alone in our suffering or our struggle; the global church shares in these trials, and God’s grace is sufficient for all.

Ultimately, suffering is temporary, but the glory to come is eternal. God Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish His people. Our hope is anchored in Christ’s past work, His promised return, and the assurance that all things are being worked for His glory and our good. Let us live now with the end in mind, humble before God and resolute in our convictions, knowing that to Him belongs all dominion forever and ever.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Leadership with Integrity and Humility True spiritual leadership is not about authority or personal gain, but about shepherding God’s people with integrity, humility, and a willingness that comes from God. Elders are called to be examples, to protect the flock from false teaching, and to keep Christ at the center of all things. The greatest safeguard for the church is not just good processes, but leaders whose character is shaped by the gospel and who serve eagerly, not under compulsion or for shameful gain. [45:16]
• 2. Humility as a Lived Practice Humility is not merely an internal disposition but must be actively demonstrated in our relationships, especially within the church. This means showing grace across generational divides, being teachable, and valuing the wisdom of others, even when we disagree. God’s grace is poured out on the humble, while pride leads to opposition and destruction; therefore, we must continually clothe ourselves with humility in all our interactions. [55:44]
• 3. Entrusting Ourselves to God in Suffering and Repentance To humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand is to entrust every aspect of our lives—our suffering, our anxieties, and our sin—to His care. This is not a passive resignation but an active faith that believes God is both able and willing to deliver, restore, and exalt in His perfect timing. Repentance and trust are the posture of those who recognize their utter dependence on God’s grace. [60:35]
• 4. Vigilance in Spiritual Warfare The call to be sober-minded and watchful is a call to spiritual alertness in a world where evil is both personal and systemic. Satan seeks to destroy, often targeting the vulnerable and using the systems of the world to undermine faith. Christians are not to be naïve or passive, but to resist the enemy by standing firm in the truth of God’s Word, knowing that Christ has already secured the ultimate victory. [64:47]
• 5. Suffering is Temporary, Glory is Eternal While suffering is a present reality for God’s people, it is always “for a little while” in light of eternity. God Himself promises to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who endure, and our hope is anchored in the certainty of His eternal glory. This perspective enables us to persevere with hope, knowing that our present trials are preparing us for a glory that far outweighs them all. [74:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:46] - Setting the Stage: Knowing the Times
• [42:34] - Exhortation to Elders: Shepherding with Integrity
• [44:25] - The Role and Responsibility of Elders
• [46:40] - Guarding Against False Teaching
• [48:02] - Serving with Right Motives
• [49:45] - Warnings Against Abuse of Authority
• [51:36] - Leading by Example and Humility
• [53:43] - Call to Humility for All
• [55:44] - Humility in Generational Relationships
• [59:42] - Humbling Ourselves Under God’s Mighty Hand
• [61:57] - Casting Our Anxieties on God
• [63:25] - Sober-Mindedness and Spiritual Warfare
• [67:51] - Recognizing Evil in the World
• [70:12] - Shared Suffering and Global Church
• [73:46] - Humility, Conviction, and the End of All Things
• [74:26] - The Promise of Eternal Glory
• [79:00] - Living Now with the End in Mind
• [86:25] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

1 Peter 5:1-11 (ESV) —
> 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.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Observation Questions

1. According to Peter, what are the specific instructions given to elders about how they should lead the church? ([42:34])
2. What does Peter say is the reward for elders who shepherd the flock faithfully? ([43:07])
3. How does Peter describe the way all believers should relate to one another, especially across generational lines? ([55:44])
4. What imagery does Peter use to describe the devil, and what are believers told to do in response? ([54:08])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Peter emphasize that elders should lead “not under compulsion, but willingly” and “not for shameful gain, but eagerly”? What dangers is he warning against in church leadership? ([48:02])
2. What does it mean to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another”? How might this look in real church relationships, especially when there are disagreements or generational differences? ([55:44])
3. Peter tells believers to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” How does this connect to trusting God in times of suffering or anxiety? ([59:42])
4. The sermon mentions that spiritual warfare is both personal and systemic. How does understanding the devil as a “roaring lion” change the way we think about evil and temptation in our lives? ([01:04:47])

Application Questions

1. The sermon compared the elders’ role to shepherds who protect the flock from false teaching and lead with integrity. Have you ever seen leadership in the church done well or poorly? What made the difference? How can you support your church leaders to lead with humility and integrity? ([45:16])
2. Humility is described as something we “put on” and live out, not just feel inside. Think of a recent disagreement or generational difference you’ve experienced in church or family. How could you have responded with more humility? What would that have looked like? ([55:44])
3. Peter says to “cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” Is there a specific worry or burden you are carrying right now? What would it look like to actively entrust that to God this week? ([01:01:57])
4. The sermon warns about being watchful and sober-minded because the devil is looking for someone to devour. Are there areas in your life where you feel spiritually vulnerable or distracted? What practical steps can you take to be more alert and grounded in God’s Word? ([01:04:47])
5. Suffering is described as “for a little while,” but God’s glory is eternal. When you face hardship, do you tend to focus more on the pain or on the hope of future glory? How can you remind yourself of God’s promises in the middle of suffering? ([01:14:26])
6. The sermon talked about humility not meaning being a pushover or affirming sin, but being resolute in convictions. How can you balance humility and conviction in your relationships, especially when you see something that goes against God’s Word? ([01:13:46])
7. The closing challenge was to “live now with the end in mind.” What is one specific way you can shift your daily priorities or decisions this week to reflect an eternal perspective? ([01:19:00])