Sunny Thoughts from Sunset – October 20
Sunset hosted the annual Brimberry Reunion last week at the church. We are thankful for all our Sunset Founders, especially at this time the Brimberry family.
The Sunset pastor continued our theme in “First Peter—Trials, Pilgrimage, Courage and Hope” with a message, “Godly Shepherds.” The text was from 1 Peter 5:2: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care….”
What a blessing godly leaders are! King David, at the end of his life, described them (2 Samuel 23) as “the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.”
Whether we’re talking about leadership in a family, church or nation, godly leaders can take people to the blessing of green pastures and still waters to which they would not go if their leaders are corrupt and ungodly.
The pastor made three points: (1) God’s Leaders; (2) Their Motivation; (3) Their Work.
(1) God’s Leaders. V1: “To the elders among you.” In God’s house Peter describes the leaders as elders. Three Greek root words describe God’s leaders (all used here): presbuteros (elder/presbyter); episcopos (bishop/overseer), and poimen (shepherd/pastor).
Elders are older, not new Christians; bishops describe the spiritual oversight responsibility of God’s leaders; shepherd describes the work that pastors/shepherds do. All three words describe different aspects of leadership among God’s people.
(2) Their Motivation.
(a) The reason God’s leaders lead is because they are called by God to do so. Peter v2: “Not because you must but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”
Paul (1 Timothy 3): “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” The first qualification: one desires to serve in this way.
When I was a youngster, I saw elders as sort of mysterious, and nearly untouchable. I had no idea that I would be a leader for God, and I was reluctant to step out. I put God off for 15 years, and after seminary graduation, I continued working in a bank, not thinking about ministry. God finally got my attention.
(b) They are, v2, “eager to serve, not greedy for money.” Many First Century churches compensated their pastors because one should not “muzzle the ox that treads out the grain,” Paul said, and “The workman is worthy of his hire.” But our motivation for leadership must not be money.
Some pastors get tripped up behind money. I’ve always believed that God would take care of his preachers, believing that whatever compensation comes my way is a gift from God, so I should thank Him and the giver, and be generous. God takes care of those who are not greedy.
(c) Another (negative) motivation must be that we do not wish to lead simply to exercise power over others: v3, “not lording it over those entrusted to you.” Jesus said: The “Gentiles lord it over their people; it shall not be so among you.”
Elders and pastors have spiritual, not worldly, authority over God’s people. They are to be (v3) “examples to the flock.” Their authority derives from (1) the example of their own holy life, and (2) from the word of God which they bring.
(3) Their Work. V2: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.” Shepherds (Psalm 23) “lead into green pastures, not fields of stubble; they feed beside still, not troubled, waters.”
We feed the word of God to God’s flock. Paul’s charge to Timothy: (2 Tim 4:1): “Preach the word.”
Shepherds also have a staff and a rod: the staff to guide and lead; the rod to beat off wolves who wish to devour.
“You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for you at the works of your hands. [Psalm 92:4]
May we be satisfied in this life by God’s works for us, and give him the glory for it—our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.
