This is a condensed transcript of my May 22, 2011 sermon.

In the book of 1 Peter, the Apostle Peter encourages the early church to continue to live their lives for Christ, their King – in spite of the persecution and suffering they experienced for doing so at the hands of the Romans.  He reminds the persecuted Christians that living according to the code of Christ rather than the code of the Roman culture will result in the overwhelming blessings of the Lord – in this life and in the life to come.

In 1 Peter 5:1-7, Peter reminds the church what the code of Christ is pertaining to the way in which the community of faith (the church) operates.  By the time Peter penned these words, the church was already being led by proven, goldly men called “elders.”  As a matter of fact, he says that he is one himself.  So, he’s not instructing the early Christians to make sure their churches were being led by elders, but he is reminding them how this ought to look – both for the elders themselves and for everyone else under their leadership and care.

1 Peter 5:1-4
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: 2 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

It’s clear that these words were written for elders specifically, but they are instructions that all Christians must hear because of what Peter says next.  Peter’s main instruction to the elders is to shepherd the flock of God that is among you. The imagery here is rich, but while the shepherding imagery would have been clear to his original audience, it’s somewhat unfamiliar to us.  A good shepherd showed great concern for his sheep.  He provided for them in terms of nourishment and rest.  He guided them, leading the way.  He was intimately involved with the flock and concerned for the safety of each animal.  And he was willing to sacrifice his own comfort, even his own life, for the sake of his sheep.  We know that in Psalm 23, the Lord is called “the Good Shepherd.”  Elders are to serve as His under-shepherds, caring for their flocks as He would.  Verse 4 says that the Chief Shepherd will one day come back and will reward those under-shepherds who served faithfully…but until then, elders are to shepherd their flocks in His stead.

Here is how elders are specifically instructed by Peter to lead their flocks…

1. Not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you.

It seems as though early church elders did not volunteer; they were appointed through prayer and fasting.  We see this in Acts 14:23 where it says, “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”  1 Timothy 3:1 says that men should aspire willingly to serve as elders; they are not to feel forced into it.  Christ (the head of the church) will reveal elder “candidates” to the elders through prayer and fasting, and then these men should be invited to willingly serve as elders.

2. Not for shameful gain, but eagerly.

Men are not to see being an elder as a business venture where one seeks power and wealth.  Power is a temptation for all men, and wealth can be a temptation for those who are paid (vocational elders).  The Scriptures are clear that some elders are to be paid, but they are NEVER to serve as elders for the money.  There is no place for power and money-seeking among elders.  This leads to disgrace and distortion of the gospel message that they are called to uphold and protect.  Instead, rather than being eager for money and power, elders must be eager to shepherd the flock.  Shepherding takes all the energy a man can muster.  His eagerness must not be divided.

3. Not domineering, but examples.

Elders must lead like shepherds lead their flocks: from the front; not behind the sheep.  Shepherds did not allow their sheep to lead the way.  They always positioned themselves in front of their flocks so that the sheep would see them and follow them.  Not dominating them, but firmly and definitively leading them.  In our culture, strong leadership is often mistaken for dominance. Elders should not be domineering, but they should be given the latitude and freedom from their flocks to strongly lead.  A shepherd that would beat his sheep with his rod would have a lock full of scared sheep, reluctant to follow him.  Elders that lead in dominating ways will have angry and hurt congregants – many of whom will leave the flock and either join another one, or worse: stay away from flocks all together.  There is a balance that elders must strike between domination and abdication.  Pray that your elders find this, and pray that they follow the example of Christ (the Chief Shepherd) who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Here is how the flock is instructed by Peter to respond to the leadership of their elders…

1 Peter 5:5-7
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.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be subject to the elders.

First of all, most scholars agree that “you who are younger” refers to all who are not elders in the flock – whether young or old.  The phrase “be subject” is the same Greek word Paul uses in Eph. 5:21-22 where he says “submit one to another…wives to husbands.”  It literally means to willingly line-up under someone.  Christians, then, have a biblical mandate to line-up under / be subject to the leadership of their elders.  This doesn’t mean that questions aren’t asked of elders and discussions are not had with them, but in the end, all Christians must subject themselves to the leadership of their elders.  This is part of Christ’s code for His people.

Elders are to lead and serve the flock as Christ did (in all humility and with great sacrifice), and the flock is to respond in all humility by submitting themselves to their leadership.