The Word Is Alive First Peter

The Word Is AliveFirst Peter Chapter Five Narrated by Tony Gillon

Chapter Five • 1 Peter 4:12–5:11 - Persevering in Suffering (Continues/concludes)

Persevering in Suffering • Summary of Chapter Five • Peter addresses the elders. • Peter addresses the rest of the church. • He once again calls them all to endure. • Peter closes with final salutations and an apostolic benediction.

Persevering in Suffering • 1 Peter 5:1-11 - To Elders and Young Men

Persevering in Suffering • 1 Peter 5:1-11 - To Elders and Young Men • Peter speaks as a fellow elder to the elders and then to the other believers.

Persevering in Suffering • 1 Peter 5:1-11 - To Elders and Young Men • Peter speaks as a fellow elder to the elders and then to the new believers. • Peter warns of further suffering and the need to stay alert spiritually.

Persevering in Suffering • 1 Peter 5:1-4 • Although Peter could command them from a position of authority, he does not but chooses to appeal to them as their equal. • He speaks here to the elders. Men who would be mature in their faith rather than by age or length of service.

Persevering in Suffering • 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:

Persevering in Suffering • The most common NT term for church leaders is elders: • Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust (Acts 14:23).

Persevering in Suffering • Elders were appointed in churches from an early date. • Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14), which was written sometime between AD40-50. • The language here indicates a plurality of elders in every church.

Persevering in Suffering • The terms: overseers, elders, pastors and shepherds seem to be used interchangeably by the NT authors. • Apparently elders served as leaders in all the churches, including those in the northern part of Asia Minor, showing that this was the typical form of leadership in NT churches.

Persevering in Suffering • Peter, who is an apostle, as stated in 1 Peter 1:1, also serves as a fellow elder and an authoritative witness of Christ’s ministry, especially his sufferings, i.e. his beatings, death and then his resurrection and ascension. Peter often reminds those to whom he writes that suffering precedes glory.

Persevering in Suffering • As a fellow elder Peter is stating that he is not asking them to do anything he would not be prepared to do for his own church congregation.

Persevering in Suffering • Personal comment: • Peter was clearly a senior leader in at least one church congregation in Rome at this time and possibly had apostolic oversight of most church groups in the city. However, there is a big difference between being a church elder and being God’s sole or main representative on earth, and therefore being the forerunner to the papal office as some would like to think. (Continued).

Persevering in Suffering • There is no supporting evidence from Peter’s own letters or from any other historical writings from the time to believe that Peter was the first Pope in Rome.

Persevering in Suffering • Peter will share in the glory to be revealed: • For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

Persevering in Suffering • Peter will share in the glory to be revealed: • For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). • At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26).

Persevering in Suffering • After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus) (Mark 9:2-4).

Persevering in Suffering • About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. (Continued).

Persevering in Suffering • Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) (Continued).

Persevering in Suffering • While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:28-35).

Persevering in Suffering • For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (Continued).

Persevering in Suffering • And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:17-19).

Persevering in Suffering • 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Persevering in Suffering • Jesus, as Chief Shepherd (v.4), delegates responsibility to his under-shepherds. • Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17c).

Persevering in Suffering • Elders (v.1) are entrusted with the responsibility to shepherdGod’s flock, the Greek word poimainō, which means to tend sheep or to act as a shepherd.

Persevering in Suffering • Elders (v.1) are entrusted with the responsibility to shepherdGod’s flock, the Greek word poimainō, which means to tend sheep or to act as a shepherd. • Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:16).

Persevering in Suffering • Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28).

Persevering in Suffering • Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28). • It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11).

Persevering in Suffering • Elders are also entrusted with exercising oversight, or serving as overseers, derived by translating Greek episkopeō), which is the verb form of the noun overseer, Greek episkopos. • Elders are to feed and watch over God’s flock.

Persevering in Suffering • Episkopountes, which is derived from episkopos, means ‘being a bishop’, and is a ministry, not an office in the church. • Each believer has overall responsibility for their own discipleship.

Persevering in Suffering • Terms like bishop, pastor, elder, overseer. etc. are all expressions for servants and ministries in the church. • They should all be undertaken by people who are humble servants of the flocks they have been entrusted to care for.

Persevering in Suffering • As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely”. (Mark 12:38-40).

Persevering in Suffering • Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them”. (Numbers 16:15).

Persevering in Suffering • Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right.” (Continued).

Persevering in Suffering • “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.” Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand”. • (1 Samuel 12:3-5).

Persevering in Suffering • I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:33-35).

Persevering in Suffering • Believers should respect their leaders and conform to their teaching. • Leaders are to remember they do not own the flock but are there to serve them.

Persevering in Suffering • Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:25-26).

Persevering in Suffering • Elders are to shepherd the church willingly, and not because you must.

Persevering in Suffering • Elders are to shepherd the church willingly, and not because you must. • Leaders should work eagerly and not greedy for money Greek term aischrokerdōs.

Persevering in Suffering • Elders are to shepherd the church willingly, and not because you must. • Leaders should work eagerly and not greedy for money Greek term aischrokerdōs. • They are to serve as examples to the congregation, not or lording it over those entrusted to you.

Persevering in Suffering • One of the greatest attributes a church leader can display is to live their own lives as an exemplary example of Christian living, being faithful to God, dutiful to him in the discharge of their office and by being humble in their service to God through their service to his flock.

Persevering in Suffering • The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

Persevering in Suffering • The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). • Leaders can earn their living from the church but they real rewards are eternal.

Persevering in Suffering • 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Persevering in Suffering • 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. • The Chief Shepherd is Jesus Christ, and when he comes again he will reward every pastor and teacher who has served faithfully with the crown of glory.

Persevering in Suffering • Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Persevering in Suffering • Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25). • Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

Persevering in Suffering • Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. • (James 1:12).

The Word Is Alive First Peter