The purpose of the Book of I Peter is to encourage believers to lift their eyes from present problems and trials and behold the wonders provided by an eternal perspective. The difficulties we have now last only for a time, and the child of God waits for an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

In chapter five Peter emphasizes the responsibilities of every child of God. Everyone in the church is exhorted to serve the Lord diligently.

I. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PASTOR.

A. Peter exhort first the pastors of the churches.
1. He introduces responsibility by mentioning the example of Christ.

2. Christ is the example to follow. Christ is the ultimate example we are to model our lives after.

3. The pastor is not the example or any other Christian! Yes, we can be influenced by a godly pastor or Christian, but the ultimate example is Christ. This does not mean that we are not to be an example to others, we most definitely are. But men will fail, Christ never does.

B. So our example is one of purity in word and in deed. Nothing less is glorifies God. There is no second standard.

A. Note that the flock which is the assembly of believers belongs to God.

B. Often people act better in the presence of the pastor or some other Christian. Folks everyone is always in the very presence of God.

C. If you hide or change your behavior around the pastor, or another Christian, that should you let your know that what you are doing is wrong. You have a spiritual problem and you will be held responsible, not by the pastor, but by God for every word and deed.

D. The word "feed" is the word "poimaino" {poy-mah'-ee-no}; meaning to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, supervisor): -feed (cattle), rule. The pastor is to guard, protect and feed the believers God has given him to shepherd.

A. It is God who calls and gives the responsibility of being a pastor of a church. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

B. God appoints pastors to churches. The man God calls He expects to take the responsibility. In the OT we have the example of Jonah, who when called would not obey the Lord and suffered greatly until he obeyed.

A. I Tim. 3:1, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." 1 Timothy 3:1

B. God puts the desire in a man heart. Yet, desire is not enough.

C. In the following verse God lists the minimum qualifications of a pastor.

D. You see in Acts 13:1-3, it teaches that the church should recognize these qualities in a man. It is the local church that sends out a pastor.

The church prays and fasts and earnestly seek God's will and the Holy Spirit leads the church to choose the right man.

A. The Bible says, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." Timothy 5:17

B. This means in respect and in financial support. By taking care of the financial needs of a pastor the church is honoring him. He is not the employee of the church!

C. Peter says the pastor should not serve of "filthy lucre" which means money. But eagerly.

D. The pastor does not serve for money, but because of his calling and because that is the responsibility God has given him in the church.

1. Some misunderstood and accused Paul of preaching for financial gain. He replied, "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward." Timothy 5:18 He was quoting Deut. 25:4. This principle was established by God in the Old Testament.

2. The Bible says, "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:14

That is God's plan. It is a very humbling experience for the man who must live by generosity and faithfulness of others.

A. "lord" 2634. katakurieuo {kat-ak-oo-ree-yoo'-o}; from 2596 and 2961; to lord against, i.e. control, subjugate: -exercise dominion over (lordship), be lord over, overcome.

B. It has the idea of a strong person domineering over a weaker person.

1. You see everyone is to follow the Lord willingly. A pastor can not make people do what is right. He can teach and set the example, but the responsibility is the individuals.

2. Often any exercise of leadership is misunderstood as being domineering.

3. Ideally the pastor preaches the Word of God,

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2

Then those that sin hear the truth can repent, be saved and faithfully follow Christ.

Paul said to Timothy,

"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And {that} they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Timothy 2:25-26

The pastor's heart felt desire:
"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:" Colossians 1:28

Pouring his heart out to the Corinthians Paul said,
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present {you as} a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Cor. 11:2

Paul explained the pastor's calling and task to the Ephesians:
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Ephesians 4:11-15

ILLUS: One commentary notes the following about shepherds:
His life was a hard one. No flock ever grazed w/o a shepherd and he was never off duty. There being little grass the sheep were bound to wander, and since there were no protecting wall, the sheep had constantly to be watched. Sheep were always liable to stray and get lost. The shepherd's tack was not only constant but at times dangerous. He guarded the sheep against wild animals and especially wolves who were ever ready to destroy the flock.

Sir George Adam Smith, who traveled greatly in Palestine, wrote, "On some high moor, across which at night the hyenas howl, when you meet him, sleepless, far-sighted, weather-beaten, leaning on his staff, and looking out over his scattered sheep, every one of them on his heart, you understand why the shepherd of Judea sprang to the front in his people's history's, why they gave him his name to their king, and made him the symbol of the providence, why Christ took him as the type of self-sacrifice."

Constant vigilance, fearless courage, patient love for his flock, were the necessary characteristics of the shepherd. (William Barclay's Commentary on John.)

This means he lives by what the Bible teaches. There is no more pitiful person than a man who does not live by the word of God that he preaches.

A. God promises a crown of glory to the faithful pastor of the church.

B. It appears on first reading that the glory is the pastor's. He is glorified.

1. Rev. 4:10, says our crowns are cast at the feet of Christ who is only deserving of glory.

2. The hearts desire of a truly called and committed pastor is to bring glory to Christ.

3. There is no reward without faithfulness.

1. There are principles found here that apply not only to the pastor, but to everyone. Next week will continue in this chapter and examine them.

2. Each of us is responsible for our area of responsibility.

3. Folks the operation of a church is different from any and all organizations on this earth.

4. It is headed by Christ! It is lead by an under shepherd at the appointment of God.

The ultimate example is Christ. The standard is one of purity and righteousness for every child of God, because that was what Christ was.

The pastor is supported financially by the church yet is appointed and called by God. The pastor is not the employee of the church, yet the church must recognize and appoint God choice to the position.