Chapter 5 of First Peter contains charges to the elders of the church and their respective flocks who were being commanded by Peter to shepherd the God’s flock among them and serve as overseers. In the first five verses of 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter assigned the elders duties as shepherds and the young ones as the flock. Gives specific instructions to elders about how to lead the flock of God willingly, eagerly, and by their own example. Peter closes out his letter to the scattered Christians in the churches of Asia Minor with some final instructions. He counsels the elders about how to lead, includes how and why to live in humility with each other, and gives a final warning to be clear-minded and alert. Peter counts himself as one of the elders. Elders are important to the church because, first and foremost, they are the leaders that Christ has appointed to oversee His church. This is not mere suggestion – it is the biblical mandate. Every church not only needs elders, but they need the right kind of elders. Every church needs men who meet the qualifications (It reads in Titus 1:5:The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.)Also: ( It reads in Titus 16: 1:“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”) (Also reads in: Timothy 3:1-7: Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own immediate living in the same household family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.) Who are willing to do the work. Elders are the shepherds of the flock (It reads in Acts 20:28:Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.) and as such, they have a very important role: Not surprisingly, the New Testament views elders as shepherds as well! Message: The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was the peculiar honor of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of Christ’s sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true Christians to partake of the glory that shall be revealed. As it reads in 1 Peter 5:1-4: The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.) The elders’ mission is to lead, teach, protect and love their church members the way shepherds care for the sheep in a flock, so that the church members will grow up into spiritual maturity ( It reads in Ephesians 4:11-13: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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. ). 2. Elders are pastors. But a pastor is an elder, and an elder is a pastor. Elders should do those things in a local church that they assume a pastor would do, even if they spend fewer hours per week than the paid pastor. Elders should do those things in a local church that they assume a pastor would do, even if they spend fewer hours per week than the paid pastor. Elders are not only the congregation’s shepherds, they are each other’s shepherds as well. They mentor each other, hold each other accountable, teach each other, and confess their sins and struggles to each other. At least that’s the way it should be. Each and every one of us needs to be led. I am stressing this on the elders of the church, because they may be singled out by individuals. But this is not the case of the church. Our church hold or elders dear to our heart. All people in the church is held dear to our hearts. If a individual does not recognize a elder as a important part of the church and that elder wants to leave the church. I say elder think a 2nd time. It is not the church but the individual that is still learning.
1 Peter 5:1-10
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
{Ley’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You for these instructions to church elders, to feed the flock of God with sound, biblical doctrine, and to take responsibility for the nurturing and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help each one of us to grow in grace and in a knowledge of You, and may all Your children live humbly and walk circumspectly before You, throughout our Christian life. I thank You and praise You for limitations that gives us patients, wisdom and compassionate heart. Heavenly Father God ,I believe that You are no respecter of persons and are ready to use any one of us who is willing to be used, and looking to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith, even me. Give me opportunities to shepherd, nurture and bless those that are weaker in the faith than I, and excite in me a desire to learn from elders and officials in the church, who are fulfilling their God-given role within the body of Christ. Give me a spirit of humility and grace to finish the race that is set before me, and may I do all to Your glory and honor. I thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
{Power Verse}
O God You have helped me from my earliest childhood, I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things You do.
Psalm 71:17
"Only Life Changes" 