1 Peter 5:1-4 Shepherd the Flock

 

Intro: Today we are going to talk about one of my Favorite & least Favorite topics PASTORING  -

A)Favorite because awesome to see who & how God calls a man into the ministry & specifically to the office of a pastor

 

B)Least Favorite – because it reminds me of all that God has to still do in my life to make me a Shepherd after his heart !!!

 

A husband and his wife arose one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church. It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn't moved a finger toward getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, "Why aren't you getting dressed for church?" He said, "Cause I don't want to go. She asked, "Do you have any reasons?" He said, "Yes, I have three good reasons. First, the congregation is cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don't want to go.

   The wife replied, wisely, "Well, honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First, the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And third, you're the pastor! So get dressed!"

 

C) Much of what Peter talks about here can apply to us as Parents

1)   Dads – You are the Pastor of Your family – Single Parent – You are the spiritual leader in that home

 

D) So as we go thru this – although I am not going to make many comments relating to that application – but I want you to keep it in mind

 

BEGIN W/ THE TERMS

A)Elder Bishop and Pastor are terms used – inter Changeably in the N.T.- all referring to the same office

 

B) ELDER – The man – mature in the Lord – Not Elder in age – but not a Novice – Spiritual walk & experience

 

C) BISHOP- The Ministry – Simply means overseer –

1)   To look after needs / the needs / to watch for wolves / to make sure the body is being taken care of

 

D) PASTOR -  The Method – Feed & to tend

1)   John 21 – Jesus to Peter – do you love me more than these ? Feed my sheep /  Tend my lambs

 

E) Talk more about this in a minute

 

How does a man know when He is being called to be a Pastor – whether  it is a Senior of teaching Pastor or Assistant

A)4 things that will point to his calling

 

B) 1ST THE MAN POINTS TO HIMSELF – 1 Tim 3:1

1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work

 

C) Desire will be there – Now in Paul and Peters day – this was a little more difficult of a calling

1)   Pastors were first targeted in Persecution – they were the first ones killed

 

D) Today  someone might walk in here & think – cool I would like to do that stand up & teach in front of 2,000 people

 

 

But even today it is important that a man Know what He is getting into when he gets that desire

A)Elder – he is a guy who is seasoned – been around the ministry – has some understanding of the sacrifice & commit involved / as well as Warfare

 

B) So first a man will point to Himself – BEGINS W/ A DESIRE -  burden to be more involved in serving God’s people!!!

 

 

2nd THE SPIRIT POINTS TO THE MAN  - Gal 5

A)The fruit of the Spirit is going to be real evident in his life –

 

B) Love people / Joy in serving – not a Burden /patient w/ people / kind to people / faithful & dependable /

1)   Not Perfect but exuding – the Characteristics of the Lord

 

C) Not going to be a person who is a Jerk – impatient w/ people – someone people can’t trust

1)   But on the Contrary – his very character & way of carrying himself will have a way of building confidence in others

 

D) A lot of times guys who are called are guys who have been successful in other careers – shown faithful there

1)   Dependable, they have self control – ( Not failures everywhere else –I think I will become a pastor – One thing I can do is talk)

 

 

3RD – THE SHEEP POINT TO THE MAN- Jn. 10 The sheep Know my voice & they follow

A)Sheep know the voice of a shepherd – they Know the tone

 

B) Shepherds feed the Sheep – not Beat the sheep

1)   I believe in the Church one way to know if someone is a real Shepherd is if He is continually pointing the sheep to the GOOD SHEPHERD

 

 

The Present Leadership will point to the man -  Meaning they will recognize the calling that is on his life

A)What ORDINATION  is about -  Recognizing the call

 

B) Paul list certain qualifications in 1 Tim 3

 

 

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 

C) Now what Paul mentions here by way of Qualifications really deals w/ the Character, the attitude & the walk of a person called to be a Pastor

1)   We are not going to cover – but person called must agree w/ these things & be seeking H.S. help to live them

 

So Paul deals w/ the Qualifications & the Character – Peter deals w/ the heart – ( Spend the rest of our time today) – 4 things

 

1st The Ministry of the Shepherd

A)Shepherd the Flock of God that is among you

 

B) Flock of God – Not yours – ( Your Church) – God’s Flock

1)   The Pastor is a Steward – James 3 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

 

C) Needs to be a man of Prayer – Man seeking God’s heart & mind of God

 

D) Sometimes men start of Church or take a Church – see the people as a means to an end -  Great World Wide Ministry

1)   Missions quest-  What does God want – what is His will for that Body – that is what matters

 

 

AMONG YOU -  This flock  not the one down the Street

A)Your Kids  not everyone else’s kids

SHEPHERDS LOVE -  Back to John 21 –

A)Peter do you love me more than these

 

B) Key question -  If a man truly loves the Lord w/ an all out love – He is also going to love the sheep

 

SHEPHERDS FEED -  Feed them -  Paul’s example

A)Acts 20:27 I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God

 

B) Book by book - Chapter by Chapter verse by verse

1)   Not only the “NICE STUFF” – but also the difficult stuff

 

C) 2 Tim 4: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

 

D) That is what the Pastor is called to do -   but here is what happens when they don’t

 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

 

E) Unfortunately we are living in those times – Feel good Churches

 

 

SHEPHERDS TEND -  To take care of the Flock