God's Chain of Shepherding
Sermon Title: God’s Chain of Shepherding
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to shepherd God’s flock, God’s way, leading to the making of disciples.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 links in the chain of shepherding.
I. The 1st link in the chain of shepherding is the shepherd. V.1-2a
A. True shepherds accept the universal exhortation of shepherding. V.1a (cf Ezekiel 34:2-16)
John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Jeremiah 23:1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD. 3 "But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD.
B. True shepherds accept the universal eldership of shepherding. V.1b
C. True shepherds accept the universal evidence of shepherding. V. 1c
D. True shepherds accept the universal end of shepherding. V.1d
II. The 2nd link in the chain of shepherding is the sheep. V.2
The word “bishop” (episkopow) means overseer and caretaker, guardian, protector, guide, and director. (William Barclay. The Letters of James and Peter p. 258)
1. He feeds the sheep even if he has to gather them in His arms and carry them to the feeding pasture. (Is. 40:11)
2. He guides the sheep to the pasture and away from the rough places and precipices. (Ps. 23:1-4)
Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 23:4 "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD.
Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
3. He seeks and saves the sheep who get lost.
4. He protects the sheep. He even sacrifices his life for the sheep. (Heb. 13:20)
5. He restores the sheep who go astray and return. (1 Peter 2:25)
6. He rewards the sheep for obedience and faithfulness. (1 Peter 5:4)
III. The 3rd link in the chain of shepherding is the strategy. V.2c-3
A. The 2 practices inherent to the shepherding task.
1. Exercise oversight. V.2a
Shepherds must watch over the sheep to assess their condition, so as to lead, guard, and feed them.
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2. Exercise exampleship. V.3b (Rom 8:13; Luke 14:26-27)
John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
B. The 3 perils inherent to the shepherding task.
1. Avoid having to be persuaded to shepherd. V.2b
The obvious point is that the shepherd must be diligent rather than lazy, heart motivated rather than forced to be faithful and passionate about his privileged duty rather than indifferent. When the heart is fully driven and is fully Christ’s by love for Him and for external motivational pressure.
1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
2. Avoid having a passion for money or material benefits. V.2c
The basic scriptural qualification for any elder is that he is a selfless servant committed to sacrifice and not preoccupied with money and materialism. True shepherds will never use the ministry to steal the sheep’s money or acquire it dishonestly, like false prophets always do. Such despicable behavior is typical of false shepherds, the charlatans and heretics who masquerade as servants of God.
“In the spiritual case of God’s children, the feeding of the flock from the Word of God is the constant and regular necessity; it is to have the foremost place. The tending (which includes this) consists of other acts, of discipline, authority, restoration, material assistance of individuals, but they are incidental in comparison with the feeding.” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
Acts 20:33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
Exodus 18:21 "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Exodus 4:15 "Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.
J. B. Yeats, The real leader serves truth, not people.
3. Avoid having a desire to dominate people and circumstances. V.3a
Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
IV. The 4th link in the chain of shepherding is the satisfaction. V.4
A. The true shepherd finds satisfaction in the appearing of the Chief Shepherd. V.4a
1. The return of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. . . . 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
2. The return of Jesus the Great Shepherd.
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
3. The return of Jesus the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. (1 Peter 2:25)
4. The return of Jesus the Chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:4)
B. The true shepherd finds satisfaction in the unfading crown of glory. V.4b
Matthew 25:23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.