1Peter 5:5
Getting It Correct
Last week, we began Peter’s final chapter. I told you that he was
winding things down by speaking to the people in groups.
I. \\#1Peter 5:1-4\\ Peter spoke to the leaders, the elders, FIRST.
A. Peter called himself an elder and then began to instruct the
elders on how they should lead.
B. Three things need to be remembered:
1. The office of elder was not God called. It was man
selected.
a. God-called servants are just that. God called.
Eph 4:8 …He (Jesus) …gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
b. The Apostles taught and selected the first elders in
the church. \\#Acts 14:23\\
c. In time, the evangelists, pastors, and missionaries
who were planting the churches taught and selected
them. \\#Titus 1:5\\
2. God-called servants are not accountable to man selected
officers but to God.
a. Man-selected servants are accountable to the God-
called servants that selected and trained them.
b. That would be the Apostles, pastors, and missionaries.
c. God-called men are accountable to God.
d. That does not mean that I am saying pastors are to run
the church.
(1) There is much more to this text than that.
(2) What I am saying is that NO man-selected group of
men should run the church.
3. Why was Peter addressing the elders and not the pastors?
a. In this text, God was rallying all who were in any
position of leadership.
b. All pastors are elders, but all elders are not
pastors.
c. The Elders were part of the authority chain, being
under those who had selected and trained them to
give guidance to the remainder of the church.
d. However, being the elders did not and does not bestow
on any a calling or authority to direct the church.
e. Elders simply are not that high up in the authority
chain!
f. The office of elders does not run the church.
C. Someone asks, "Why make such a big deal over this?"
1. Because in many—even most—churches, there is a power
struggle on-going between the pastor and whatever group
exists that think they have been called to lead the
church.
a. In Baptist churches that group is most often the
deacons.
b. In others church they may call them other names,
including elders.
c. It makes no difference what name is applied.
d. No man-selected office has authority over a God-called
servant and such efforts to do so will only cause
strife.
2. The battle of authority within a church is truly sad
because it could be avoided if people only their Bibles.
Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and
said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are
great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be
your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many.
3. Anyone who seeks to dictate to the church his or their
will is Scripturally wrong whether he be a pastor,
deacon, bishop, elder or whatever.
4. If a pastor is not doing right, the church should remove
him and call one who is, but under no circumstances does
the church or a group of man-selected people in the
church have the right to restructure God’s chain of
authority.
5. God calls the pastor to lead but he is to be teachable,
humble, and submissive to the elders of the church and
ultimately, the church is its own authority, having the
Biblical right to vote on what direction they take.
II. \\#1Peter 5:5\\ Then Peter spoke to the followers, called the
YOUNGER.
1Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder….
A. Peter only made one statement but from it, I get two thoughts.
B. First, everyone is not an elder.
1. As I said, elders are man selected, but just like every
elder is not a pastor so every man in the church is not
an elder.
2. If there is a SELECTION then not everyone is making the
cut.
3. What would the Apostles and church leaders be looking
for in the elders they select?
a. Age to generate respect and some wisdom.
b. Love for God
c. Basic wisdom
d. Teachable
e. Some basic Bible instruction
4. SOME of the of men with these kinds of traits would be
selected and ordained to lead the church.
5. Their function would not be to create policies for the
church but to forward the policies of the church.
6. And what would the younger and any other man not selected
do? That is the second thought.
C. They would follow the instruction and guidance of elders.
1. As in the home, authority in the church should not be a
card that is played on a regular basis.
a. Listen to what Peter said next.
1Peter 5:5 …Yea, all of you be subject one to
another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble.
b. We are all the family of God working together with
humility and grace, seeking to help one another.
2. However, some in the church are less mature in the things
of God and if there is a decision to be made, those who
have been trained in the things of God, and seasoned
with experience, and proven in their walk with God, will
make it.
3. The others are to follow.
This was the only statement Peter made to the younger. From here on,
Peter will close by speaking to everyone.
<OutlineIndex> <Close Window>
