Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe, we're going to learn the importance of faithful shepherds in the Church of Jesus Christ. What are their responsibilities? What should we expect from them? This is our subject. Faithful Shepherds.
Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. How should spiritual leaders serve in the church? What can we expect from faithful shepherds? Today we're concluding our look at Peter's instructions to church elders. Discovering practical wisdom for both leaders and congregation members.
Here's Pastor John Monroe with part two of his message: Faithful Shepherds. As Peter approaches the end of his letter, He now is making an appeal to shepherds. He describes himself as an elder rather than as an apostle or pope. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Peter was commissioned by the Lord Jesus to feed his lambs.
Now Peter knew the pain of denying the Lord. How gracious of our Lord to recommission Peter to be a shepherd in the church.
Now Peter is appealing to his fellow elders to be worthy shepherds. I love this word shepherd. A shepherd feeds, leads, cares for and protects the sheep. Pastors need to know their sheep. If you don't like sheep, don't be a shepherd.
Let's look further at these four verses of 1 Peter 5 and learn what it is to be a faithful shepherd. Read with me in 1 Peter 5, then, as we'll read the first four verses.
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. Shepherd the flock of God. But it is among you.
exercising oversight. not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you. Not for shameful gain, but eagerly. Not domineering over those in your charge. but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherd appears, You will receive the unfading crown. of glory. Peter As he comes towards the end of this epistle, writing to these believers who are scattered throughout the Roman Empire because of the persecution. He is writing in these verses to shepherds. He himself is a shepherd and he's making an appeal.
to shepherds.
Now, how is this shepherding done? Peter gives us great insights in verses 2 and 3. How are we to do that? And he deals with some of the dangers. Three great dangers as we shepherd.
Laziness. Materialism. And a thirst for power, a thirst for. Control. And he's going to eliminate all of these as he describes the manner.
We are to shepherd. First of all, he says verse two. To the elders, Shepherd. not under compulsion, but willingly. The spiritual shepherd isn't a conscript.
That someone's twisted his arm, someone has put some guilt on this person to serve. No, the shepherd isn't a serve out of a false sense of duty. Paul tells Timothy that the elder is to have a desire for the work. The spiritual shepherd is to be called by God. We read the scripture in Acts 20 where Paul says it's the Holy Spirit that raises up shepherds.
I hope I'm here. Not because I feel Charlotte's a nice place to live, which it is. I'm here because God Called me. The shepherd is called by God. There is a willingness.
Our Lord Jesus said of him, he delighted to do the will of God. He came not to be served, but to serve. This is the spiritual example elders are to follow.
Now this first century Elders didn't have it easy. Think of the suffering. And if you know anything about the persecuted church, you know that the authorities and the devil target the leaders. They're on the front. Line.
And if you know the heartache of Pastoring or eldering. There may be a hesitation to serve. That may mean some men may question whether or not they should serve. And As shepherds serve the church. There is heartache.
They're stressed. There's discouragement. Among pastors, there's a very High rate of dropout. That was particularly during COVID. I forget the numbers, but a lot of Those in pastoral ministry gave up and went into some other occupation.
I would have to ask them, but didn't you? Weren't you called by God? Is it a mark of the shepherd that in the face of danger he retreats? Surely not. Yeah.
Elders and pastors are sometimes criticized. Stuart Briscoe says that the qualifications of a Pastor are as follows. The mind of a scholar. the heart of a child and the hide of a rhinoceros. Yes, it's difficult, in all seriousness, it's difficult to be in leadership.
And if you know that, even in the secular world, Leader of an organization, certainly the leader of a church, I can tell you, it is very, very difficult. And therefore I can understand some people hesitating, but the True shepherd must serve willingly his love for the Lord. His love for the word of God, his love of shepherding should be his motivation. And the the great example is our Lord Jesus Christ in all of his suffering. He said, I came.
to do the will. of the Father. And elders must serve with enthusiasm. Peter says, willingly. Not lazy.
Not watching the clock more than the flock. They are to serve, not under compulsion. Neither would have a sense of duty. But willingly as an act of service to the Lord. through the difficulties.
Secondly.
So first Shepherd not under compulsion but willingly. Second, shepherd not for shameful gain but eagerly. Again, verse 2. 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.
Shameful gain would mean pastoring, serving. out of a desire for money. Out of a desire to have an easy life rather than serving because you're called by God serving. Not because of your love for God or your love for the sheep. but the love of an easy life.
Now it's not wrong for pastors to be paid. The laborer is worthy of his hire, that is true. But where the individual in leadership is primarily concerned with compensation, with benefits, with pensions, allowances and vacations and all of that, That is a disqualification. The individual is serving for shameful gain rather than eagerly. No, material gain, comfort, and easy life should not be the motivation for shepherding.
If you're in any doubt about that, read the first ten verses of Ezekiel chapter 34, where the Lord condemns very, very severely the false shepherd, the greedy shepherd. who uses shepherding To feed themselves rather than a flock. Great condemnation. It's a disgrace, isn't it, for a pastor to go into ministry? For shameful gain or for an easy Life.
That's a blot. on the testimony of God. The true shepherd. will serve. Not primarily.
For compensation. He'll serve with enthusiasm, with eagerness, Peter. Here's the third one. Shepherd not in a domineering way. but be an example to the flock.
That's verse 3. Not domineering over those in your charge. But being examples to the flock. It's a great responsibility, a great privilege. to be a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Good shepherd, the chief shepherd, delegates some of his authority to his undershepherds in the church. That is an immense privilege. But with it comes a danger, a danger that Peter is pointing out. A danger which obviously was true in the first century as it's true in the 21st century. That Authority.
Maybe misused. and abused. He uses the word domineering. Mr. A term used for someone who uses his position as an elder.
or a pastor to control others. To boss them around, to manipulate or intimidate people, to have domineering where the individual is exalting himself, instead of loving the sheep, is putting them down. Shepherds Very basically, surely, again, with a perfect example of our Lord. are to serve, not domineer. They are, Peter says here, to be an example to the flock.
Elders and pastors are to be models of love and grace and truth and righteousness and hard work as they care for the flock. After all, the flock belongs not to them, but to the great shepherd. We read. Paul reminds the elders in Ephesus. that the church was purchased with the precious blood of Christ.
Think of the cost. Christ who loved the church and gave himself up for her, Paul says in Ephesians 5. He told us in chapter 1 that we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. That we belong to God, that He is our Father, Christ is our Savior, we're all indwelled with the same Holy Spirit. And therefore we are to care for one another.
Elders are to be shepherds, caring for the flock, loving them. They are shepherds, not sheep dogs, snapping at the feet of sheep. Although as I say, some sheep have been known to bite. Yeah. Shepherd Not under compulsion, but willingly.
Shepherd not for shameful gain, but eagerly. Shepherd not in a domineering way, but be an example to the flock. And then, see, notice the motivation. Here's an encouragement. To my fellow elders.
to my pastors. To those of you who have served in the past faithfully, verse 4: And when the chief shepherd appears, We're not the chief. We're the Undershepherd. Remember that. But when the chief shepherd appears, You will, here's the promise: you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Faithful shepherds will receive a reward. We're under shepherds, we're accountable to the chief shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter has described Christ at the end of chapter 2 as the overseer, as the shepherd and overseer of our.
Souls, it's wonderful, isn't it? We just sang it from Psalm 23. I find this. Tremendously comforting. That as we go through life, All of the situations That we have a good shepherd.
And I have to follow him.
Sometimes that's easy, sometimes it's very difficult.
Sometimes I question the Good Shepherd: why are you taking us this way? Isn't there an easier way? But the authentic follower of Christ, we who are his sheep, we are to follow him. We are to trust him, as we just sang. Yes, in the darkness.
Yes, when the evil one attacks us. Because He is a good. He's the chief shepherd. And Peter is saying one day he's going to appear. Shepherds, we are to serve in light of that accountability and appearance.
Several times in the letter, Peter has looked forward to That great day when Christ returns. What a tremendous motivation for shepherds. The chief shepherd is watching us. One day he will return. The end of all things is at hand, Peter has written.
We will give an account of our shepherding to the chief shepherd. Notice the promise, notice the reward. They will receive the unfading crown. of glory. That promise will sustain the shepherd who may be a bit discouraged.
A reminder that that crown will never lose its brightness. The promise of that inspires the shepherd as he cares for the lost sheep, as he goes after. that brother, that sister who strayed. This promise will keep the faithful shepherds on track. One day, They will receive An unfading crown.
of glory. I don't know what all that means. There's a glorious promise. That the chief shepherd is watching us and he's going to reward us, and he's our example of shepherding and of love and care. If we shepherd Because of man's praise.
Because of innovation, because of flattery. Because of money. All of that is gone. All of that, the The money and the applause. and the flattery.
It's utterly bidding as Meaningless, isn't it, in light. of the unfailing crown. of glory. That will last for all of eternity. You say, well, John, I'm not a shepherd.
I don't see myself ever being here.
Well. Don't speak too quickly. If you're a father. You're to shepherd your home.
Some of you lead Bible studies.
Some of you teach Sunday school. And you may not be officially recognized here as a shepherd. Was a pastor? But you have that heart for people. All of us.
I think of the wonderful godly woman here. that take a sister for coffee, invite them into their home. Pray with them on the phone, encourage them. What are they doing? They're shepherding.
The flock. It's true that God in His grace puts governance In the church, with a plurality of leadership, but every follower of Jesus Christ, in one sense, is to be A shepherd. But what's your responsibility? As a congregation, listen to the words of Paul. in 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 12 and 13.
We ask you, brothers. To respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord. and admonish you. and to esteem them very highly in love. because of their work.
Be at peace. Among Yourselves. Let me read that again. We ask you, brothers. Sisters, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord.
and admonish you. You ever been admonished by an elder or a pastor? Don't resent it. Don't rebel. They're caring.
For your soul. and to esteem them very highly in love. because of their work. Be at peace. Among yourselves.
When the congregation is at peace, it becomes a delight. A joy. to shepherd and to lead. the flock. As I clause, I have a challenge.
To my fellow elders, to my fellow pastors. First. In a broken world. The shepherds of church must always love and care for all the flock of God. That would be wonderful.
That whoever is pastor, whoever is shepherd, whoever are the leaders, Whoever they are. That they will always love. And care for all the flock of God. Here's the second one. The harsh and selfish world.
I pray that the Shepherds of Church must always stand for the protection of the most vulnerable of our society. including the innocent child in her mother's womb. There can be no deviation from that, brothers and sisters. This is not a political issue. I know there's concern about the platform.
for the coming Republican. uh conference Whatever happens in politics, whatever is the view of our society, we must stand firm. for the protection. of life. Third.
In our culture of lies and deceit. the Shepherds of Calvary. must always preach and teach. the absolute truth of God's inner word. In coiling.
that each person has inherent worth As each person is made in the image of God, And we must always stand for the truth which is disputed in our culture. that God created male and female. female. If we as a church And I'm not a prophet or a son of a prophet, but It's not too difficult to think that in coming days with hostility against followers of Christ. that those who preach About the unborn.
Those who preach on the question of male and female being distinct. Created by God, that that will be regarded as hate speech. that that would be regarded as illegal. Whatever our society thinks. Whether it means that every single one of us is arrested or whatever it is, we must stand firm.
on the absolute truth of the Word of God. And finally, In a culture of compromise, which sadly is impacting many churches. The shepherds of church must always boldly stand for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only way. of salvation. For there is, as Peter says himself, There is salvation in no other name.
For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. The only way of salvation is not in your church. Not in your goodness, not in your baptism, not taking communion. Not in all of the good deeds that you do. The only way of salvation is found in the salvation of the salvation In our Lord Jesus Christ.
Calvary Church has stood for that from its very beginning: for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. That's the gospel. And our Elders. Our pastors have a particular responsibility and their deacons to make sure. That there is no blurring of the clarity of the gospel, that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again, and there is salvation found only in Him.
And if you're here without Christ, I urge you. to trust him. to confess your sins. and to receive them. as your lord.
And saved her. Your father Under God, we thank you. For your order in the church. Above all, we thank you. for the good shepherd to give his life for the sheep, that he died so that our sins could be forgiven.
that we will have eternal life. We praise you for that and I Pray for those who don't know the Good Shepherd personally. For those who have never opened their heart to him, that even now. your spirit will convict them of their sin and open their eyes to see Christ. I pray for our elders.
I pray for our deacons. I pray for My fellow pastors. Think of all of the people at Calvary who love one another, who are shepherding in different ways. May our love for one another increase. Protect us from the enemy.
We realize that there's false doctrine. We realize it's so easy to compromise on the word. And so may we stand fast. We pray. and continue to bless us.
In Christ's name. Amen. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. and a message about faithful shepherds. John will return with final thoughts in just a moment.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Do you know any faithful shepherds? If you go to a church which has a pastor, is he faithfully shepherding the flock entrusted to him? Don't take a position of leadership in the church unless you're willing to shepherd the sheep. I realize this is difficult.
Sheep wander. Sheep sometimes bite. But what a tremendous reward there is for the faithful shepherd. who will receive the unfading crown of glory. Pray for your shepherds serving under the good shepherd.
Encourage them. for they keep watch. over your souls. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
