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Aug 23, 2020

Strange Post

Strange Post

Passage: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Strange Faith

Keywords: shepherd, elders, chief shepherd

If the church is led humbly but courageously like a shepherd, what does that say about the sheep? Peter rounds the last corner of his letter addressing those who would shepherd these fledgling churches through their fiery trials. What would it mean for them to fulfill that calling and with the character Peter also prescribes? He spends most of his time addressing these shepherds--he calls them elders--but what does a Body in submission to those entrusted to shepherd need from them, look for in them, and share in common with them?

Order of Worship

PRE SERVICE: 1 Peter 5:4
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1-5
OT & NT READING: Isaiah 53:3-6 & John 10:7-11
MESSAGE TITLE: Strange Post
CENTRAL TEXT: 1 Peter 5:1-5
RESPONSE: Psalm 23
BENEDICTION: Revelation 7:16-17
POST SERVICE: 1 Peter 5:4

Readings & Lyrics for Outdoor Worship Service >

2019-2020 Ministry Update Video >

Officer Nominations Video >

Illustration/Drama

Readings & Scripture

PRE SERVICE: 1 Peter 5:4
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1-5
LEADER: 1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

ALL: 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

LEADER: 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

ALL: 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

OT & NT READING: Isaiah 53:3-6 & John 10:7-11
Isaiah 53:3-6
3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 John 10:7-11
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

CENTRAL TEXT: 1 Peter 5:1-5
1 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: 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

RESPONSE: Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

BENEDICTION: Revelation 7:16-17
LEADER: 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

ALL: and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

POST SERVICE: 1 Peter 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Ezekiel 34
  • John 10:10-14
  • Acts 20:17-38
  • 1 Corinthians 9:25
  • Ephesians 4:8-13
  • 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9
  • Hebrews 13:7, 17
  • James 1:12

ILLUSTRATIONS:

InView Media Album, 08.23.2020

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Who were the unofficial big brothers and big sisters, aunts and uncles, of your neighborhood--those who took it upon themselves to watch after the “youngins”?
  2. If you grew up in a church setting, were you ever aware of the “elders,” or, depending on what tradition you hailed from, the deacons, or vestry, or other leadership group? What did they do? What did you think of them? Did you ever call upon them for help or encouragement or prayer?
  3. While Peter doesn’t explain much about what it meant for elders to “shepherd” their flock, but just think about what ordinary shepherds do: what are several ways one might fulfill that calling given that choice of analogy?
  4. Why would the marks of character Peter outlines be essential for shepherds to fulfill their calling? Peter names the temptations of those with authority to shepherd. What might be the temptations of those who would be called to follow them?
  5. Do you ever ask from our elders what they are called to provide? From our deacons or deaconesses? Why or why not?
  6. Who in our Body demonstrates the kind of aptitude and heart to be a shepherd? To bring mercy like a deacon or deaconess? Who bears the qualifications for that office or role (1 Tim 3, and Titus 1)? What (if you’re a member of GMR) if you nominated them?

QUOTES:

  • Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts - Ezekiel 34:2-5

  • I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.- Ezekiel 34:15-16

  • Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert. . . .- Acts 20:28-31

  • You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. - Mark 10:42-44

  • Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

  • I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. - Ezekiel 34:22-24

  • I once took a wedding where it was pouring with rain and muddy outside the church. I was moved watching how the bridesmaids selflessly got wet and muddy to ensure that the Bride didn’t. They were clear in their minds that the day was about the Bride, not them. They were resolute in their endeavour to present a clean, dry beautiful Bride to the Groom, even if they got grubby in the process. . . .The Bride we serve belongs to Him. We are stewards of the Son of Man’s wife. And, one day we will give an account to God for how we stewarded our responsibility as maids to his Bride. - PJ Smyth

SERMONS / TALKS: