ELDERS

 

(I Peter 5:1-4)

 

elders - presbuvtero"

 

serving as overseers - ejpiskopevw

 

Be shepherds of - poimaivnw

 

These are 3 important words used in the New Testament to describe those who serve as ministers.

 

I Timothy 3 – overseer (KJV bishop)

 

Titus 1 - elders

 

Different denominational leadership has been formed around these different words.

 

Presbyterian – elder

 

Episcopalian – bishop or overseer

 

Many protestants and evangelicals – pastor or shepherd

 

 

In our churches we see this in the way we use the word “pastor”.

 

We hold that to represent a special office in the workings of our church.

 

This is helpful – if understood correctly.

 

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

All of these important servants are to “equip the saints” (KJV) or “prepare God’s people for works of service” (NIV).

 

We use the term elder to specify an important office of service to this church – spiritually qualified men who will oversee the spiritual ministry of this church.

 

We use the term deacon and deaconess to specify an important office of service to this church – spiritually qualified men and women who will do all the nuts and bolts, hands on labor, necessary to have a functioning church.

 

Distinct from these, yet a vital part of each, we use the term pastor to describe what we view a highest office of service.  We expect our pastor to “lead and feed” the flock.

 

It just happens that three of these terms are in this passage of I Peter 5:1-4.  In this passage these three words are all talking about the same person.

 

Elder – overseers (bishop) – and shepherds = all in one.

 

So it doesn’t matter what term we use to describe our positions.   What matters is how these positions are carried out by those who hold them.

 

Peter wasn’t concerned about the title, he was concerned about the service.

 

All of our positions of service need to draw from the principles that are laid out by Peter.  But our pastors – must eat and drink this everyday.

 

 

Two admonitions to pastors.

 

 

 

I.                    Be ready to work as a shepherd.

 

 

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers.

 

Be shepherds of - poimaivnw

 

Pastors – poimhvn

 

 

Psalm 23 in Spanish – “The Lord is my pastor”

 

Have you done much farming?

 

Have you ever worked the sheep?

 

 

1)      Not because you must, but because you are willing.

 

 

 

 

2)      Not greedy for money, but eager to serve.

 

 

3)      Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

 

 

Pastor does not equal lord.

 

Elder does not equal lord.

 

 

There are a couple of things that I have noticed through the years:

 

You cannot shepherd those who are not sheep – thus we always evangelize.  The living church of the Lord Jesus Christ is made up of people who by faith have been born again into this relationship (I Peter 1:22).

 

You cannot lead sheep who refuse to be led.  This book is filled with the admonition to “submit” for all the flock. So we plant and cultivate a field of humble submission to one another in the fear of God. (Dr. Konkel said that the Dr. of Ministries class I am in is like trying to herd a bunch of cats).

 

You are not “the” shepherd – rather we are under-shepherds.  Peter just says “shepherd” – thus we do to, but the second admonition to the pastors / shepherds shows Peter’s understanding of this. 

 

 

 

II.     Be ready to meet the Chief Shepherd.

 

 

Chief Shepherd - ajrcipoivmhn

 

 

Do you know the Chief Shepherd?

 

I Peter 4:1

 

I Peter 2:17-25

 

I Peter 1:17-21

 

Isaiah 53

 

John 1:29 – “Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world”

 

Revelation 1:4-18

 

Revelation 5

 

Revelation 22

 

 

Crown - stevfano"

 

 

 

  1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

 

The word translated “prize” is the same word that is translated “crown”. 

 

 

 

Be ready to work as a shepherd.

 

Be ready to meet the Chief Shepherd.