Shepherds, Sheep, & Standing Firm
1 peter 5:1-14
“The vocation of pastor has been replaced [in North American culture] by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans… I wonder if at the root of the defection is a cultural assumption that leaders are people who “get things done,” and “make things happen.” That is certainly true of the primary leadership models that seep into our awareness from the culture—politicians, businessmen, advertisers, publicists, celebrities and athletes. But while being a pastor certainly has some of those components, the pervasive element in our 2,000-year pastoral tradition is not someone who “gets things done” but rather the person placed in the community to pay attention and call attention to “what is going on right now” between men and women, with one another and with God—this kingdom of God that is primarily local, relentlessly personal, and prayerful “without ceasing.”
~ Eugene Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir
Main Idea: Elders shepherd the church toward humility and endurance so we might stand firm in grace.
I. Shepherding the Flock of God (5:1-5a)
Peter discusses four aspects of pastoral ministry:
1. The Task of Elders (5:2): “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight”
Shepherding the flock involves knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the church “among” them (cf. John 21:15-17).
Acts 20:28: 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.
2. The Calling of Elders (5:3): “... not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly” (cf. Titus 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:5)
3. The Manner of Elders (5:3): “... not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
2 Corinthians 1:24: Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
4. The Goal of Elders (5:4): “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (cf. 2:25)
John 10:11–14: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me”
In response to Godly leadership from elders over the flock, the congregation should “be subject to the elders” in humility (5:5).
Hebrews 13:17: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
II. Standing Firm in the Grace of God (5:5b-14)
Peter urges the church to “stand firm in the grace of God” (5:12), evidenced by two pursuits:
1. Humility (5:5b-7)
All in the church ought to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” This humble posture toward each other is rooted in Christ (Phil. 2:3-5) and prepares us to receive grace from the “mighty hand of God.” A prideful, envious, and competitive spirit is fundamentally “anti-grace.”
Practically, Peter urges us to “cast all our anxieties on God” as an expression of humility (cf. 4:19).
“Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced that they must solve all the problems in their lives in their own strength. The only god they trust in is themselves. When believers throw their worries upon God, they express their trust in his mighty hand, acknowledging that he is Lord and Sovereign over all of life.”
~ Tom Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
2. Endurance (5:8-14)
For the first time in his letter, Peter identifies Satan - our “adversary” and ancient foe - who “prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Though Satan is a defeated foe (because of the finished work of Christ), he nevertheless rages on against the Lord and his people “because his time is short” (cf. Rev. 12:12).
We “resist” Satan (cf. Jas. 4:7) by applying what Peter has been consistently exhorting throughout his letter:
Living with sober-mindedness and watchfulness (5:8a)
Standing firm in our faith (5:9a)
Expecting suffering (5:9b)
Looking forward to our glorious future (5:10)
In all of these exhortations, Peter reminds these “elect exiles” that they are not alone, but have been given the gift of one another in the community of faith. Those who have been saved by Jesus are to “stand firm” together in the grace of God in solidarity and strength alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.
