Lesson 23

Feeding The Flock

I Peter 5:1-4

Times of persecution demand the best leadership. And so, without explanation, in his first epistle Peter turns from the trials of Christians to an exhortation to the elders. Let's read it together in I Peter 5:1-4.

There are three words which are used interchangably in the Bible to refer to those who lead a church. They are called elders (which refers to their spiritual maturity), they are called bishops or overseers (which refers to their position of leadership and authority in the church) and they are called pastors (shepherds - which refers primarily to their responsibility of leading and feeding a flock). All three of those words are found in this text - "elder(s)" v. 1; "feed" v. 2 which is verb form for the word pastor or shepherd; "oversight" v. 3 which is the verb form of the word bishop or overseer. (These same three words are used in Acts 20:17, 28).

Our text for today is addressed specifically to the pastors of the churches which would be receiving this letter. There are some men in this church who feel called into ministry - this is a message of particular interest to you. However, that does not limit its value and importance for the whole church. This message will also give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of pastors and help you to pray for them.

The main idea of the text is the first three words of verse 2 - "feed the flock". The whole text is built around this analogy of a shepherd and sheep. This analogy would have been familiar in the ancient world of Peter. But here and now, we know little about shepherds or sheep. Before we can understand the text, we need to understand the analogy.

Everything I know about sheep and shepherds I learned from a little pig named Babe! Actually, in preparing for this message I did some research into sheep and shepherds. I ran across some excerpts from a book called (I believe) A Day In The Life Of A Shepherd.

Sheep are great creatures of habit. They, unlike nearly all other creatures, have absolutely no sense of direction and orientation - they really do get lost easily and cannot find their way back home, tending to walk in circles. They need a shepherd to lead them. In fact, the Bible often when describing the lost condition of humanity, compares to sheep with no shepherd. Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. (Also Numbers 27:17; I Kings 22:17; II Chronicles 18:16). Sheep are innate followers. They need a shepherd to lead them.

Sheep are perhaps the most vulnerable and defenseless of all of God's creatures. We think of sheep as white and clean, but actually they are not. Newborn lambs are white but full-grown sheep are stained. In fact, they are an extremely greasy, oily animal. Everything sticks to their greasy wool - dirt and dust, weeds and seeds, insects and even their own feces. Sheep have no ability to clean themselves or each other. They need a shepherd to keep them clean and to protect them from flies and from filth that will make them sick and die.

Sheep cannot defend themselves from predators. They don't kick, scratch, bite, jump and they don't run very well. In fact, when they are attacked they tend to run together which makes them easy pickens for a wolf or a bear or a mountain lion. If a full-wooled sheep falls over, it is unable to right itself. It will simply lay down and die. In fact, if that sheep has laid on its back for a long time, the circulation ceases and takes up to an hour to return. Sheep are vulnerable to injury. They give up easily with no will to fight and no struggle to live. Sheep need a shepherd to protect them

Sheep cannot graze on wet ground. They get foot rot from walking where it is wet and a deadly diarrhea from eating wet grass. ( I will spare you of all the details). If sheep are not moved to new pasture, they will eat the grass, then the stubble, then the roots, then the dirt. They have no ability to discriminate between healthy grass and poisonous weeds. Sheep cannot smell or sense water, like most animals and the water they drink must be moving but not too swiftly and must be tepid. A shepherd is required to lead them beside the still waters. Sheep need a shepherd - to guide them else they will be lost, to protect them else they will be vulnerable, and to feed them else they will die of starvation or thirst.

Isn't it interesting that God uses a flock of sheep as an analogy for His people and a shepherd as an analogy for the pastor of a local church? Neither are very glamorous. Sheep are by nature dirty, dumb, defenseless creatures and shepherds have a lowly dirty job to do. Genesis 46:34 - "for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." It was the same way in Israel.

Perhaps by better understanding the analogy, we can better understand the instructions from Peter to the elders in our text.

These four verses answer four simple questions about pastors. These four questions will unlock this text.

Question #1 - What?

What's A Pastor To Do? 5:1-2a

In verse 1, Peter gives the basis for his appeal. Peter appeals to the pastors, first, as a fellow pastor - "i ... whom am also an elder exhort you." During that first century, church leadership went from a transition from apostles to elders. Peter was both - first an apostle (1:1), later, an elder. There is no pulling rank here. Peter modestly refers to himself as one of them. This will help to motivate the pastors - another faithful pastor calls them to commitment.

Second, he appeals to them as "a witness of the sufferings of Christ." Peter is one who had been there. literally, with Jesus. It adds authority to his exhortation. Third, he appeals to them on the basis of Christ's return. Peter is a "partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." This is the motivation of reward. Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Verse 2a answers the question - "What's a shepherd to do?" The primary function and responsibility of a shepherd is to "feed the flock." And the primary responsibility of a pastor is to feed the flock of God.

Again and again, this is the command given to pastors. Three times in John 21:15-17, Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my sheep." Acts 20:28 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. (See also Ezekiel 34:1-15, esp.2,3,8, 15.

You should not criticize a pastor who spends his time studying and preparing to teach and preach God's Word. He is doing what God has commanded him to do. "A good shepherd spends more time preparing the pasture than he does tending to the sheep" wrote Philip Keller in A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm. Paul told Timothy that an elder who "labors in the word and doctrine is worthy of double honour." The word of God is what the pastor is to feed his flock. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17). A shepherd faces the constant temptation and danger of being distracted from what is best to what is good. There are many good causes to which a pastor could give himself and his time. There is only one primary command - "Feed the flock." This is the philosophy by which I live and work and I believe that it is an entirely biblical philosophy. What's a shepherd to do? "Feed the flock."

Question #2 - Who?

Who Does The Shepherd Feed? 5:2.

We need to be reminded that this church is "the flock of God". This is not my church. This is not our church. This is God's church. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto ... 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. Verse 3 says that this is God's heritage (inheritance; lot).

Question #3 - How?

How Does The Pastor Shepherd The Flock? 5:2-3.

Verses 2-3 contains of list of 5 things for a pastor to remember in shepherding God's flock. This list contains 3 negative statements sandwiched between 2 positive statements.

1. Positive - "taking the oversight". When a flock of sheep is grazing, a good shepherd wisely seeks high ground from which to gain a vantage point of seeing the whole flock. From this place, he can see a sheep that is wandering off. Or he can see a predator edging toward the flock or a frightening weather system moving in. Likewise, a pastor must be a man of leadership and vision who eye is constantly and carefully on the flock.

2. Negative - "not by constraint, but willingly". A good pastor does not have to be pushed or compelled into action but is willing and volunteering. Unfortunately, the ministry, by its very nature has a lot of freedom inherent. There are no clocks to punch. There are no supervisors making sure you are diligent. With such freedom comes a temptation to laziness. There are many lazy pastors who procrastinate and then get their messages from a book or a tape or from a friend. A good shepherd has to be a self-starter, a highly motivated person with personal discipline and diligence.

3. Negative - "not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." Another danger for a pastor is to get a wrong attitude toward money. Jesus spoke about the difference between a shepherd and a hireling (John 10:12-13). Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain... Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. A pastor cannot be motivated my money. It is entirely right, according to the Bible, for the pastor to be supported by the church (I Corinthians 9:6-14 - they that preach the gospel should live from the gospel. I Timothy 5:17-18. But he is not in it for the money. He does not take advantage of people or of the church financially. Instead he has a ready mind - a eagerness to serve God and God's people.

4. Negative - "Neither as being lords over God's heritage." The final danger of which Peter warns is the danger of being domineering and intimidating. It is wrong from a pastor to throw his weight around or abuse his position of authority to get his way.

5. Positive - "but being ensamples to the flock." The greatest leadership is the power of an exemplary life. Paul told young Timothy to be an example. Jesus said that we are let our lights shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven.

Question #4 - Why?

Why Should A Pastor Obey These Exhortations? 5:4.

As a pastor, I am a shepherd. But I also am a sheep. I have a shepherd. "The Lord is my shepherd." Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, John 10:11, 14. He is the great shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) who lives and watches over His flock. And Peter says that Jesus is the Chief shepherd who comes for the sheep. And when he comes, it will "red sky at night, shepherd's delight". He will reward every faithful pastor who has diligently feed the flock, who has been a leader, who has not been lazy, nor greedy, nor domineering, who has set a good example for the flock to see and follow, Jesus will reward that pastor with a "a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

I want that crown. Not as trophy to set on my own mantle in my heavenly mansion, but as a crown to lay at the feet of Jesus. I want to be found faithful. I want to be like Jesus - a good shepherd.