1 Peter 5 verses 1 to 5 What an elder must do

United had Ferguson. Liverpool had Klopp.
Microsoft had Bill Gates. Apple had Steve Jobs.
In the sporting or business world strong leadership is vital for the flourishing of a team or company. In our passage the Apostle Peter underlines the fact that it is the same in the Church- strong leadership, faithful shepherding, is vital for the flourishing of the flock of God.
The Apostle Peter’s letter was written to ‘elect exiles’- Believers scattered across modern-day Turkey who were facing suffering for following Jesus. 1 Peter could be described as a ‘discipleship manual’- a guide to living for God’s glory in a hostile culture. In this final section Peter addresses the shepherds and then gives final instructions for the whole flock to bond together to glorify God.
This morning we want to focus especially on God’s words to elders given through the Apostle Peter. In our passage today, as Peter appeals to elders of the church he explains:
The Reason for addressing the issue of leadership in Christ’s Church
Their Responsibilities as leaders in Christ’s Church
The Reward that awaits them for faithfully serving Christ’s Church
In the midst of suffering Peter calls on the leaders of Christ’s Church to honour their Saviour through faithful, Christlike leadership. With this Christlike leadership the Church will flourish as it pursues Christlikeness in a hostile world.
So today, in our final sermon considering the eldership, we learn what an elder must do and why. Once again, we are given much to ponder and pray about as we prepare to elect elders to lead us and shepherd us in the years to come.
So, firstly, let us see…
Reason
As we focus in on verse 1, we see that the reason for Peter addressing the leadership is related to both their ‘Call’ and their relationship with the ‘Caller’.
The Call
On 23rd June 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed 120,000 people in Berlin, famously declaring, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’, to express solidarity with the citizens of West Berlin during the Cold War. Not long after Kennedy delivered the speech, the claim arose that he misspoke. And instead of identifying himself with the people of West Berlin, he actually identified himself as a jam donut, due to local dialect.
Since then, that claim, as tempting as it is still, that the leader of the free world should identify as a jam donut, has been roundly discredited. In fact, the willingness of the President of the United States to publicly identify on the world’s stage with the struggling people of West Berlin helped strengthen their resolve right at the moment when Nikita Khrushchev was building the now infamous Berlin Wall. It was a powerful signal of solidarity with a suffering people.
In 1 Peter 5 verse 1 the Apostle Peter does something similar when he says:
To 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…
In some translations our passage begins ‘…[T]herefore…’ and so we must look at what goes before to understand the reason for Peter appealing to the elders at this stage in his letter. In the previous paragraph Peter warns the Believers to expect suffering. This suffering- in the form of persecution- will be used by God as He purifies the Church and accomplishes His perfect will in an unbelieving world.
As Peter begins verse 1, he is keenly aware that the first people who will face the fiery trial of persecution are the leadership of God’s People. As the Church faces suffering the elders have the high calling to bear the brunt of that suffering. Not only that but they also must set an example as they suffer and prepare God’s People to suffer faithfully.
As we prepare to elect elders, but at every stage in the life of the Church, we need to take heed of what Peter says here. The men ordained to the eldership, both in the past and today, are to lead us, this congregation, through fiery trials as they protect and guide with Godly grace and wisdom. We should never forget we have an enemy who seeks to devour us- so we must pray for our elders as they seek to lead us through in a God-glorifying manner.
One of the reasons we need elders, one of the reasons Christ has given elders to His Church, is because following Jesus is a costly business. Of course, Peter knows that to be a leader in the Church means becoming a particular target of demonic opposition. And so, he wants the elders to know that he is standing with them, and he is offering himself to them as a model of what an elder is really to be and to do.
Peter is keenly aware that the Calling of the elder is high and so he addresses the elders with sensitivity and humility as he reminds them of the One who has called them…
The Caller
As Peter appeals to the elders he puts the focus on Christ’s life and death as an example to follow. As Christ was glorified through suffering, so suffering is the glorious path for God’s People. The reference to Christ’s sufferings also functions as a reminder to the elders that just as Christ was willing to suffer for them, so they also should be willing to endure hardship and suffering for the sake of those in their churches.
However, in these words we should also remember that Peter’s ‘witness’ was one of initial failure- under pressure his courage failed, and he denied His Lord. And yet he is also a witness of restoration from sin and the call to serve God. Peter’s own experience of Christ was one of repentance and restoration. Peter had a vital and growing relationship with Jesus which is crucial for those who are leading in Christ’s Church.
From Peter we learn that leaders must walk with the Caller as they pursue their Calling. Only a daily experience of His grace can sustain us in the fight.
So, there’s the reason for addressing the issue of leadership in Christ’s Church. Then, secondly, we learn of the responsibilities of leaders in Christ’s Church…
Responsibilities
A heavy call has been placed on the elders. Now Peter explains how they are to pursue that calling. In verses 2 to 3 Peter lays out the God-given responsibilities of an elder as he leads a suffering church. Peter calls each shepherd to ‘shepherd the flock’, ‘serve as an overseer’ and ‘set an example’ with loving concern for the flock under their care.
Shepherd the Flock
In verse 2 we read:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…
Here we see Peter recall Jesus’ very own words to him in John 21. Peter was commanded to show his love for Jesus by feeding and tending Jesus’ sheep.
That day on the beach Peter had learned from His Lord that a spiritual shepherd does his job in two main ways. The first job is to feed the sheep- to engage the flock in God’s Word and help them to think Biblically. Jesus emphasised this to Peter in verses 15 to 17 of John 21.
Another aspect of shepherding is tending the sheep. The sheep are prone to wander and vulnerable to attack. The sheep need protecting, guiding, nurturing, and care. The spiritual shepherd is one who displays a personal care and attention for each sheep by guiding them to Christ and His Word. The elder is one who seeks to disciple the flock so that they might know fullness of life in Christ.
Shepherding faithfully, then, is no easy job. It is a task that never ends and demands the supernatural power of God. And so shepherding is a true expression of Christian love, something the shepherd wants to do because he knows who he is doing it for.
Elders must remember the flock belongs to God and so there must be great care for the sheep. And the sheep must remember that they are ultimately answerable to God for how they have obeyed their spiritual leaders. So both shepherds and sheep have a great responsibility to each other and must help each other along the way.
The elder is not just a shepherd, he is also an ‘overseer’…
Serve as Overseer
In verse 2 we see that the job of being a shepherd could also be understood as being an overseer. This word for leadership- which we have considered previously- means someone who watches over or manages the work.
In the context of the Church, it means that elders have a responsibility to oversee the ministry of the congregation and exercise spiritual authority over those under their care. The elder, then, must be among the sheep so that he knows them well. But the elders must also be above the sheep as leads them and guides them.
So, in looking for potential elders, we are looking for those who display a deep concern for people in this congregation. And we are also looking for those of spiritual wisdom and maturity who we trust to make decisions in the areas of worship, pastoral care, mission, fellowship, discipleship and ministry to youth and children.
Again, we must be aware that these responsibilities place a heavy burden on the shepherd; being a spiritual leader of a flock has its dangers. And so, Peter warns the elders to avoid the sins of laziness (seeing ministry as a just another job to be performed) and greed (seeking earthly compensation of any type) as he serves God’s People.
We must all recognise that elders can become overwhelmed by what is expected of them and shirk back from the challenge to lead and care wholeheartedly. And elders, feeling their costly task is also a thankless one, will desire compensation of some sort.
So the sheep must pray for the shepherds and humbly submit to their guiding. Pray that their elders would experience God’s love so that they might serve God’s People with a heart of love. Pray for wisdom and discernment so that their undershepherds would lead where the Chief Shepherd would have them go together.
Elders must shepherd the flock, serve as overseers, and…
Set an Example
In verse 3 we read:
…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Here Peter warns the elders against pride.
Pride seeks the interests of self at the expense of others. Pride is the lust for power and prestige which shows itself in those who boss others around rather than lovingly showing them the way. This is not the way of the elder in Christ’s Church.
God’s Word is clear that elders are to exemplify the character of Christ to those under their care. Elders are to be like Christ- gentle and lowly, compassionate and kind, decent and respectable. Elders are to be like Christ, also, in their willingness to say what the sheep need to hear and lead the sheep where they may not want to go- so elders must also be courageous and resolute, graciously unshaken in the face of opposition, crystal clear on their purpose, prayerfully dependent on the Father.
All in leadership positions in the Church should realise that the requirement to live a life worthy of imitation is not optional. This is a challenging responsibility so it must be one fuelled by grace and centred in Christ.
So the elder must be one who is utterly committed to Jesus Christ and the work of Jesus in their lives and in their congregation. The elder, ultimately, is to be a model of what a Christian really ought to be. As he lives this way he raises the spiritual temperature of the people and the flock flourishes.
So, as we ponder and pray in preparation for electing elders, we should be asking ourselves:
Does this person remind me of Christ in their words and works?
Do they point me to Christ and inspire me to follow Him more closely?
Is theirs an example I’d like to follow, I’d like my children to follow?
Peter teaches us that God wants men who are gentle without being weak. He wants those who are patient without being indifferent. He wants men who are flexible without surrendering principle. He wants those who will be examples to the flock- those who are prepared to sacrifice for the cause of Christ in the Church and in the world.
This is a huge challenge and a costly business, so Peter reminds these elders of their reward…
Reward
Those of us who have ever tried to get fit or lose weight know that there will be days when we just want to give up. The thought of going to the gym or not having that piece of triple chocolate fudge cake just seems too much- we wonder is it really worth it. What we often find is that those who succeed in getting fit or losing weight will have a goal in mind and a reward for reaching that goal- maybe buying that new slimer piece of clothing or having a treat day. The rewards keep us going when the going seems too tough.
And the reality is that being an elder in the Church will be tough and there will be times when elders will wonder if it is worth it. Usually this happens when we take our eyes off eternity, and off the all-satisfying Chief-Shepherd, our Lord Jesus.
The Apostle Peter is well aware of this reality and so in verse 4 he says:
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Notice Peter reminds the elders, the shepherds, that they too have a shepherd- the ‘Chief Shepherd’. Elders, remember that each one of us is loved and looked after by the Lord of the Universe.
And He is also the returning Lord. Christ’s return is an encouragement in suffering and a motivation for faithful service. To know that Christ will return and the Day is coming when all will be as it should be is what makes it all worth it.
Peter, in his Epistle of Hope, also reminds elders of their reward so they can keep going when the going seems too tough. Faithful shepherds are promised a ‘crown of glory’. Here Peter is using the imagery of the times when distinguished citizens in Greek and Roman cities were often awarded a garland of ivy or olive to celebrate a victorious achievement. However, eventually the leaves would wither, and the honour would be forgotten.
But the crown the Chief Shepherd gives will never wither and it consists of a glory, an eternal honour that never fades. This eternal reward for faithful, victorious service is infinitely more important and more glorious than any other crown.
The chief Shepherd will provide a crown of glory to those who serve in His own pattern of selfless leadership for His flock. Herein lies the power to serve as an elder in Christ’s Church: looking back to Jesus’ sacrifice that justifies us and looking forward to Jesus’ return that will glorify us. All is taken care of. And all is of grace, enabling us to live and lead for Him and His People.

The Response of the Flock
Just a word to the flock: Remember that the leadership of this church are only human. You are not the only sheep in the flock. So be patient and be prayerful- encourage those who are responsible for your care and remember that we are all in this together to please the Lord and build the Kingdom.

Conclusion
Everything in the local church rises and falls with the leadership- that is the way God has designed it. No matter the location or circumstances, the leaders of Christ’s Church must be followers of Jesus who have a vital and growing relationship with Him. They must be folk who have a loving concern for the people under their care and a real desire to please Jesus their Chief Shepherd. Elders lead by serving and serve by sacrifice. But they do so for Christ knowing that this is also the way He did it as He glorified the Father.