How to shepherd the flock of God in the church

Church Leadership

1. 1 Peter 5
Shepherd the Flock

2. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

3. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

4. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

5. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

6. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

7. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

8. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

9. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

10. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

11. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds

12. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds
Ezek 34:2-5
“Son of man, prophesy against the
shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give
them this message from the Sovereign
Lord:
What sorrow awaits you shepherds who
feed yourselves instead of your flocks.
Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?

13. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds
Ezek 34:2-5
You drink the milk, wear the wool, and
butcher the best animals, but you let your
flocks starve.
You have not taken care of the weak. You
have not tended the sick or bound up the
injured.

14. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds
Ezek 34:2-5
You have not gone looking for those who
have wandered away and are lost.
Instead, you have ruled them with
harshness and cruelty.
So my sheep have been scattered without
a shepherd, and they are easy prey for
any wild animal.”

15. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds
Ezek 34:22-23
So I will rescue my flock, and they will no
longer be abused…
And I will set over them one shepherd, my
servant David. He will feed them and be
a shepherd to them.

16. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Shepherding
-A common metaphor for spiritual leaders
-See the role of ancient shepherds
Jesus:
John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd sacrifices his life for
the sheep.”

17. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

18. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

19. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”

20. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Elders

21. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Elders
Deacons

22. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers

23. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers

24. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers
Bishop

25. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers
Bishop

26. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers
Bishop
Acts 20:28
“Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among
which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers

27. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers
Bishop
Acts 20:28
“Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among
which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers
Acts 20:17 – He sent to
Ephesus and called to him
the elders of the church.

28. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
The great apostle Peter =
“your fellow elder”
Only two leadership offices:
Some argue for a
bishop (episcopos)
The NT doesn’t have a
category for a “bishop”
overseeing elders
Elders
Deacons
Other
Believers
Bishop
Acts 20:28
“Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among
which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers
Acts 20:17 – He sent to
Ephesus and called to him
the elders of the church.

29. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
Application?
No autonomous
leadership!

30. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

31. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you

32. 1 Peter 5
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders
among you,
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you
How to be a good shepherd:
Four contrasts

33. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
“I get to” vs. “I’ve got to”

34. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
“I get to” vs. “I’ve got to”
“I’ve got to” leadership:
-My experience
-Some serve God this way
-Ineffective, bare minimum, resentful
-Needs an attitude change or a
leadership change

35. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
“I get to” vs. “I’ve got to”
Ajith Fernando: “Biblically speaking, all
that we do for God is given to us to do
because of His mercy.
We do not deserve the great honor of
being servants in the work of the great
God of heaven.

36. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
“I get to” vs. “I’ve got to”
Our lives are such that we are
hopelessly unqualified for every
responsibility we are given.
Therefore everything is a bonus…

37. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
“I get to” vs. “I’ve got to”
When we realize that, we are grateful
that God has chosen to use us…
instead of counting the cost of our
service, our focus will be on the
marvels of God’s grace.”
—Fernando, The Call To Joy & Pain (Crossway, 2007), 134-135

38. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
and not for sordid gain, but with
eagerness;
“Eager to take” vs. “Eager to give”

39. 1 Peter 5
2 shepherd the flock of God among
you,
exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
and not for sordid gain, but with
eagerness;
“Eager to take” vs. “Eager to give”
The early church paid some leaders
Jesus warned of the hired hand:
“He flees because he is a hired hand
and is not concerned about the
sheep.” (John 10:13)
“I’ve got to” leaders may turn to this
Could be other forms of compensation

40. 1 Peter 5
3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving
to be examples to the flock.
“Lording over” vs. “Serving under”

41. 1 Peter 5
3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving
to be examples to the flock.
“Lording over” vs. “Serving under”
Mark 10
42 You know that those who are
recognized as rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them; and their great men
exercise authority over them.

42. 1 Peter 5
3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving
to be examples to the flock.
“Lording over” vs. “Serving under”
Mark 10
43 But it is not this way among you, but
whoever wishes to become great
among you shall be your servant;
44 and whoever wishes to be first among
you shall be slave of all.

43. 1 Peter 5
3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving
to be examples to the flock.
“Lording over” vs. “Serving under”
Mark 10
45 For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.

44. 1 Peter 5
3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving
to be examples to the flock.
“Lording over” vs. “Serving under”
In other words:
“Everything you’ve learned about
leadership is wrong! Learn from me
instead.”
Do you want credibility and influence?

45. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility

46. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility

47. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
Effective spiritual leaders have learned
how to follow too
Essential for following God and working
with co-leaders
Rebels can be great leaders once they
learn to harness their rebellious spirit

48. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
Pride is subtle and scary
Signs of pride?

49. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
When you are engaged in a discussion,
you resist acknowledging that the other
person’s idea is actually better than your
own.

50. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
When you are engaged in a discussion,
you resist acknowledging that the other
person’s idea is actually better than your
own. In other words, “The righter they
sound, the madder you get.”

51. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
You start to do all the talking, taking too
much credit, demanding all the
attention, boasting, showing off, or
demanding service on the basis of your
position

52. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
You judge the value of an idea by who
said it rather than by the quality of the
thought

53. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
You treat people as too far below you in
position or credentials to seek out their
input on issues that affect them
Your image becomes more important
than substance and truth

54. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
You act as if the rules, judgments, and
standards you impose on others should
not apply to you because of who you are
or the position you hold

55. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
Winning and losing become the only
criteria you value and character
becomes an option

56. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.
Pride vs. Humility
You look in the mirror to find the source of
all success and out the window for the
cause of failure
—Blanchard and Hodges, Lead Like Jesus , 51-52

57. 1 Peter 5
5 You younger men, likewise, be
subject to your elders;
and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for
God is opposed to the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.

58. 1 Peter 5
6 Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper
time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
Pride vs. Humility

59. 1 Peter 5
6 Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper
time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
Pride vs. Humility
Schreiner: “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.” (NAC, 241)

60. 1 Peter 5
6 Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper
time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
Pride vs. Humility
The humble leader…
-Knows that God cares even more than I
do
-Knows that God was at work long before
I took an interest here or even thought
about serving Him
-Knows that God exalted me into the
position I am in
-Knows how to pray their burdens over
onto God
-Is secure enough to step into any
leadership position God calls them into

61. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd

62. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
1 Pet. 5:4 – And when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the
unfading crown of glory.

63. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
Os Guinness:
That is why Christ-centered heroism does
not need to be noticed or publicized.
The greatest deeds are done before the
Audience of One, and that is enough.
Those who are seen and sung by the
Audience of One can afford to be
careless about lesser audiences.

64. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
Os Guinness:
When asked why he was not stung by a
vicious attack from a fellow Member of
Parliament, Winston Churchill replied,
“If I respected him, I would care about his
opinion.
But I don’t, so I don’t.”

65. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
Os Guinness:
Similarly we who live before the Audience
of One can say to the world:
“I have only one audience. Before you I
have nothing to prove, nothing to gain,
nothing to lose.”
—Guinness, The Call, p. 71

67. Wayne Talarzyk
Audio testimony of those influenced
by Wayne.

68. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd

69. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace

70. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
John 21:15-19
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more
than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I
love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

71. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
John 21:15-19
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son
of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love
you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus
said.

72. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
John 21:15-19
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of
John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the
question a third time.
He said, “Lord, you know everything. You
know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

73. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
John 21:15-19
I tell you the truth, when you were young,
you were able to do as you liked; you
dressed yourself and went wherever you
wanted to go.

74. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
John 21:15-19
But when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and others will dress you
and take you where you don’t want to
go.”
Jesus said this to let him know by what
kind of death he would glorify God.
Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

75. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
It is more than comforting to realize that it
is those who have plumbed the depths
of failure to whom God invariably gives
the call to shepherd others.
This is not a call given to the gifted, the
highly trained, or the polished as such.

76. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
Without a bitter experience of their own
inadequacy and poverty they are quite
unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual
ministry.

77. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
It takes a man who has discovered
something of the measures of his own
weakness to be patient with the foibles
of others.

78. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
Such a man also has a first-hand
knowledge of the loving care of the
Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal
one who has come humbly to trust in
Him and Him alone.

79. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
Therefore he does not easily despair of
others, but looks beyond sinfulness,
willfulness, and stupidity, to the might of
unchanging love.

80. Why Should I Do This?
1.To please the Chief Shepherd
2.In response to God’s grace
Miles Stanford:
The Lord Jesus does not give the charge,
‘Be a shepherd to My lambs ... to My
sheep,’ on hearing Peter's self-confident
affirmation of undying loyalty,
but He gives it after he has utterly failed
to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in
the streets of Jerusalem. —The Complete Green Letters, 19-20

81. Jesus Has Two Questions:
1.Will you let me love you?
2.Will you respond by feeding
my sheep?