SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 5:1-7
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. 5 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.
OBSERVATIONS
Pastors are to shepherd the flock of God.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
When we study God’s Word, it should lead us to both rejoicing and repenting.
- What stands out to you from the text?
- What questions or comments do you have about it?
- In what ways did you find yourself encouraged and/or rejoicing when you heard the message?
- In what ways were you challenged to repent or change when you heard the message?
- How did the teacher connect this passage to Christ? What other connections do you see between this message and the redemptive work of Christ?
CONCLUSION
- What is one thing that you want to remember from this sermon?
- Why is that important to you?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Some quotes from “The Care of Souls” by Harold Senkbeil
The essence of pastoral work is to bring the gifts of the Good Shepherd to his sheep and lambs. And here’s the well from which you can draw inexhaustible grace every day as a pastor: In the church the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives all your sins along with the sins of all believers.Senkbeil, Harold L.. The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart (p. 19). Lexham Press. Kindle Edition.
This is the secret for sustainable pastoral work: You need to realize that you’ve got nothing to give to others that you yourself did not receive. Jesus loves you first, then you love him back by loving his sheep and lambs in his name and stead. If pastoral ministry is anything at all, it’s a ministry of love.
Senkbeil, Harold L.. The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart . Lexham Press. Kindle Edition.
The best we pastors have to give Christ’s sheep and lambs doesn’t come from within; it comes from him. His love is perfected through us; it reaches its goal when we extend the love we’ve received from him. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:11, 19). And Christ’s love never runs dry.
Senkbeil, Harold L.. The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart . Lexham Press. Kindle Edition.
Some Word Study
Pastor. The title given by *Lutherans and some other Protestant bodies to their clergy, primarily those in charge of a church or congregation. The term derives from the Latin pastor, meaning ‘herdsman’ or ‘shepherd’, hence a ‘shepherd of souls’. Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (Eds.). (2005). In The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev., p. 1237). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
36.2ποιμαίνωb: (a figurative extension of meaning of ποιμαίνωa ‘to shepherd,’ 44.3) to lead, with the implication of providing for—‘to guide and to help, to guide and take care of.’ ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ ‘from you will come a leader who will guide and help my people Israel’ Mt 2:6. Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 465). New York: United Bible Societies.
“Overseer” or “Bishop“
53.70ἐπισκοπέωc: to have responsibility for the care of someone, implying a somewhat official responsibility within a congregation—‘to minister unto, to be responsible, to care for.’ ποιμάνατε τὸ ἐν ὑμῖν ποίμνιον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐπισκοποῦντες μὴ ἀναγκαστῶς ‘be shepherds of the flock of God committed to you, being responsible for the care of such and not as a matter of obligation’ 1 Pe 5:2. It is possible, however, that ἐπισκοπέω in 1 Pe 5:2 is not to be understood as designating some official responsibility but merely as a role of helping and serving (see 35.39). Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 541). New York: United Bible Societies.
“Elder”
53.78συμπρεσβύτερος, ου m: one who is an elder along with others—‘fellow elder.’ πρεσβυτέρους οὖν ἐν ὑμῖν παρακαλῶ ὁ συμπρεσβύτερος ‘I appeal to the elders among you, (I who am) an elder along with you’ 1 Pe 5:1. Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 542). New York: United Bible Societies.
Anxiety
25.224μέριμνα, ης f: a feeling of apprehension or distress in view of possible danger or misfortune—‘anxiety, worry, anxious concern.’ ἡ μέριμνα πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ‘anxious concern for all the churches’ 2 Cor 11:28; πᾶσαν τὴν μέριμναν ὑμῶν ἐπιρίψαντες ἐπ’ αὐτόν ‘cast all your worry upon him’ or ‘leave all your worries with him’ 1 Pe 5:7. For μέριμνα as part of an idiom in 1 Pe 5:7, see 25.250.The term μέριμνα may refer to either unnecessary worry or legitimate concern. The equivalent of ‘worry’ may be expressed in some languages in an idiomatic manner, for example, ‘to be killed by one’s mind’ or ‘to be pained by thinking.’
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 312). New York: United Bible Societies.
Some Cross References on Pastoral Work
I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 20:20–21). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 20:24). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 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. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 20:26–32). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 20:33–35). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Ti 3:1–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Tt 1:5–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 13:17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 3:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.