What the right leadership requires and produces...

This week we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter, where we have discovered the timeless truth that living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership. So far this week, we have seen Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership requires the right qualifications. In addition, Peter has revealed for us the reality that the right leadership accepts their responsibility to serve those under their leadership the right way. The right leadership will serve for the right reason. The right leadership will serve with the right motivation. And the right leadership will serve with the right posture.

Today, we will see Peter conclude this section of his letter by revealing two additional requirements that make for the right leadership as part of God’s kingdom community the church. So let’s discover them together in 1 Peter 5:5:

 ⁵ You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Now when Peter refers to younger men here, this phrase is not simply chronological in nature. The context of this phrase makes it clear that Peter is addressing those who are at an earlier stage of life spiritually, regardless of their age chronologically.

As we have discovered throughout this series, the word submit, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to place oneself in a submissive role in a relationship where appropriate respect is shown to someone based on the role that they have within an ordered structure. In other words, we are to willingly place ourselves under others by placing others first based on one’s role in the relationship.

So, Peter here is commanding the readers of his letter to willingly place themselves under the godly leadership of Elders so as to place Elders first. But did you notice the word likewise here. Peter’s point here is that just as the right leadership will demonstrate servant leadership that places the needs of those under their leadership before their own needs, those under the leadership of Elders were to respond to their leadership by willingly coming under their leadership.

And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership requires the right response. The right leadership requires the right response of willingly place oneself under the right leadership. The right leadership requires the right response of responding to servant leadership by placing that servant leadership first as we serve on mission together in community with one another.

Peter then concludes this section of his letter by shifting the focus to every reader of his letter by commanding every reader of his letter to clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. In other words, Peter is commanding the readers of his letter to relate to one another in a way that puts on an attitude of humility towards one another. As one person famously stated “to be humble does not mean that we think less of our self; to be humble means that we think of ourselves less. To be humble means that we live our lives in light of the reality that there is a God and we are not Him. And to be humble means that we act according to that reality by placing ourselves under the Lord and by placing the Lord and others before ourselves.

Peter then reinforces his command by pointing the readers of his letter to a section of a letter that is preserved and recorded for us in the Old Testament of the Bible called the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 3:34, the wisest man who ever lived, a man named Solomon, explained that God is opposed to the proud. In other words, God resists and rejects those whose life is marked by an undue sense of self-importance. God is opposed to those who are full of themselves because they are full of it.

By contrast, Solomon explains that God gives grace to the humble. In other words, God extends His divine favor to those who place themselves under the Lord and by placing the Lord and others before themselves. And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership produces the right kind of community. The right leadership will produce a community that embraces mutual humility towards one another. And the right leadership will produce a community that rejects arrogance.

You see, the right kind on community requires the right kind leadership. That is why we have the process that we do at the church where I serve when it comes to establishing leadership as a church. That is why prospective leaders at the church spend significant time in prayer and study of materials explaining the Biblical expectations and responsibilities of Elders and Deacons. That is why we post prospective Elders and Deacons with their qualifications so the church can examine these prospective leaders as to whether or not they meet the Biblical standard for leadership.

Because, as we have discovered this week, living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership. The right leadership requires the right qualifications. The right leadership recognizes their responsibility to protect, care, lead, and feed those under their leadership. The right leadership accepts their responsibility to serve those under their leadership the right way. The right leadership requires the right response.

And the right leadership produces the right kind of community. The right leadership will produce a community that embraces mutual humility and that rejects arrogance as we serve on mission together in community with one another….

The right leadership accepts their responsibility to serve those under their leadership the right way...

This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. Yesterday, we discovered a timeless truth about how we are to live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture in that living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership. In 1 Peter 5:1-5, we will see Peter reveal three different requirements that make for the right leadership as part of God’s kingdom community the church.

Yesterday, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership requires the right qualifications. The right leadership recognizes their responsibility to protect, care, lead, and feed those under their leadership. We will see Peter unpack those qualifications further in what he says next. So let’s look at what Peter says next, beginning in the second half of verse 2::

 exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

In these verses, we see Peter expose three different and competing motivations that could drive a person’s desire to serve in leadership at a local church. However, to fully understand what Peter is communicating here, we first need to define some terms. First, when Peter uses the phrase exercising oversight, this phrase means to accept responsibility for the care of someone. In addition, the phrase under compulsion means to be under pressure or obligation by another. Finally, when Peter uses the phrase, according to the will of God, this phrase refers to what God desires for what He would like to see happen.

Peter’s point here is that a person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they were placed under pressure or under obligation to do so. Peter’s point is that a person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they were guilted into doing so. Instead, a person who serves as an Elder should take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they believe that serving as an Elder is what God desires them to be doing with their lives.

Peter then exposes a second set of different and competing motivations that could drive a person’s desire to serve in leadership at a local church. When Peter uses the phrase for sordid gain, this phrase refers to having a fondness for dishonest gain. This phrase conveys the sense of being greedy. In addition, when Peter uses the word eagerness, this word means to be eager to be in service of others. This word conveys the sense of placing the needs of others before personal gain.

Peter’s point here is that a person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they are motivated by a desire for personal gain at the expense of others. A person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they desire personal advantage. Instead, a person who serves as an Elder should take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they eagerly desire to selflessly serve others. A person who serves as an Elder should take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they are eager to place the needs of others before their own needs.

Peter then exposes a third set of different and competing motivations that could drive a person’s desire to serve in leadership at a local church. When Peter uses the phrase lording it over those allotted to your charge, this phrase means to proclaim one’s mastery and rule over others. This phrase conveys the sense of proclaiming one’s position over others. In addition, when Peter uses the phrase but proving to be examples to the flock, the word example means to serve as a model to follow.

Peter’s point here is that a person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they are motivated by obtaining a position that would give them power over others. A person who serves as an Elder should not take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they are motivated for the position and the title of Elder. Instead, a person who serves as an Elder should take the responsibility for the care of those under his leadership because they desire to be a model to follow that others would look up to.

And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership accepts their responsibility to serve those under their leadership the right way. The right leadership will serve for the right reason. The right leadership will not serve as a result of being pressured to serve. Instead, the right leadership will serve as a result of having a willingness to serve. The right leadership will serve with the right motivation. The right leadership will not be eager to gain personally at the expense of others. Instead, the right leadership will be eager to place the needs of others before their own personal gain.

And the right leadership will serve with the right posture. The right leadership will not point to their position in order to gain them power. Instead, the right leadership will provide a model to follow that will gain them authority. You see, there is a fundamental difference between power and authority. Power is something that a leader attempts to exert over another. Authority is the amount of influence that is given to a leader by others. Great leaders are leaders that model servant leadership in a way that results in them earning authority and gaining influence in the eyes of others.

Peter then explains that when Elders accept their responsibility to serve those under their leadership the right way, the result is “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Peter here is pointing the readers of his letter to the end of God’s story here on earth, when Jesus return to earth will become visible to all the earth. And when Jesus return to earth becomes visible to all the earth, those who serve well in the leadership of a local church will experience the divine favor that comes from Jesus that is unfading in its splendor and radiance.

Peter’s point here is that the right leadership will serve with the right recognition of Jesus role. The right leadership will rightly recognize that they will be held responsible by Jesus for how they lead. And the right leadership will rightly recognize that they will be rewarded by Jesus for their faithfulness in leadership.

Friday, we will see Peter conclude this section of his letter by revealing two additional requirements that make for the right leadership as part of God’s kingdom community the church…

Living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership...

At the church where I serve, we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled living as part of God’s kingdom community. During this series, we have been looking at a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. This week, I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this letter that the Apostle Peter wrote to early followers of Jesus, we will discover a timeless truth about how we are to live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are a part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture. So let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in 1 Peter 5:1:

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ² shepherd the flock of God among you,

Now when Peter uses the word therefore here, he is basically saying “In light of what I have just said to you in this letter; in light of the reality that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a life that has an eternal perspective that leads to right thinking about the future, that loves others in a way that removes selfishness from sight, that invites others into open handed community that and that serves others through the use of our spiritual gifts; in light of the reality living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective that provides the evidence of our spiritual state and that makes sure that we suffer for the right reasons, I want to exhort the elders among you to do something in light of all of that”.

When Peter uses the word exhort, this word means to make a strong appeal to someone. Who Peter is making the strong appeal to are the elders among you. Now when Peter uses the word elder here, this word refers to a group of people within a local church that have been specific responsibilities of leadership within a local church. So, I would like to take a few minutes and explain what the letters that make up the Bible have to say when it comes to leadership within a local church.

When we read the letters that make up the Bible, we discover two positions of leadership within a local church. The first position of leadership is referred to as Elders. To describe the role and responsibility that Elders have in a local church, the letters that make up the Bible use the imagery of the relationship that a shepherd has with sheep. While we may find it difficult to connect with this imagery today, this imagery would have been familiar to the readers of the letters that make up the Bible.

Similar to a shepherd with sheep, Elders have been given the responsibility to provide servant leadership in a local church in a way that protects, cares, leads, and feeds those who attend a local church.  First, the Elders are to protect a local church from the influence of false teaching. Just as a shepherd was responsible to protect sheep from the attacks of wolves, the Elders are responsible to protect a local church from the wolves of false teaching and beliefs that could attack a local church. 

Second, the Elders are to provide spiritual care for the members of a local church.  Just as a shepherd was to provide for the physical care and needs of sheep, the Elders are responsible to provide for the spiritual care and needs of the members of a local church. Third, the Elders are to provide leadership for a local church. Just as a shepherd would provide leadership and direction for the sheep under their care, the Elders are responsible to provide leadership and direction for a local church when it comes to the mission and vision that God has for a local church.

And fourth, the Elders are to feed those who attend a local church. Just as a shepherd was responsible to feed their sheep in a way that provided them the opportunity to grow and mature physically, the Elders are responsible to provide spiritual food for a local church through preaching and teaching that provides the opportunity for those who attend a local church to grow spiritually.

The second position of leadership within a local church is referred to as Deacons. Deacons have been given the responsibility to provide servant leadership in a way that is focused on the practical care and needs of a local church. The Deacons function under the leadership of the Elders as the Elders “right hand men and women” who free the Elders to focus on the responsibility to protect, care, lead, and feed the church spiritually.

The Deacons do so by engaging the multitude of practical duties required in caring for a local church. These duties include meeting the pressing and practical needs of those who are in need and providing oversight in the areas of facilities and finances. Deaconesses are female Deacons who also assist in meeting the practical needs of a local church under the leadership of the Elders.  The qualifications for leadership in a local church are provided in two letters that have been preserved and recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Timothy and the book of Titus.

Now notice that I did not talk about the leadership position of pastor. According to the letters that make up the Bible, a pastor is not a position; a pastor is the exercising of the spiritual gift of pastor/shepherd. A pastor is, biblically speaking, an Elder who has the primary teaching and leadership responsibilities as a result of being funded by the church so that he can fully focus on that responsibility.

At the church where I serve, we are an Elder led, congregational affirmed church. In other words, the congregation recognizes and affirms spiritually mature leadership and then gives the responsibility to that leadership to handle the day to day operations of the church. When there is a decision that involves a great deal of money or a significant aspect of the leadership and direction of the church, the church membership will vote to affirm such decisions. However, the vast majority of the decisions of the church are handled by the Elders of the church, with the important assistance of the Deacons and Deaconesses as part of the leadership team of the church.

Now with all that background in mind, let’s jump back into this section of this letter. In verse 1, Peter explains to the readers of this letter, and to followers of Jesus throughout history, his credentials to make the strong appeal that he was about to make to the Elders of the church. First, Peter establishes his credentials as a fellow Elder. Peter was given by Jesus the responsibility to protect, care, lead, and feed the churches he was engaged with. Peter is explaining that he was an Elder of Elders.

Second, Peter establishes his credentials as a witness of the sufferings of Christ. This phrase refers to the sufferings that Jesus endured during His rejection, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Peter’s point here is that he was given the responsibility by Jesus to testify to the truth of Jesus life, death, and resurrection that comprise the message of the gospel that provides humanity that opportunity to be rescued from their selfishness and rebellion so that they could experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that they were created for.

Third, Peter establishes his credentials as a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed. Peter’s point is that he was a partner with those who will participate in the splendor and radiance of Jesus that will be revealed when Jesus returns to defeat selfishness, sin, and death and usher in God’s kingdom community in its fullest sense upon His return. After providing his credentials that empower him to make such a strong appeal to the Elders, Peter then makes his strong appeal to the Elders in verse 2: “shepherd the flock of God among you.” 

When Peter refers to the flock of God here, he is painting a word picture of the followers of Jesus who form a local church as sheep who are under the watchful eye of a shepherd. Peter here is making a strong appeal in the form of a command to call the Elders of the churches that were reading this letter to make sure that they were fulfilling the responsibility that they had to watch out for those who attended their churches so as to provide the servant leadership in protecting, caring, leading, and feeding those who attended their churches.

And it is here, in this section of this letter, that we discover a timeless truth about how we are to live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture. And that timeless truth is this: Living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership. Just as it was for these early followers of Jesus who were experiencing sadness and suffering as a result of their current circumstances; just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, living as part of God’s kingdom community requires the right leadership.

And in 1 Peter 5:1-5, we will see Peter reveal three different requirements that make for the right leadership as part of God’s kingdom community the church. First, we see Peter reveal for us the reality that the right leadership requires the right qualifications. The right leadership recognizes their responsibility to protect, care, lead, and feed those under their leadership.

Tomorrow, we will see Peter continue to unpack those qualifications…

When we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will make sure that we suffer for the right reasons...

This week we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. And in this section of this letter that we discovered a timeless truth about how we are to live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture in that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective.

In 1 Peter 4:12-19, we see Peter reveal for us two reasons why living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering from an eternal perspective.  First, in verse 12-14, we see that when we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will recognize that suffering provides the evidence of our spiritual state.

As followers of Jesus, when we see suffering from an eternal perspective, we will not be surprised by suffering, because suffering reveals the evidence of the true character that is within us. And as followers of Jesus, when we see suffering from an eternal perspective, we will rejoice in the midst of suffering, because suffering reveals the evidence of a genuine and authentic faith.

Wednesday, we saw Peter make a stark contrast between two types of suffering. Peter pointed out that if a person knowingly and willingly take the life of another; if a person knowingly and willingly take what belongs to another; if a person knowingly and willingly do things that hurt and harm others; if a person knowingly and willingly meddle in the business and dealings of others in a way that causes trouble for others, then what that person experience as a result of such behavior is not the fires of trials and suffering. Instead, what that person experiences are the consequences of their selfishness and rebellion against God and others. However, if a person experiences the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering simply because they live a life that reveals and reflects Jesus as a citizen of God’s kingdom community, then they should not be ashamed.

Instead of being ashamed in the midst of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering, Peter states that such a person is to glorify God in this name. In other words, a person who is faithfully living one’s life in a way that identifies one as a follower of Jesus who is a part of God’s kingdom community should continue to strive to influence the opinion of others in a way that enhances God’s reputation in the midst of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering.

Instead of withdrawing from culture; instead of condemning culture; instead of compromising to culture, they were to engage the culture in a way that embraces the aspects of the culture that line up with the message and teachings of Jesus while refraining from those things in the culture that arouse a desire for what is forbidden by the message and teachings of Jesus.

By doing so, these followers of Jesus would be revealing and reflecting their distinctive identity as a follower of Jesus in the midst of those who do not believe, trust, and follow Jesus so as to enhance God’s reputation in the eyes of those who did not believe, trust, or follow Jesus. Today, we will see Peter provide the reason why followers of Jesus were to live in such a way in 1 Peter 4:17-19:

 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Now to fully understand what Peter is communicating here, we first need to understand a few things. The first thing that we need to understand is what Peter means when he uses the word judgment. The phrase “time for judgment to begin” refers to a time when a judge begins the process of judging the behavior of another. Peter is revealing for us the reality that when God begins the process of judging the behavior of humanity, that process of judgment always begins with the household of God. When Peter refers to the household of God, he is referring to God’s kingdom community throughout human history.

Now that leads us to the second thing that we need to understand, which is how God’s judgment has worked throughout human history. When we read the letter that make up the Bible, we see a repeated pattern when it comes to judgment. And that pattern is that God’s judgment begins with those who claimed to be a part of God’s kingdom community.

For example, before God used the Jewish people as His instrument to exercise His right and just response to the selfishness and rebellion of the nations who lived in what was referred to as the Promised Land, which nation spent forty years wandering in the wilderness as a judgment for their selfishness and rebellion?  The answer is the Jewish people who were considered God’s kingdom community. Before the Assyrian Empire was conquered by the Babylonian Empire as judgment for their selfishness and rebellion against God, who was conquered by the Assyrian Empire? The answer is the Northern Kingdom of the Jewish people who were considered God’s kingdom community. Before the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Media-Persian Empire as judgment for their selfishness and rebellion against God, who was conquered by the Babylonian Empire? The answer is the Southern Kingdom of the Jewish people who were considered God’s kingdom community.

You see, throughout the letter that make up the Bible, we see God begin His process of judging the actions of humanity with the people who claim to be a part of His kingdom community. God’s judgment throughout human history has always begun with the people that claimed to be a part of His kingdom community, to see if they were truly a part of His kingdom community.

Peter is revealing for us the reality that at the end of God’s story here on earth, just as it has been throughout God’s story here on earth, all humanity will stand before the Lord. And as all humanity stands before the Lord, the first to be judged by the Lord with be those who profess to be a part of God’s kingdom community. And at that point, the Lord will judge so as to separate those who profess to claim to be a part of God’s kingdom community from those who actually possess and genuine and authentic relationship with Jesus as part of God’s kingdom community.

Peter then asks a question that is designed to make what is referred to as a lesser to greater argument: “and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In other words, Peter is basically saying “When we look at God’s judgment of the people who claim to be a part of God’s kingdom community, how is it going to go for those who reject the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel and live in disobedience to the message and teachings of Jesus?”

Peter’s point here is that as difficult as it has been for the people who claim to be a part of God’s kingdom community to stand before the Lord in judgment, how much more difficult will it be for those who reject the opportunity to be a part of God’s kingdom community. Peter reinforces his point by quoting from a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the Old Testament of the Bible called the book of Proverbs.

In Proverbs 11:31, we see Solomon reveal the reality that if God’s judgment and justice for selfishness and rebellion is not relaxed for His own people when they do things that hurt others here on earth, how can those who reject God think that they can escape the judgment and justice of God when they do things to hurt others here on earth. Peter quotes this Old Testament proverb to reveal the reality that those who are truly a part of God’s kingdom community will not act toward others in a way that harms and hurts others, because at the end of the day, they will have to give an account to the Lord for their actions here on earth.

And because of the reality, Peter explains in verse 19 those who experience the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering as a result of seeking to follow God’s desires for their lives shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. Peter’s point here is that those who are truly a part of God’s kingdom community will place their confident trust in Jesus by doing what is right in God’s sight in the face of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering they experience.

You see, while all humanity faces judgment, those who have a genuine and authentic relationship with Jesus do not need to fear judgment. God’s judgment will begin with those who profess to be followers of Jesus who are a part of God’s kingdom community to see who is truly part of God’s kingdom community.

And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that when we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will make sure that we suffer for the right reasons. As followers of Jesus, we make sure that we suffer for the right reasons when we refuse to live in a way that disobeys the message and teachings of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we make sure that we suffer for the right reasons when we live in a way that reveals and reflects Jesus. And as followers of Jesus, we make sure that we suffer for the right reasons when we live in a way that recognizes that we will be judged by Jesus.

The timeless reality is that Jesus will judge those who profess a relationship with Jesus for evidence that they possess a relationship with Jesus. Jesus will judge those who reject Him on the evidence of their rebellion against Him. And as followers of Jesus, we demonstrate the evidence of our confident trust in Jesus as a faithful judge by living according to His desires for our lives.

So with that in mind, here is a question for us to consider: How does the perspective that you have impact how you respond to the sadness and suffering that you experience in life? And if you are experiencing sadness and suffering in your life, why are you experiencing sadness and suffering?

Are you experiencing sadness and suffering for the right reasons? Are you experiencing sadness and suffering as a result of the consequences you are facing for the things that you have done to hurt God and others? Or are you experiencing sadness and suffering as a result of living a life that reveals and reflects Jesus to others?

Because, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective. As followers of Jesus, when we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will recognize that suffering provides the evidence of our spiritual state. And as followers of Jesus, when we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will make sure that we suffer for the right reasons…

Living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter that has been preserved and recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. Yesterday, we looked on as Peter reminded the readers of his letter that they were not to be surprised by their circumstances of sadness and suffering that they may experience as a result of their identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community, because it was the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were facing, and their response to the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were facing, that would reveal the genuineness of their faith that was being proved through the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were experiencing.

Instead of being surprised at the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were experiencing, Peter called the readers of his letter to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. In other words, to the extent that their sadness and suffering matched the sadness and suffering that Jesus endured during His rejection, arrest, trial, and crucifixion, they were to rejoice to that same extent.

You see, so often when we see the phrase sufferings of Christ, we immediately think of the suffering He experienced during His beating and crucifixion. However, for Peter and other early followers of Jesus, this phrase involved much more than the physical suffering that He endured. For Peter and other early followers of Jesus, to share in the sufferings of Jesus involved a sharing in the rejection that Jesus experienced by others.

 And because of that reality, Peter commanded the readers of his letter to not be surprised as though it would be unheard of that a person who lived as part of God’s kingdom community would experience the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering. After all, as the leader of God’s kingdom community, Jesus experienced the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering. Instead, Peter commanded the readers of his letter to respond to the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that they were experiencing by rejoicing in the opportunity that they had to share in the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that Jesus experienced.

To which we go “huh”? I mean why would we rejoice? Why should we rejoice? Peter provides the answer to that question in the second half of verse 13 when he states “so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” When Peter refers to the revelation of His glory, he is referring to the end of God’s story here on earth, where Jesus will return to earth to defeat selfishness, sin, and death and to usher in the kingdom of Heaven in its fullest sense. And upon Jesus return, all the creation will see the unfiltered splendor and radiance of Jesus.

Peter’s point here is that to the extent that their sadness and suffering matched the sadness and suffering that Jesus endured here on earth, the readers of his letter were to rejoice to that same extent, because when Jesus returned to earth to demonstrate the fullness of His splendor and glory after overcoming the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering He experienced, they would be exceedingly joyful as a result of Jesus return that would reveal their true character upon His return. We see Peter reinforce this reality in what he writes next in verse 14:

 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Now when Peter uses the word reviled here, this word means to find fault with another so as to demean, mock, and shame another. In addition, the word blessed here means to be especially favored. Peter is explaining to the readers of his letter that they were especially favored by God if people responded to how they lived out their identity as part of God’s kingdom community by finding fault so as to demean, mock and shame them.

Peter then explained that the reason why they were especially favored by God if people responded to how they lived out their identity as part of God’s kingdom community by finding fault so as to demean, mock and shame them was because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Peter’s point here is that it was the very presence and power of the Spirit of God that empowered them to live out their identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community that resulted in people finding fault with them so as to demean, mock, and shame them.

And it is here, in this section of this letter, that we discover a timeless truth about how we are to live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture. And that timeless truth is this: Living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective. Just as it was for these early followers of Jesus who were experiencing sadness and suffering as a result of their current circumstances; just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering from an eternal perspective.

And in 1 Peter 4:12-19, we see Peter reveal for us two reasons why living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering from an eternal perspective.  First, in verse 12-14, we see that when we see suffering through an eternal perspective, we will recognize that suffering provides the evidence of our spiritual state.

As followers of Jesus, when we see suffering from an eternal perspective, we will not be surprised by suffering, because suffering reveals the evidence of the true character that is within us. And as followers of Jesus, when we see suffering from an eternal perspective, we will rejoice in the midst of suffering, because suffering reveals the evidence of a genuine and authentic faith.

As followers of Jesus, we will rejoice when we suffer for following Jesus because it provides the evidence that we are living a life that is following in His footsteps. As followers of Jesus, we will rejoice when we suffer for following Jesus because it provides the evidence that we will be exceedingly joyful upon His return. And as followers of Jesus, we will rejoice when we suffer for following Jesus because it provides the evidence of God’s presence in our lives.

Friday, we will see Peter reveal a second reason why living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering from an eternal perspective...

What does it mean to share the sufferings of Jesus?

At the church where I serve, we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. And as we have looked at this letter, we have been asking the questions “How should followers of Jesus live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture? How should followers of Jesus live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community when our faith is minimized and marginalized? How should followers of Jesus live out our identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community when our faith is ridiculed, criticized, and slandered?”

This week, I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this letter, we will discover another timeless truth about how we are to live as part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture as followers of Jesus. So let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in 1 Peter 4:12-13:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

Peter begins this section of his letter by commanding the readers of his letter to not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing. With this command, Peter is basically saying “in light of what I have just written to you; in light of the reality that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that sees suffering through an eternal perspective, then do not be surprised when you experience the pain that comes from the fire of suffering in your life.”

When Peter uses the phrase fiery ordeal, he is reminding the readers of his letter of a word picture that he used earlier in this letter. In that word picture, which was of the refining of gold by a smelter, a smelter would use an extremely hot fire in order to refine metal. As the metal was heated, the dross and impurities rise to the top and are removed, thus leaving pure gold.

After bringing this word picture back to the forefront of the readers minds, Peter reinforces that word picture with the phrase which comes upon you for your testing. When Peter uses the word testing here, this word refers to an attempt to learn the nature and character of something. Peter here is referring to something that comes upon us that reveals that nature and character of what is within us. You see, character is like toothpaste; you never really know what is inside until it is squeezed.

Peter here is reminding the readers of his letter that they were not to be surprised by their circumstances of sadness and suffering that they may experience as a result of their identity as followers of Jesus who are part of God’s kingdom community, because it was the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were facing, and their response to the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were facing, that would reveal the genuineness of their faith that was being proved through the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were experiencing.

Instead of being surprised at the fires of the trials and circumstances that they were experiencing, Peter called the readers of his letter to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. In other words, to the extent that their sadness and suffering matched the sadness and suffering that Jesus endured during His rejection, arrest, trial, and crucifixion, they were to rejoice to that same extent.

You see, so often when we see the phrase sufferings of Christ, we immediately think of the suffering He experienced during His beating and crucifixion. However, for Peter and other early followers of Jesus, this phrase involved much more than the physical suffering that He endured. For Peter and other early followers of Jesus, to share in the sufferings of Jesus involved a sharing in the rejection that Jesus experienced by others.

For example, Jesus was mocked and ridiculed by others, including His own family for the claims that He made about Himself. Jesus was slandered by others who claimed that He was a bastard child who did not know who His Father was. On several occasions, people picked up stones and tried to kill Him. On one occasion, the people who He grew up with tried to throw Him off a cliff. Upon His arrest, all of His closest followers bailed on Him. Jesus experienced the fires of the trial of suffering of being mocked, ridiculed, criticized, and slandered before His arrest. Jesus was then abandoned at His arrest and endured His trial, beating, and crucifixion without the support of His closest followers.

Jesus was squeezed by the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering in a way that revealed His true character as God in a bod by His response to the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering He experienced.  And for the readers of this letter, they were being squeezed as a result of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that they were experiencing as a result of being strangers in a strange land as a result being scattered from their homeland.

These early followers of Jesus were being squeezed as a result of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that they were experiencing from being marginalized and minimized by those around them. These early followers of Jesus were being squeezed as a result of the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that they were experiencing as they found themselves the object of mocking, ridicule and slander for clinging to a religious belief system that was viewed as being both strange and outrageous as compared with the religious systems that were prevalent in the culture around them.

And because of that reality, Peter commanded the readers of his letter to not be surprised as though it would be unheard of that a person who lived as part of God’s kingdom community would experience the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering. After all, as the leader of God’s kingdom community, Jesus experienced the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering. Instead, Peter commanded the readers of his letter to respond to the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that they were experiencing by rejoicing in the opportunity that they had to share in the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering that Jesus experienced.

To which we go “huh”? I mean why would we rejoice? Why should we rejoice? Peter provides the answer to that question in the second half of verse 13 when he states “so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” When Peter refers to the revelation of His glory, he is referring to the end of God’s story here on earth, where Jesus will return to earth to defeat selfishness, sin, and death and to usher in the kingdom of Heaven in its fullest sense. And upon Jesus return, all the creation will see the unfiltered splendor and radiance of Jesus.

Peter’s point here is that to the extent that their sadness and suffering matched the sadness and suffering that Jesus endured here on earth, the readers of his letter were to rejoice to that same extent, because when Jesus returned to earth to demonstrate the fullness of His splendor and glory after overcoming the fires of the trials of sadness and suffering He experienced, they would be exceedingly joyful as a result of Jesus return that would reveal their true character upon His return.

Tomorrow we will see Peter reinforce this reality and discover another timeless truth when it comes to how we are to live as part of God’s kingdom community in the midst of a rapidly changing culture as followers of Jesus…

Reflecting an Eternal Perspective by Serving Others through the Use of our Spiritual Gifts...

This week we have been looking at a section of a letter that has been preserved and recorded for us in the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. In 1 Peter 4:7-11, we discovered that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective. In 1 Peter 4:7-11, we are going to see Peter provide four commands to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective.

First, in verse 7, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by rightly thinking about the future. Then, in verse 8, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by loving others in a way that removes selfishness from sight. Third, in verse 9, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by inviting others into open-handed community.

Today, we will see Peter conclude this section of his letter by providing a fourth command to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective, in 1 Peter 4:10-11:

 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Now to fully understand what Peter is commanding followers of Jesus throughout history to do here, we first need to understand a few things. The first thing that we need to understand is what Peter is referring to when he uses the phrase “As each one has received a special gift”. With this phrase, Peter is referring to spiritual gifts.

A spiritual gift is a God-given inner motivation that enables us to meet the needs of others in a way that builds up others spiritually. Spiritual gifts are not talents; they are not natural abilities; they are not ministries or positions. Spiritual gifts work through natural talents and positions to work in ministries with the result of spiritual growth in the lives of others.

Now a question that almost immediately arises when the subject of spiritual gifts is brought up in church is “Well what about tongues? What about gifts of healing?” While the Bible lists for us 18 different spiritual gifts, several of these gifts are not currently active, however, as they were in the church of the first century. To understand why they are not currently active, we first need to understand the purpose of these gifts.

During the days of the early church, followers of Jesus did not have a New Testament to read. So during a church service, after a time of singing and prayer, people in the church would stand up and speak, sharing either their testimonies or messages that they heard from other Christians. And some early followers of Jesus received from God what are called foundation or sign gifts, which are spiritual gifts that were used to deliver or confirm the new verbal revelation that was what we now have as the New Testament. Since we are no longer receiving new verbal revelation from God in the form of new books in our Bibles these spiritual gifts no longer are active as they were in the first century.

Now that leads us to the second thing that we need to understand, which is what Peter means when he uses the phrase “employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” If Peter was communicating this phrase in the language that we use in our culture today, this phrase would sound something like this: Each of you have been given at least one spiritual gift. Make sure that you are using that spiritual gift to serve others in a way that promotes the spiritual good and growth of others so as to demonstrate that you are an excellent manager of the multifaceted generosity of God who gave you this spiritual gift. 

Now there are a couple of things to take note of here. First, did you notice that Peter expected every follower of Jesus to know what their spiritual gift was? Peter gives a command based on the assumption that everyone knows that they have a spiritual gift and what that spiritual gift is? Now an immediate thought that might go through your mind at this point is “I don’t know what my spiritual gift is? I wasn’t even thinking in those terms? So how do I find out what the spiritual gifts are and which one or ones that I have?

As Peter points out in verse 11, there are two types, or classifications, of spiritual gifts. The first type, or classification, of spiritual gifts are referred to as speaking gifts. The speaking gifts that are active today as they were in the first century are the spiritual gifts of Teaching, Shepherding (Pastor), Evangelism, and Exhortation (Encouragement). The second, type, or classification, of spiritual gifts are referred to as serving gifts. The serving gifts are giving, Administration, Mercy, faith, helps (serving).

Peter’s point here is that if you are a follower of Jesus you have at least one of those nine different gifts. And if you are a follower of Jesus, you have been commanded to leverage those spiritual gifts in selfless way that helps people to grow spiritually. As Peter points out in verse 11, we are to leverage to spiritual gifts that we have been given by God, in the power and strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.

You see, spiritual gifts are not to be used to bring us glory. Spiritual gifts are not to be used to enhance our reputation in the eyes of others. Instead, spiritual gifts are to be used to bring glory, to enhance that reputation of God in the eyes of others. And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by serving others through the use of our spiritual gifts.

As followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we serve others through the use of our spiritual gifts in a way that recognizes that we have received a spiritual gift. As followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we serve others through the use of our spiritual gifts in a way that is at a high level. And as followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we serve others through the use of our spiritual gifts in a way that makes much of Jesus.

You see, Jesus deserves to receive honor as a result of His status and activity in our lives and in the world around us. And Jesus deserves to receive rule and authority as a result of His status and activity in our lives and in the world around us. And we enhance the reputation of Jesus in the eyes of the world around us when we leverage the spiritual gifts that we have been given by Jesus in a selfless way that results in the spiritual good and growth of others.

Because, as we have discovered this week, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective. A lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by rightly thinking about the future. A lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by loving others in a way that removes selfishness from sight. A lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by inviting others into open-handed community. And a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by serving others through the use of our spiritual gifts.

So with that in mind, here is a question for us to consider: What does how you live your day to day life reveal about where your perspective is? What does how you think about the future reveal about where your perspective is? What does how you respond when wronged by others reveal about where your perspective is? What does how you serve others through the use of your spiritual gifts reveal about where your perspective is?

Because, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a life that has an eternal perspective….

Reflecting an Eternal Perspective...

This week we are looking at a section of a letter that has been preserved and recorded for us in the Bible called the book of 1 Peter. Yesterday, we began to look at 1 Peter 4:7-11, where we discovered the timeless truth that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective. In 1 Peter 4:7-11, we are going to see Peter provide four commands to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective.

First, in verse 7, we see Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by rightly thinking about the future. Rightly think about the future will result in us developing and demonstrating sensible wisdom for the present that will help us keep our heads together regardless of what circumstances we find ourselves in. And rightly thinking about the future will result in us having a self restraint that helps us when we pray.

Today, we jump back into this section of this letter and see Peter provide a second command to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective, in 1 Peter 4:8:

 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Here we see Peter command followers of Jesus throughout history to above all, keep fervent in your love for one another. Now if Peter was communicating this command in the language that we use in our culture today, this command would have sounded something like this: Above everything else, what is most important is that you constantly and consistently demonstrate a warm regard for and interest in another that is selfless and persevering in nature.

Peter then explains the reason behind his command for followers of Jesus to constantly and consistently demonstrate a warm regard for and interest in another that is selfless and persevering in nature is because love covers a multitude of sins. But what does that mean? I mean is Peter saying that love covers all of my sins? Is Peter saying that I can earn my salvation and rescue from my selfishness and rebellion by loving others? I mean that seems like what Peter is saying here? It seems like Peter is saying that love covers, or takes care of my sins against others. So, is that what Peter is saying here?

To fully understand what Peter is communicating here, we first need to remember the context in which this letter was written and define a term. Remember, Peter is writing this letter to early followers of Jesus who were being squeezed as a result of living in a rapidly changing culture that viewed their faith as being strange and outrageous as compared to the other religious systems of the day. Peter is writing to early followers of Jesus who were experiencing sadness and suffering as a result of their faith being mocked, ridiculed, criticized, and slandered.

Peter was writing this letter to encourage the readers of his letter to live out their day to day lives in a way that was an apologetic for the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. And just like we talked about throughout this series, part of that apologetic for the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel would be living their day to day lives in a way that affirmed part of that social order that lined up with the message and teachings of Jesus while rejecting those parts of the social order that were not compatible with the message and teachings of Jesus.

Now that leads us to the term we need to define, which is the term cover. You see, the word cover here, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to cause something to not be made known. This word conveys the sense of removing something from sight. Peter here is not focusing on the concept of love covering acts of selfishness and rebellion that hurt God and others that we commit against God and others.

Instead, Peter is focusing on the concept of love covering the acts of selfishness and rebellion that are committed against us. The reality is that there is no perfect church. If you are looking for a perfect church and you find a perfect church then you better leave before you ruin it. As followers of Jesus, we are imperfect people striving to follow the message and teachings of our perfect savior by the power of the Holy Spirit. However, the reality is that there are times when we selfishly do or say things that hurt others or are hurt by the selfish and rebellious things that are done to us by others. 

And it is at that point that, as followers of Jesus, we are faced with a decision. And that decision involves how we are going to respond when we are the victim of selfishness and rebellion. Are we going to respond by proclaiming how we have been wronged by another follower of Jesus to others and through social media for everyone around us to see? Or are we going to follow the message and teachings of Jesus as described in Matthew 18 in a way that demonstrates love and that seeks a recognition of their wrong against us and restoration of relationship in a private and progressive manner?

Peter’s point here is that when followers of Jesus respond to being wronged by other followers of Jesus by following the message and teachings of Jesus in a way that is driven by love, the wrongdoing done to us is covered up from being exposed to the unbelieving world around us. Instead, what the unbelieving world around us sees is a reflection of Jesus love in how we respond to being wronged. And that love serves as an apologetic for the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

When we respond to being wronged by another follower of Jesus by proclaiming how we have been wronged through our conversations with others and through social media for everyone around us to see, we fail to reveal and reflect Jesus and we fail to be an apologetic for Jesus. And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by loving others in a way that removes selfishness from sight.

As followers of Jesus we have an eternal perspective when we constantly love one another in a way the removes selfishness from sight. And as followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we love one another in a way that removes the selfishness of others from the eyes of others. Peter then provides a third command to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective, in verse 9:

Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

Now when Peter uses the word hospitable here, this word refers to inviting others with an open-handed generosity into community. This word conveys the sense of inviting others in and warmly doing life together. In the Greco-Roman culture in which this letter was written, the church would gather and scatter. The church would gather in spaces that they could find that could accommodate a large gathering to worship together on Sunday and the church would scatter into smaller groups that would meet in homes throughout the week.

In a context in which followers of Jesus were being squeezed and were experiencing sadness and suffering, hospitality would be both important and dangerous.  After all, opening one’s home for followers of Jesus to gather in could expose the owner of the home as being a Christian and to subsequent ridicule, criticism, slander, and even persecution.

As a result, there were followers of Jesus who were reluctant to take such risk. And there were followers of Jesus who would take such a risk while grumbling and complaining to others behind the scenes about taking such risk. So, Peter here is commanding the readers of this letter, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to be open-handed in their generous opening of their home to community without complaining about it.

And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that has an eternal perspective will reflect that perspective by inviting others into open-handed community. As followers of Jesus, we are to make sure that we are inviting others into open-handed community with the right actions and the right attitude in mind. As followers of Jesus, we are to invite others with an open-handed generosity to experience genuine and authentic community, whether that is during our times of corporate worship on Sunday, during community groups during the week, or on an individual basis during the week.

As followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we invite people who we will be in community for all eternity into open-handed community with us while we live out our day to day lives here on earth. And as followers of Jesus, we have an eternal perspective when we invite people who are searching and seeking answers when it comes to Jesus and the Bible into open-handed community with us so that they could come to the place where they experience an eternity in community with us.

Friday, we will see Peter provide a fourth command to followers of Jesus throughout history that, when followed, will lead to a lifestyle that reflects an eternal perspective…