The Leadership We Need | 1 Peter 5:1-4
Peter shows us five characteristics of the leadership that we need in the church: (1) a humble voice, (2) a caring focus, (3) a godly motive, (4) an exemplary life, and (5) a hopeful outlook. This sermon is part 11 of “A Fisherman's Passion”, Bryan Craddock's series on 1 Peter 2:11-5:14.
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After every major election, we hear the same discussions. Pundits look at polling data and try to discern why people voted the way that they did. But there are probably as many answers to that question as there are voters. Our democratic system does not prescribe any qualifications aside from age and citizenship. So, everyone has their own ideas about the leadership that we need, and those ideas are always changing.
You might assume that church leadership would be very different, and it should be. There are several New Testament passages that define what spiritual leadership should be like. But Christians often end up conforming to their culture. Under the Roman Empire, Christianity became hierarchical. As democracy flourished in America, some congregations began to vote on every decision. Over the past few decades, some churches have tried to operate more like a business with a visionary CEO.
The New Testament does not prescribe an exact model of church leadership, so there is some freedom in the approach we take. But there are clear principles that we should follow, and we must be careful that we do not lose sight of them under the influence of our culture. Our study of 1 Peter leads us now to one of those passages.
In 1 Peter 5:1-4, Peter shows us five characteristics of the leadership that we need in the church. As we have seen, he writes this letter to prepare Christians to face opposition from the unbelieving world. He wants them to respond well to suffering, and good spiritual leadership will help them do that.
This passage stands out from the others in the New Testament about leadership. Paul wrote 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to his coworkers to define the character qualifications they should use in selecting men for church leadership. Hebrews 13:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12, however, address Christians generally and tell them how they should relate to their leaders. In a way, Peter does both. He addresses leaders directly, but since it is part of a general letter, he shapes everyone’s concept of church leadership.
The lessons he shares also extend beyond the church. His model of leadership is based upon the truths of the gospel. So, every Christian should be marked by these five characteristics. They should shape our personal approach to leadership in the home, the workplace, and in society. So, what kind of leadership do we need?
A Humble Voice
We tend to picture leadership as a pyramid. You see it in organizational charts. The person at the top is lifted up to rule over the rest. They may not even interact with people farther down, but they always have the final say. In this view, leadership is all about authority, power, and control. We find that sort of hierarchy in the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, they claim that Peter was the first pope, but we do not find any hint of that in his letters or elsewhere in the New Testament.
Peter introduces himself in 1 Peter 1:1 as an apostle, and that title certainly establishes his authority. But he begins chapter 5 by placing himself on level ground alongside believers and their leaders. He addresses them with a humble voice, and that sets an example for spiritual leaders and all Christians to follow. In verse 1, he says,
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
We have all heard arrogant leaders say words like that to feign humility, and Peter himself might have done something like that earlier in his life. Despite his humble background as a Galilean fisherman, he and the other disciples wanted Jesus to reign in power so that they could have positions of prominence, and sometimes that impulse set Peter at odds with Jesus. When Jesus foretold his own death, Peter rebuked him (Mt 16:22). Later when Jesus said that Peter would deny him three times, Peter insisted that he would not (Mt 26:33-35). Of course, Peter did deny Jesus, and that failure deeply humbled him.
Each part of his statement here in 1 Peter 5:1 reflects a sense of commonality with all believers. The word exhort might sound condescending to our ears, but it expresses the idea of coming alongside someone, in this case the elders of various churches. In Jewish communities, it was common for mature men to be recognized as elders, so the church adopted this practice and formalized it. In Titus 1:5, Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every town on the island of Crete. So, elders were simply a group of godly church members who were charged with the responsibility of leadership. Peter speaks of them as being among the other believers and even refers to himself as their fellow elder. There was no sense of hierarchy in the church.
Now Peter could be setting himself apart by calling himself a witness of Christ’s sufferings. We use that term to identify someone who saw something happen. But after Peter denied knowing Jesus, he seems to have run off. There is no evidence that he was present at the cross as the Apostle John was. So, he is probably using the term witness to identify himself as someone who testifies about Christ’s suffering, and every Christian is called to do that. We all share the same mission.
We also share the same hope. Peter identifies himself as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Though we are all sinners, the good news of the gospel is that we can be forgiven and have the hope of partaking in Christ’s glorious kingdom forever. Peter has emphasized this hope throughout his letter as a reason for all believers to persevere through suffering.
So, Peter presents himself in humble terms alongside all believers, but he does not remain silent. He speaks up by writing this letter and by bringing this exhortation for his fellow elders. So, we should not mistake his humble tone for weakness. To the contrary, it demonstrates faith, showing his confidence in the sovereign power of God to transform lives. It also demonstrates wisdom, because it is easier to listen to a humble voice than to a harsh and condescending one. Every believer should speak with the same humble voice, so this is a vital characteristic for good spiritual leadership.
A Caring Focus
As my family and I traveled through rural parts of Scotland last year, we saw thousands of sheep roaming across vast green fields. We never saw anyone bothering to watch over them. There was plenty of food and water and no real predators. It is probably pretty close to sheep paradise.
Ancient Israel was not like that. It was a much more arid place. Grass would sprout after winter rains, but then dry to a crisp in summer heat. Sheep would be in constant need of fresh sources of food and water. There were also dangerous predators. So, they needed the caring focus of a shepherd to survive.
Several key Old Testament figures worked as shepherds including Jacob, Moses, and David. It was David, of course, who gave us the Twenty-Third Psalm which begins by saying, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” But the Lord also described David as the shepherd of his people (2 Sam 7:7).
As we come to the New Testament, those ideas come together in the person of Jesus. He is God incarnate and will rule as the promised Davidic king. John 10 tells us that he described himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them to protect them. John 21 tells us that when he appeared to the apostles after he died and rose again, he charged Peter to tend and feed his sheep.
So, it is no surprise that Peter would use that same analogy in calling church leaders to focus on caring for people. In the first part of 1 Peter 5:2, he says, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight.”
The terms that different churches and denominations use for leaders can be confusing, but this verse links several of them together. Peter is addressing elders, but he calls them to shepherd the flock. The title “pastor” is just another word for shepherd. Then in the King James Version of 1 Timothy 3:2, the word for overseer is translated as “bishop”. So, all three terms refer to the same group of leaders who focus on caring for people in a local congregation. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul mentions that elders who rule well and work hard at preaching and teaching are worthy of double honor, which probably refers to financial support. But the responsibility is still borne by the entire group.
So, how is this work of shepherding and oversight carried out? The food and water we need is the truth of God’s word. The dangers we face are temptation, false teaching, and spiritual attack. So, Acts 6:4 tells us that Peter and the other apostles devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. We need caring spiritual leaders who know us, pray for us, and speak the truth that we need to hear. To some degree, every Christian should be engaged in that work, using our gifts to speak and serve as Peter described in verses 10-11 of chapter 4.
A Godly Motive
How do you get a stubborn mule to move? We talk about using a carrot or a stick. I don’t really know if either one works very well. They are both external incentives. The ideal situation would be for the mule to simply want to go in the right direction.
A godly internal motive is essential for someone to be a good spiritual leader. But Peter acknowledges that people sometimes do it for the wrong reasons. They are driven by some version of the carrot or the stick. Look again at 1 Peter 5:2. There Peter says,
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
Compulsion is like the stick. Well-meaning people sometimes pressure a man into taking on the responsibility of church leadership. It might be other leaders, church members, or even his family. So, the man goes along with it because he fears that he will disappoint them. But the work is not easy. When it is forced upon someone, it often leads to resentment and bitterness. It results in more harm than good.
Shameful gain is like the carrot. In 2 Peter 2:3, Peter warns believers about greedy false teachers who will try to exploit them. Now in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul says that those who devote themselves to the work of ministry deserve financial support, but he refused to accept any money from the believers in Corinth. He was very concerned about avoiding any accusation of greed that might discredit his ministry in that skeptical city.
But the carrot can take other forms besides money. It could be some kind of power or notoriety. 3 John 9 mentions someone named Diotrephes who loved being first in the church and would not acknowledge John’s authority. In 2 Timothy 3:5-6, Paul also warns of those who have an appearance of godliness but take advantage of women.
So, what is a godly motive for serving in spiritual leadership? Peter simply says that someone should be willing and eager as God would have. Paul presents the same idea in 1 Timothy 3:1. He says, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”
The desire is not to please people or to gain money or power. A leader must be eager to do the work. It is a desire to serve the Lord by caring for his people. Every Christian should have that same concern for people. Without it, spiritual leadership is a sham. We need leaders with a godly motive, and that leads to a fourth characteristic.
An Exemplary Life
Even when a shepherd is not motivated by the stick, he still might end up using it as his method of leadership. In his frustration with wayward and obstinate sheep, he might resort to swatting them to keep them in line.
The spiritual shepherd faces the same temptation. Numbers 20 tells us that Moses was overcome by anger when the people complained against him because they lacked water. The Lord promised to provide it if he would simply speak to a rock. But instead, he railed against the people as rebels and struck the rock with his staff. The Lord still provided water, but he decreed that Moses would not be allowed to enter the promised land for his lack of faith.
Peter addresses this temptation for church leaders and provides an alternative. Rather than using pressure tactics, they should shepherd the flock by living an exemplary life. In 1 Peter 5:3, he speaks of, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
Some translations of this verse speak of not being lords or lording it over people. Mark 10:42 tells us that Jesus used the same word to describe how Gentile rulers assert their power. He then told Peter and the other disciples that rather than behaving that way, they should serve people. Peter probably had that in mind as he wrote.
Church leaders are still called to speak God’s word with authority. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul tells Timothy to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in preaching the word. But he also says that this should be done with complete patience and teaching. In 2 Timothy 2:24-25, he tells Timothy to be kind to everyone and to correct opponents with gentleness.
Domineering leadership may seem more effective. We can pressure people into doing what is right by being condescending, pushy, demanding, or even threatening. But some people will resist just because of our tone. It provokes defiance. Others may submit for a while. But sooner or later, they might realize that the domineering approach is hypocritical because it flows from a lack of faith. So, it often leaves people disillusioned.
Shepherds must lead by walking ahead of the flock and showing the way. Paul lists character qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 for elders and deacons, but those are minimum requirements. To set an example as Peter says, spiritual leaders must be pursuing Christlike spiritual fruitfulness. As Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
No single church leader ever embodies all those characteristics perfectly. We all have areas of spiritual growth that come naturally and areas in which we struggle. That is why a local church needs a group of elders and deacons. The strengths of one man can balance off the weaknesses of another. Plus, when leaders humbly interact with the flock, the strengths of other members also help them grow. So, we should all strive to be examples for one another as we follow Jesus.
A Hopeful Outlook
With some jobs you can clock out at the end of the day and leave work behind, but leaders seldom have that freedom. They may always be on call. If anything goes wrong, they are still responsible. So, when times are hard, they can be pushed beyond their breaking point.
Spiritual leadership entails an even greater sense of responsibility. The reality of caring for people’s spiritual condition outweighs the affairs of business. So, as the flock struggles with temptation and hostility from the world, church leaders can become very pessimistic. Peter counters this tendency by giving leaders two reasons to maintain a hopeful outlook. In 1 Peter 5:4, he says, “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
First, he reminds them that Jesus is the chief Shepherd. The church is his flock, and he is actively watching over it. Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
No church leader bears the burden of shepherding alone. If someone avoids them, ignores them, deceives them, or even rejects them, Jesus knows and carries on his work in that person’s life. When a church leader is weary, weak, negligent, or just plain wrong, Jesus is still working in his flock and in its human leaders.
There is another implication of Jesus being the chief Shepherd. Hebrews 13:17 says that leaders will give an account as those who keep watch over people’s souls. There the author’s point is that people should cooperate, so that their leaders can oversee them with joy not groaning. Peter, however, focuses on what that accountability means for leaders. He encourages them that when Jesus appears they will receive the unfading crown of glory.
We could understand this unfading crown of glory in two ways. It could refer to the glory that all believers will experience as Jesus returns. Peter emphasizes this hope throughout his letter. Plus, there are other New Testament passages that use the imagery of a crown in this way. James 1:12 says that those who remain steadfast under trial will receive the crown of life. Then in 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul speaks of the crown of righteousness that all who have loved Christ’s appearing will receive. So, Peter’s point could be that leaders can always find hope and joy in their salvation.
But the crown of glory could also refer to a special commendation from Christ. We find this concept in Christ’s Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30). There Jesus speaks of a man going on a journey who gives his servants responsibility over his property. When he returns, he commends those who have been faithful and rewards them.
I think Peter probably has this sort of recognition in mind. Jesus will honor the sacrifices made by faithful under shepherds. But here again, all believers share this hope. We will all give account to him for how we have used our resources and abilities in the opportunities that he has given us. In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter said that the tested genuineness of our faith will result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Christ. So, we should all keep a hopeful outlook as we wait for Jesus to return.
__________
The truths of the gospel must define our approach to influence and leadership. Peter says that church leaders should be characterized by a humble voice, a caring focus, a godly motive, an exemplary life, and a hopeful outlook. The church needs that kind of leadership, so that we all grow in those characteristics.
You have probably interacted with leaders who fell short of that standard. Perhaps that has even left you feeling disillusioned about your faith. The under shepherds are also part of the flock, and sometimes they go astray. Make sure that you are following the chief Shepherd. Revelation 7:17 says that he will guide us to springs of living water and will wipe away every tear from our eyes. If you want to learn more about his relationship with us, John 10 would be a good chapter to read.
We should all consider how this passage compares to our personal view of good leadership. Have we been influenced by the world? Are we adopting its aggression and fearmongering? Perhaps you need to change your view or even to change how you relate to leaders in the church. Is a humble voice enough to get through to you? Are you receptive, responsive, and cooperative?
I close with the benediction of Hebrews 13:20-21.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Reflect
How does this passage compare to your view of leadership? How does your view need to change?
How could you improve your relationship with leaders in the church?
What could you do to encourage and support this kind of leadership in the church?