Shepherding the Flock: A Call to Faithful Leadership (March 2, 2025)

[...16.0s]Well, good morning, everybody. [...1.8s] Well, if you guys have your bibles, you can open up to the [...0.5s] book of First Peter. We're gonna begin chapter 5 this morning.Finally out of Chapter 4, actually we've been talking about the idea suffering [...1.1s] for a number of [...0.8s] weeks now. In fact, by the better part of our time [...0.7s] in [...0.8s] book first Petersman spent talking about [...0.4s] suffering. [...1.7s]We discuss in first Peter, how, how suffering is kind of the normative or should be the normative experience for the believer. We said we agreed that that's not our context. Here is it [...0.5s] in North America, I mean we live a lot relative life of ease as the church.We don't have a lot of opposition, we don't have a lot of people coming after us.We don't experience suffering cause really, I mean a lot of people, I mean as, even as we're studying in our Bible study and Wednesday night, [...0.5s] a lot of people are just somewhat apathetic and indifferent towards the church. [...1.1s]You know you just don't bother me as long as you don't ruffle any feathers. Long as you don't go against the flow too hard. I really don't care what you do. That's kind of the mentality of our culture, [...0.8s] you see?But in the times of Peter, especially written to this church, there was a there was a large sense of persecution against the church.And we talked about Nero would actually gather up families and Christians and he would he would cover them in tar and pitch, and he would put them on posts in his garden and light them on fire to [...1.3s] light up his evening parties. That's the kind of persecution that Peter and the church would face daily.But in this context, and we find ourselves in today, that's not really what we experience. But yet the exhortation, encouragement, as we've looked up and leading up to Chapter 5, [...0.6s] is the reality that we should be ready for that.No, I'm not saying we need to go out and play victims. I'm not saying we need to go out and look for problems. I'm not saying any of that, but I'm saying in our minds, we need to have the right perspective and in our hearts the right attitude where we can look and say, you don't get, whatever you bring into my life, I'm okay with. If it's good, I'm good with that, if it's hard, I'm good with that too. If it's if it's challenging, I'm, I'm okay with that, if God is.If it's difficult and painful, I'm still okay with that. And with that's not based on a resolve that comes from deep within us someplace that is based on the fact that we know Jesus Christ is our savior, [...0.7s] because we know what he went through on the cross, because we know what he did for us, because he was willing to lay it all down. He knows what we're going through. Isn't that what Hebrew says?We don't have a great high priest who's just like unable to sympathize with us. No, but it was tempted, like, in every way as we are yet without sin, he knows what we're going through. We can look to him, we can lean in on him, and we can get into our life with him [...0.8s] knowing that he's got us in.The bomb is in, amen, [...0.6s] so that brings us to Chapter 5. How are you guys ever seen some sort of video about sheep? [...1.8s] Okay, are they generally intelligent animals? No, [...0.8s] no, there's like 500 sheeps and one dog, [...1.1s] right?And that dog can move those sheep wherever he wants them to be, [...1.0s] right? They're not intelligent animals.In fact, one of my favorite videos that I've ever seen with sheep is they're all running down the chute, and this one just randomly jumps up, hits the thing and falls back and stop the whole process.This is the way I picture sheep, [...0.7s] right? That, the idea that, that sheep sometimes [...0.7s] can't really function without a little bit of guidance. [...1.8s]Have you guys ever seen that video online, where it's the Shepherd, and he's walking across, trying to get his sheep across the, and this one ram just comes and hits him from behind, [...1.3s] right.It just, just nailed knocks him right over, and then comes back a second time, hits him against pile, drives his face right into the concrete, [...0.9s] and then comes back again as he's getting back up and knocks him down again. [...1.3s]This is also sheep. [...2.8s] You see, sheep [...1.3s] are often times referred to [...0.6s] in the scriptures [...1.1s] as the reference given for the church. [...2.1s]No, I'm not saying God thinks the church is full of not smart people. I'm not saying that God thinks the church is full of people who are just with it, unable to do or accomplish anything. That's not what I'm saying, [...1.4s] but like sheep, [...1.9s] the church needs a Shepherd, doesn't it? [...1.5s]And that's where Peter's gonna move into today. He's gonna he's gonna bring us into that point where he's gonna say, you know okay I have some encouragement for all the different people in the church. We're gonna start at the top. We're gonna start with church leadership.The shepherds, [...0.9s] that is a that is a great title [...0.6s] for a church leader, for an elder, for a for a Deacon, for a pastor [...0.6s] to be a Shepherd. And we're gonna see this morning as we gotta work through, this is the idea that a Shepherd is not one [...0.7s] who just simply says, I'm in charge, do what I say.A Shepherd is not one who simply goes, you know what, I'm in this so I can get something out of it. A Shepherd is not someone who says, you know what, [...0.7s] I just want the money. [...1.3s] No, a Shepherd is somebody who leads, [...1.0s] who guides, [...1.3s] but not from afar [...1.3s] in the mix.So let's pray and then we're gonna dive into you first Peter, chapter [...1.1s] 5, verses 1 through 4. This morning, god, thank you [...0.7s] for the truth of your word. [...1.3s]God, we're thankful, Lord that you have put overseers and shepherds [...0.8s] over your church, over your house, over your people. [...1.7s] Lord to lead and guide and direct them towards you. The, the great Shepherd [...2.0s] who ultimately wants what is best for our lives, knows what is best for our lives. [...1.1s]And so god help us, Lord, as we look at this passages more, just to understand [...0.9s] Lord, what it is [...2.2s] that you have for us in the role of leadership, and why it's important. [...1.3s] It's your son's name we pray, amen. And you guys may read passages like this and kind of go, [...0.5s] what does that have to do with me?I'm not a leader, [...0.6s] I'm not an elder in the church, so maybe I should just skip through that, [...0.5s] but I think if you do that, if you're reading your Bible, and you just say, well, I, that's not really for me, I'm just gonna, kind of move on.You can miss out on, on really a great passage of scripture that really can help your heart understand why God has put people in the places that he has in the church.Okay, so really this passage Peter wants to instruct us on how elders [...0.6s] are to lead God's people, [...0.4s] how, how the, the church leadership [...1.3s] should be emphasizing humility [...1.1s] and leading by example, [...1.3s] realizing ultimately they're not accountable to the church as much as they are to Christ himself.So [...1.2s] again, you guys will notice no notes up here, I forgot to put them in the Powerpoint, [...1.1s] but you guys can take notes.The first point I want you to get guys to write down is the responsibility of elders [...0.4s] or leaders [...0.6s] is humility in their leadership. Okay, the responsibility of a leader or elder in the churches is humility as they lead, [...0.5s] and that's why Peter starts out in chapter 1, verse 5 or chapter 5, verse 1.He says, so I absorb elders among you, [...0.6s] now get, remember this church is scattered abroad, so this letter is meant to be distributed throughout the different regions with, I think there's five different provinces that this letter was distributed initially.And as they go as it goes out it's meant to be an encouragement to the leadership who are leading the church in an incredibly difficult time.Think about their Peters just talked for the last two chapters about suffering. Hasn't he [...0.4s] who's right there in the thick of that with those [...0.9s] sheep, those [...1.5s] believers?It's the leadership, [...1.3s] and he wants to encourage it, because here's the thing we have to understand about leadership, is church leadership, [...1.0s] biblical church leadership, those leaders, those elders bear a heavier burden than the rest of the church. [...1.4s] Why?Because their heart is, is towards the, the the the growth and maturity of, of their flock [...1.2s] right there. Their heart is to see them become more Christ like their heart.And it should be to see the church grow and mature in Christ, so that they bring honor and glory to all that god does, [...0.6s] which means they care deeply for the people that god has put underneath their care.You see a way when that when a church leader sees their people suffering, [...0.5s] it's an extra burden on their hearts. They need this encouragement. So he says, I exhort you, I encourage you [...0.8s] as elders, [...1.1s] and he says, look, I'm a fellow elder myself. [...2.4s]In fact, he was an apostle, [...2.5s] one of the original [...0.6s] 12, [...1.3s] was he not? So you go back to first Peter, chapter 1, verse 1, you see, Peter claims his apostolic authority there given to him by Christ, and he says, not only am I an elder alongside of you, I am an elder who witnessed the sufferings of Christ.He had first hand witness. He knew exactly what it was that Christ endure for us. Why do you think he can write so passionately about suffering in the previous chapters? Why?Because he knows what the savior did for him, [...0.5s] and now he's in a position of leadership, and he says, I am a fellow elder with you, [...0.6s] I lead alongside you, [...1.0s] right, and I've seen what, what Christ has gone through. [...2.1s] And he says as well as I'm a partake in the glory that is going to be revealed.You see, one thing we have to realize here is as we begin this chapter is the church has broken up to really [...0.7s] the kind of two categories.Okay, first, there's the kind of universal church. If you all, that's [...0.4s] everybody who's trusted in Jesus Christ. So that's our brothers and sisters in Africa, or Iraq, or, or in the United States, or Mexico, or you name it, Brazil, wherever it is.Anybody who's trusted in Christ is their savior, is part of the church, [...0.4s] okay, in a big sense, but then there's also this part where we talk about the local church, you guys ever heard me say that before, [...0.7s] this is where the, the, the the bread and butter of, of God's work takes place.Okay, so when we talk about the local church, this is the, [...0.7s] the geographically centered, kind of smaller group of people [...1.2s] who have trusted Christ that are part of the bigger church, but [...0.4s] now [...1.4s] come together, [...0.6s] they meet together, pray together, read scripture together, are talk together, serve together [...0.4s] in the context of a local community, [...0.6s] the local church. [...2.8s] And this is where Peter says, look, I'm an elder with you, I'm, I'm.The local church is where [...0.4s] this kind of ministry takes place. [...1.3s] Why? Because the local church is where individual believers come together, and they have individual gifts and individual talents and individual abilities, all designed by god to come together for the work of the ministry, for the edification, building up the body of Christ, [...0.4s] right?And so he says, look, you have now you are now an elder and overseer [...0.8s] of the local church, [...2.9s] you are to lead, you are to guide, and you are to direct the ministry [...0.6s] of the saints. Isn't that a big calling? [...1.5s] That's why not everybody can be a church leader.That's why not everybody is qualified to be a church leader. But Peter says, I want to encourage you [...0.5s] as a fellow elders, a fellow leader, [...3.2s] and he lists the criteria, I witness the sufferings of Bryce [...0.8s] and as well, I'm a partaker in the glory that's gonna be revealed.You know, you know Peter does right off the hot period, he encourages the church leaders, and he says, you know what, church leaders, [...0.5s] keep the bigger picture in mind. [...1.3s] It's hard now, it's difficult now.You may go through some stuff now, but let me tell you what the glory that is gonna be revealed in times to come is so much better. Keep your eyes on the prize. You guys ever heard somebody say that before, [...0.4s] keep your eyes on the prize, what do we usually put that in the context of [...1.4s] sports, [...0.4s] right?Anybody like sports, yeah, [...0.7s] okay, Kevin like sports, the rest of you guys kind of laughed at me, maybe, maybe not, [...0.5s] okay, [...0.6s] you keep your eye on the prize, what's the point, right?So you will endure so that you will continue on to the point where you can achieve your ultimate goal, winning that prize, [...0.7s] right?That's the whole point of that phrase. And so Peter says, look, we're gonna run the race, we're gonna, we're gonna play our part, we're gonna look for the glory that should be revealed in us.And so the [...0.4s] encouragement comes in verse 2, then to Shepherd the flock [...1.2s] again, that's a, it's a beautiful word, this idea of shepherding, [...3.1s] Shepherd the flock [...3.1s] that god has [...0.6s] put [...0.6s] you in charge of.So Peter reminds the church leaders here by extension, you are to care for, [...1.2s] you are to nurture, [...1.6s] you are to protect, you are to lead, you are to guide. These are the characteristics of a Shepherd. [...1.1s]Like we started watching that, that new series, The House of David, [...0.5s] I mean, I'm not gonna go out and say, hey, you guys, this totally biblically accurate, totally awesome, [...1.2s] cause it's, it's, it's entertaining, but they took a lot of liberty.So I'm just gonna say that, okay, but there's one part [...0.7s] in the very beginning where David [...2.5s] the lion comes and gets 4 sheep and gets this little lamb.And David is actually walking back to his house, [...0.8s] and he's got the, the, the bloody beat up lamb [...0.8s] over his shoulders, [...1.5s] and he walks in all the way back to his house where I can put it in [...0.5s] the pen and have it be careful.But it's such a beautiful picture of the Shepherd, [...1.3s] you know, that that the sheep [...0.4s] sometimes broken, sometimes weary, sometimes tired will be carried by the Shepherd. [...1.1s] Why? Because the Shepherd cares about the sheep, [...0.8s] he will put himself in harm's way to protect the sheep.This is the picture of a good Shepherd [...1.4s] writing. This is the picture that, that, that Peter wants them to understand you, care for you, nurture you, will take care of and, and protect. [...1.0s] But you know what? He, David didn't do.He didn't just leave the other sheep in the field for the one, no, he brought all the rest of them along with him, [...0.6s] right? He LED them back to where it was safe, LED them back to where there was Protection.I wanna read you a journal. Spurgen says, [...0.5s] do you think a minister's life is an easy one? [...1.1s] I tell you that he who makes it so will find it hard enough when he comes to die.Nothing so exhausting as a man who is called [...0.4s] to it as the care of souls, [...0.6s] so it is in measure with all who teach. They cannot do good without spending themselves. You must study the lesson, you must bring forth something fresh to your class, you must instruct and impress.I have no doubt you are often driven very hard for matter and wonder [...0.5s] how you will get through the next Lord's Day. I know that you are [...0.5s] sore, pressed at times. [...1.4s] If you are worth your salt, [...0.8s] you dare not rush your glass unprepared to offer to the Lord, [...0.5s] which costs you nothing. There must be labor.If the food is to be wisely placed before the lamb so that they [...0.4s] can receive it, [...2.2s] Spurgen [...0.4s] doesn't make light of the fact that the call to leadership is not an easy one. Why? Because the burdens are there, [...0.5s] the care, the nurture, the Protection, the guidance of the flock.And that's why he says, look, you, you are the Shepherd, the flock that, that [...0.4s] God has put among you exercising oversight. [...1.1s] I love this word, I looked up this word [...0.4s] in, in the in the Greek and it literally means to take care of this is oversight take care of [...2.7s] you, see, but here's the thing.When you look at a Shepherd, you can even go back to David as he was a Shepherd, right? Who's David's dad? Jesse, [...0.8s] who did the sheep belong to? Not David, [...0.4s] Jesse, [...1.1s] right?So it is with, with, with biblical leadership, right? I can't look here and go on, you guys are my sheep. No, no, you belong to him, [...0.9s] I'm just a Shepherd, and I'm ultimately accountable to him. I'm just one who exercises oversight care of the flock for someone who is greater than me, [...0.7s] someone who is more worthy than I [...0.9s] right?This is an important thing, right, because as, as a leader, we exercise oversight, [...1.1s] not as one who is under compulsion. [...1.5s]Compulsion means that you have to do it because you're forced into it, like compulsory service into a military sense, right, you guys ever heard of compulsory, compulsory military service. [...1.2s]I remember [...0.9s] Candace's grandpa always talking about how when you were 18, guess what, you went into the military, you serve for two years in the military in Finland. [...2.2s] Cool. We don't have that here, do we? [...1.3s] Might make some young men more manly.I think what we don't have it here, right, but he says that don't, don't look at leadership like that, [...1.1s] you know what I mean?Well, your dad was a pastor, so you should be a pastor. Your dad was a leader, you should be a leader. No, no, that's not the way it works. We do it because [...0.4s] we're not under obligation to do it, but because we believe that there is a calling upon our lives [...0.5s] by God. [...1.4s] We exercise oversight, [...0.5s] right, [...0.5s] not under compulsion, but willingly.He says, [...0.8s] right, willingly [...1.3s] as god would have us leaders [...0.5s] need to have a heart [...0.8s] for people, they need to have a heart to lead, they need to have a desire to serve others, they need to have a desire [...1.2s] to bring glory to the master and not the servant. [...1.9s] A good leader will always point people [...0.5s] to Jesus, [...1.5s] not themselves. [...1.5s]The end of good leadership is not the name of the leader, but the name of the savior, [...0.5s] right?We want, we want we want as leaders, we want people to look to Christ [...0.8s] in one sense. We want to lead and guide them to the point where they look past us and see the real master, Jesus, the real Shepherd, the great Shepherd, the chief Shepherd.So we need to be willing to serve god as he has called us, [...0.8s] and then it says not for shameful game, [...0.5s] game. This is an interesting thing. However, you guys look out at the world today, and, kind of, go maybe the church is a little bit out of whack. [...1.1s] Is there anything that sometimes [...0.8s] I do?Right, [...0.5s] in fact, there is a documentary that came out, I haven't watched it yet, but it was, it was about church [...1.5s] and basically the mishandling of the church by [...0.7s] church leaders. [...1.7s] And they call out some pretty big names [...0.9s] in the, kind of Megan Church pastors scene.They call out leaders, and they said, you know, that every year, there's almost$6 billion [...0.7s] that goes missing from the church as a whole [...1.6s] every year [...2.6s] by church leadership, [...2.1s] right? He, he says not for shameful game.We as leaders, and if you're called the leadership, should never go into it hoping that you're gonna get something out of it. [...1.9s] You shouldn't go into it, man, I wanna be a millionaire, get to your pastor, so they had joined the pastor because I wanna become a millionaire.Okay, [...0.7s] we, we don't do it for the money, but we shouldn't do it just for gain for ourselves right now. That doesn't mean [...0.4s] that a church shouldn't pay their pastor, doesn't mean that a church shouldn't take care of their leadership.No, no, first Timothy 5:18, it says for the scripture, says you showed up muzzle and ox, which treads out the grain, and a labor deserves his wages, [...0.8s] right.And in fact, in Luke chapter 10, verse 7, it says in remaining the same house, eating and drinking what they provide for a labor deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. You see, there's, there's nothing wrong [...1.2s] with taking care of those who are called to serve in a leadership capacity.However, [...0.9s] it should not be the heart of the Shepherd [...1.4s] to say, what can I get out of this deal? Does that make sense? We shouldn't look and go, you know what, man, [...0.5s] I can get X, y, and Z if I do this.I'll make a deal with the church all Shepherd the flock for the next year, if you give me that shameful game, [...0.7s] okay that shameful game, [...1.1s] you see the, the scriptures [...1.4s] are in opposition to, to pastors being paid, but they are in opposition to the heart of the pastor being sinful. [...1.3s] And that's what, that's what Peter's really trying to get as a. Don't do this for game.Don't do this, so you can get something out of it. In fact, James said, or Timothy is told in First Timothy chapter 6, verse 10, for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. [...1.6s]Notice what he says there. The love of money, [...0.7s] you know, what will lead, drive a leader to, to seek shameful gain. The love of money the love of money he says don't let the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierce themselves with many things. [...1.4s] You see, [...0.6s] Paul wrote to his beloved son of the faith in verse Timothy, who is taking on past oral ministry in emphasis, [...1.3s] and he says, watch out, [...0.9s] be careful. Why?Because you don't wanna get caught up in that cycle where you're thinking what can I get from this arrangement. [...1.1s] Rather, he says not for shameful gain, [...3.2s] but eagerly, [...3.0s] I think you can tell the heart of a pastor [...0.9s] and a heart of a leader, [...2.9s] but whether or not he's eager to serve god, and don't get me wrong.There are days you can ask my wife, there are days where I just don't want to come to work anymore. And not because people are horrible, [...1.4s] but because ministry is hard. [...1.2s]You ask any, any leader whose worth is his weight, any leader whose worth is salt, this virgin says [...0.7s] ministry is hard, is difficult. Why? Because sometimes the sheep aren't the nicest people, [...1.3s] right?I'm not saying that because I'm not thinking of anybody in this room. Don't worry, I don't have a list that I keep blacklist them off. Don't, that's what I'm saying, but sometimes, sometimes it, [...0.7s] the Shepherd is like that one getting his face driven into the concrete by the, by the ram, [...0.5s] right sometimes there's conflict in the church, [...0.8s] right?Sometimes sin is in the church, sometimes there's broken relationship, sometimes life is just temple. Sometimes there's suffering in the church, [...3.7s] but the heart of the, the leader the heart of the Shepherd should be to come alongside and say, you know, how can I help?Even if that means I'm gonna get swung at, even if that means the leader is gonna get, get [...0.6s] tried it a little bit, even it, but that's not the point. We're not in it for what we can get out of, we're in it so we can point people to Jesus Christ, [...1.0s] right?That any good leader will point people to Jesus Christ even in their suffering, even in the difficulty, even at cost to themselves, [...1.0s] right? You, you, you look and you can look at statistics, do you know the average stay of a, of a pastor in a church now is, is just over three years? [...2.5s]Why is that? [...2.0s] Because ministry is hard, [...2.7s] maybe their motivation wasn't in the right place, maybe their hearts not in the right place, [...0.6s] maybe they were in it for something other than just to serve [...1.3s] eagerly. [...4.2s] You see, cause here's the thing, [...0.8s] we, we, [...0.7s] we know the church isn't perfect. [...2.7s]How many guys are perfect in here this morning, got dowed and didn't send this week. [...2.3s]None of us [...1.7s] notice how Peter doesn't say, and church leaders need to be perfect. [...2.5s] No, he says, [...1.5s] you're a sinner saved by Grace, you're a saint of God by the Grace of God. And now I need you to lead some people towards Christ, [...1.1s] and guess what? It's gonna suck sometimes.Guess what? It's gonna be hard emotionally sometimes, guess what? It's gonna be difficult. Why? Because sin still affects the body of price, [...0.5s] as Christ sanctifies us, as he works in and through us, as he, as he tries to make as holy as he is, holy guess what stuff comes to the surface, [...3.0s] but you know what? The leader looks at his flock and says, we're in this together. [...1.0s] I'm not against you.I know you're not against me, even though in this moment it's pretty heated. Let's just be real, let's just be honest, right? [...1.1s] The church is full of growth, and growth [...0.4s] requires pain, sometimes does it? [...1.5s] But at the end of the day, if our heart is to serve eagerly, [...1.8s] then our perspective goes on beyond the moment [...0.9s] to what could be in the future. [...3.5s]But we have to remember, [...1.0s] as James says in James Chapter 3, verse 1, not many of you should become teachers, [...1.0s] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. [...1.3s] I remember I was actually painting this wall here [...0.9s] with [...0.6s] Austin's ex boyfriend, Pete. [...3.2s]That's a statement I never thought I'd say in church. [...1.0s] There we are, Pete and I are painting this wall. As I said, what's your plan? You want to go into like pastoral ministry? What do you want to do is, oh, no, no, no, [...0.4s] he's that's not for me, [...1.2s] he says, why? I said, why?He says, well, because Bible says that those who teach are held to a double accountability, [...3.0s] right? And I say that to, to say this, [...1.8s] the church leader, [...0.4s] the church elder, the Shepherd of the flock [...1.0s] should not take his responsibility lightly. [...1.6s] He should weigh the cost. [...1.4s]I'll tell you what, at 27 years old, I had no idea what I was getting into when I took this, [...0.6s] this job, when I took this post here. [...1.3s]But I tell you what, [...0.6s] through all the UPS and downs, through all the rocky roads, through all the, the, the difficult there have been immense times of joy, [...0.7s] immense times of, of [...0.4s] man satisfaction [...0.5s] where I've seen God do amazing things.See, that's the trade off, isn't it? [...1.1s] Yeah, sometimes we get into the trenches [...0.6s] with our people. Why? Because we believe that God is working, God is moving, God's doing something. He wants to do something here [...0.8s] in among the people of nipping. And so, you know what? Yeah, it'll be hard to be the trenches, but guess what?The trenches aren't always gonna be the scenario that we're functioning in. Suffering is not always the context, hardship and difficulty isn't always the thing.You know, there are so many wonderful blessings and moments that, that [...0.4s] we pair with those times of suffering [...0.7s] to say, god is doing something bigger than this moment. [...1.4s] And so, you know, we keep we keep going.As church leaders, you should keep going, and that's where Peter gets into the, the next thing he says, look, you have to role model.If you're gonna be a leader, you have to be a role model for people. You can't just go, I'm a leader, like I said, not dominating, do what I say. You guys ever been to church like that, and pastors like that, [...0.4s] you do what I say, because I'm the pastor, I'm in charge. [...2.9s]Remember sitting in a pastor's office once going, hey, can you just help me understand where you're coming from? This is what I believe, I'm not gonna change it, so you can take it or leave. [...1.6s]Okay, [...0.6s] I guess I'm leaving it [...0.9s] right again, why? Because how do you sit under leadership when people are just so domineering? You can't. [...1.7s] Why?Because that's not a good role model to follow, [...1.1s] it's not a good, good example that's being said, right, and that's why he says, look, when it comes to leading, it has to be modeled so that the people have an example to follow.And this is what Peter's exportation is to the, to the church leadership he says, look, you have to be somebody who exemplifies the truth of god that is present in your life. [...1.2s] No, is any leader gonna do this perfectly?No, [...0.6s] no, I'm not saying that as an excuse for church leaders. I'm not saying that as a justification for stuff that, that should be happening, is not happening.What I am saying is that the church leader has the responsibility to lead by example, [...1.9s] so in, in First Peter, chapter 5, verse 3 says not domineering [...0.8s] over those you are in charge of, but examples to the flop.This is a simple verse, [...1.3s] you've been given an incredible amount of authority from god as a church leader. If you are a church leader today, this, this is a standard Q why does he write this to the church, not a separate letter just to the elders. [...1.3s] Why?Because he wants the church to know and understand what church leadership should look like, [...0.8s] right? He wants, he wants every believer to be able to open his Bible, say, you know what, this is, what a godly man who is shepherding the flock looks like. [...1.1s]You know what, I wanna follow somebody who's willing to not only study the truth, know the truth, but apply the truth, [...0.5s] and then live it out in front of other people. [...1.2s] Why? Because [...0.8s] if the church leader can live out the truth is present in the Bible, then so can I [...0.7s] that's the heart of the people, right?Cause where the Shepherd leads, the flock follows. [...1.2s] And that, that was good or bad.Can I just say that [...0.8s] good or bad? That same pastor that I just reference, [...0.9s] who said take it or leave it. [...1.3s] When I was at that church, they had a church of about 350 to 400 people. Every Sunday [...1.9s] I asked my other pastor in Wisconsin, hey, how's that church doing? He says they have about 50 people. Now [...1.9s] it goes both ways, does it? [...3.2s] Good leadership [...1.1s] leads people to Christ.Bad leadership leads people away from Christ. You see, [...0.8s] leaders [...0.5s] who simply want authority or power will never lead people to Christ.Leaders who just want to be obeyed without first having live the life will always, always fail in their pursuit of leadership. And leaders who have little to no heart for the people they serve will never show them Christ.You see why those birthday few things are so important [...0.5s] when it comes to church leadership. That's why also [...0.8s] we don't just throw anybody in the leadership, [...0.9s] right? We don't just say, hey, look, you are breathing. How about church leadership today? [...2.7s]Okay, cool, you're over 40. How about church leadership? [...2.7s] We have a spot we need to fill. You know how dangerous that is. [...1.0s]There's a reason that the qualifications you find in Timothy and Titus are so exacting right there. They're so like, this is it. There is no if ands or buts about it. And you cannot compromise on those things and leadership, [...0.7s] right? You can't say, oh, well, you know what he means, five out of six. [...1.4s]No, no, no, there is an exact reason that god puts those characteristics and qualities of leaders in place. [...1.0s] Why? Because [...1.1s] leadership needs to be [...0.9s] an example [...0.7s] for others to follow. So [...0.8s] he says in the end verse 4, [...0.4s] he says [...1.0s] you have to remember that [...1.3s] leadership is rewarded, but not here. [...3.0s]I think there's a lot of people in, in ministry today, who are gonna get their reward here, [...1.2s] because their heart isn't in it for the right reasons. [...1.1s]But Peter reminds me, says, hey, look, you know, rewards are waiting for you, [...0.7s] right? Isn't that what Jesus has stored for your treasure in heaven, [...0.7s] right, not on earth where moth and rust destroy, right?Peter actually talked about the same thing, we have it inherited as an incorruptible, undefiled set aside in heaven for us, amen, [...0.6s] right, this is so again, we finished that, what are we talking about last week having an internal perspective right in the midst of suffering, look, keep your eyes closed on a journey.Now, it tells the leadership the same thing, keep your eyes focused on what is coming, not what is right here. Don't look for your reward here and now, look for your reward at when price comes. And that's what he says here.And when the chief Shepherd appears, I love that phrase. [...1.1s] It's such a beautiful way to remind those in leadership, you are not the chief Shepherd, [...2.3s] Christ is. [...1.9s] And I don't think anybody who reads this goes, well, I wonder who the chief Shepherd is. [...1.9s]No, it is Christ, it is our savior, [...0.4s] it is the one who went to the cross for us. He LED by example, did he not [...1.2s] all the time that he was on earth, did he ever sin?No, there's the example where to follow, [...0.7s] right? And so he doesn't ask for from us as church leaders anything that he hasn't already done himself, amen.And so just like the church can look to Christ as our follow Christ, the church should be able to look at the Shepherd and say, you know what? I want to follow Christ because he's following Christ. You see how it works, [...0.6s] and then he says this, but [...1.4s] you will receive the unfading crown of glory.I like what da Carson said. He says [...0.5s] the life of true biblical eldership or leadership makes sense only in the life of eternity. [...1.6s] If it is explainable in the natural terms, something [...0.4s] is defective. [...2.8s] True biblical leadership makes sense only the light of attorney.Why would anybody [...0.6s] subject themselves [...0.6s] to some of the hardships of leadership [...1.2s] if not for eternity, [...1.2s] you see how that works. It's just like, like, like the church he addressed in the previous two chapters, why would you endure suffering? Why would you go through that? Just keep on trucking for Jesus.When life is hard, life is difficult, it seems like there's no end inside, why do you keep doing that? Because of eternity [...0.9s] and the same exportation is for church leadership.Don't leave because you get something out of it. Don't leave, leave because you wanna be in charge. Don't leave because you think that there's some thing that you can offer something.No, no, look to Christ, follow his example and push people towards eternity, because it is from eternity [...0.4s] that we will be rewarded, [...0.6s] not earth [...4.1s] in eternity. We will be rewarded [...2.1s] again.You shouldn't be in it for the money. You shouldn't be in it for the fame and fortune. You shouldn't be in it for yourself, [...1.1s] you know, broke my heart. As I think it was a few years ago, we were, [...0.4s] we saw this documentary on Hillsong Church. [...1.1s] I don't think he has watched that.We decided to watch it, and man, [...0.5s] my heart just broke. [...1.5s] Because you know what? For a while it seemed like Hillsong was [...0.7s] kind of the way that God was just impacting people. We don't have any you found out behind the scenes, the leadership was a mess. [...2.3s] Leadership was just destroying the church from the inside. [...1.2s] I'm not saying there wasn't [...0.4s] good people in that church.I'm not saying there wasn't believers in that church. But you know what happened? Church leadership didn't lead biblically, [...1.1s] and it got smeared all over, [...0.6s] all over the world in a big wave, [...0.8s] cause I watch that documentary, thinking, man, [...2.7s] this gives people reason [...0.6s] not to believe in Jesus [...2.8s] again.I don't wanna rip people and say that they're all heathens, and I'm not gonna do that. But what I am gonna say is it shows that leadership is important, [...1.5s] right, if we take our if we take our view and our sight off of eternity, [...0.7s] right.There's a reason that the author Hebrews exhorts the church to fix your eyes upon Jesus, [...0.5s] the author and finisher of your faith, the author and finisher, the end result, the glory, this to be revealed in us, right.Isn't that why Paul says, look, this current suffering is not worth comparing to the glory that's gonna be revealed in us?Romans chapter 8, verse 18, [...0.6s] right? Think about it, [...0.9s] the leader, if he wants people to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus 1st, has to have his eyes fixed on Jesus, [...1.5s] realizing that from [...0.6s] eternity we will be rewarded. [...4.2s] That's why we read in scripture this morning, right? He says, we all run, [...0.8s] don't we?We're all in the race together, [...1.6s] only one gets a prize. [...1.1s] So he says, run in such a way that you win the prize. Verse 25, he says, every [...0.6s] athlete exercises self control and all things they do it to receive a perishable read, but we and in perishable, so do not run aimlessly.I do not box, is one beating the air, but I discipline my body, keep it under control, less by preaching to others. I, myself should be disqualified, [...0.8s] you know, Paul's heart is there [...0.7s] as a leader, as a church planter, as one who got used.The right two thirds of the Testament is I don't want to run in vain. I don't want my life at the end of it yet to do so much for god, and then at the end of it be disqualified.You think about Moses. [...1.7s] Can you imagine what was like for Moses leading a stubborn and stiff necked people all the way to the Promised Land, and then not being able to set foot in it [...3.1s] because he disobeyed God? [...3.3s]Think about it, [...2.1s] and this exhortation from 1st Corinthians 9 should go for all of us, not just church leaders, [...0.8s] but more so for church leaders. Why?Because we have to be [...1.3s] understanding of what the truth says, [...1.8s] run in such a way that you are not disqualified, [...1.3s] even just think about the scandals that you hear about on a semi regular basis.Now, [...1.2s] you know, in our Bible Wednesday night that we just started, I encourage you guys to come out. We won't have this week's, I'll be gone, but, but encourage you to come out because you know what?There is a whole group of people [...1.4s] in Generation Z [...1.2s] who are walking away from the church, largely in part because of poor leadership. [...3.7s] This matters.Like [...0.6s] I said, don't just read over the call, [...0.6s] but you know what, realize that, you know, what [...0.9s] the same standards that, that God puts on church leadership [...1.5s] are for the same reasons. He puts any standards on us at all [...0.9s] is for holiness, for testimony, for people seeing Jesus at work in us. [...2.1s] And the leader has a responsibility [...0.5s] of modeling that.So you guys can see what it is to follow Jesus and live for Jesus in a lost and die. [...3.5s]Leadership matters. [...2.0s] That's why I wanna close with James chapter 1, verse 12, which is blessed as the man who remains steadfast under trial, [...0.6s] for when he has stood the test, he will receive a crown of life, which god has promised to those [...0.7s] who love him.Let's pray [...0.7s] god, thank you so much for your love and Grace today. Thank you that Lord, we can come before you, we can [...0.6s] worship you, or we can know you because you lay down your life. We can celebrate that as we did this morning, [...2.5s] but god, we understand [...1.7s] that our lives in Christ have a higher purpose, [...1.7s] and that is to bring people to Jesus. [...1.1s]So whether you are in leadership or not, Lord [...0.4s] help us to keep our eyes fixed on eternity. [...2.8s] Or we await our savior. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen