• As in “Us” vs. “Them”
• And they start with “U” and “T”

Peter uses the term “flock”.       Now we are getting somewhere.  Again, we are getting closer, but it begins with “F”.  We could also include a word that I like “Family”

But what is my point?   I think Peter would agree that it is about ALL of us.

It’s about you… Its about me… its about of us… Its about them… 

Its about the whole family, the whole flock.

But it is not just us here at Cornerstone.   Our actions effect the whole body of Christ.

The way we respond to issues effects those in our families, our neighborhood, it effects the impact we have on the community.

A. It’s About All of us, the whole Flock, the Family here at Cornerstone, and our community.

The term flock is a very old term.   It has been around since day 2, actually it is hinted at in Gen 4:1-2… describing Abel as a “keeper of flocks”

David was the essence of a Shepherd, and Israel was the essence of the flock of God – Ps 23:1-3

David was a man after God’s own heart.  In fact, David was a type of the Messiah

• Ezek 34:23,24 – I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David,
• Ezek 34:31 – My sheep, the sheep of My pasture,

What is the most dramatic misfit in the old testament?

Many would say it was Saul and/or David, Saul because he looked like a King but would not defend against Goliath and David because he was a shepherd but had the heart of a king.

If you look at his background Peter was a misfit as well.  He was a burley fisherman, boisterous, impulsive

This brings us to my second point …

B. Background of the Shepherd, I call it background, but really…  what’s their Bent, their Bliss

Peter was somewhat of a misfit…  a fisherman but his heart was right.

What do you aspire to?   Your Bent?  What makes you happy… Your Bliss?

What stirs your heart?  Motivation?

• 1Tim 3:1

What will make for a good candidate?

• shepherd –tend, herd; hence: rule, govern, pastoring, distinct from “feeding” focuses on “tending“, which includes guarding, guiding, and folding the flock bringing the flock into an enclosure for safety
• exercising oversight – (from epí, “on, fitting,” intensifying skopéō, “look intently”) exercise oversight, care for, visit, look upon,

• What is it that drives a shepherd to action?
  • God’s will should be the number one priority…  will of God being worked out in the flock.
  • Proactively, eagerly responding to circumstances so that you can be a godly example to the flock.
  • Serving the church, serving each other.
  • Mentoring younger men, molding them into men of God –
    • 2Tim 2:2

Humility… Apostles had authority, but sometimes refused to exert that authority …  They weree eyewitness to Jesus suffering

• 1John 1:1, 2, 3 – What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
• Acts 2:22, 23-24 – “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Experienced Christ’s glory…  they were present at the transfiguration, and were with the risen savior after the resurrection

• John 21:16 – He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.
• Matt 17:2,3 – And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him
• Shekinah Glory… the veil was used to shield Moses’ face when he came down from the mountains… This veil was lifted in Christ

Consider Paul – He had all the credentials as am apostle and yet did not demand they be met…

1Cor 9:1-6 – Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we not have a right to eat and drink? Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?

Concentrating on, studying the word of God with the intent to understand God’s will so that you will be able to guild the body and make solid decisions for the church – 2Tim 2:15

Single-minded focus, Enthusiastic

Gentle Spirit and wisdom to be able to shepherd the people of God, “this great people of thine”

1Kings 3:9 – “So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of thine?”

C. Character of the Shepherd, Essential Elements of Character

1Peter 5:1-5           

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, 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. 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.

What was Peter’s character as shown in our text?

Exercising oversight, proactively, boldly guiding the church

• He exercised oversight in the early church with strong preaching (Act 2,3)
• He had bold defiance against the Sanhedrin and the Jewish high court
• He learned from Jesus rebuke… “get behind me Satan” when he boldly confronted Annanias and Saphira who lied to the Holy Spirit about the sale of their home and eventually met their doom

Voluntarily, freely, not looking for sordid gain

• Not under compulsion
• Not out of obligation

Need to be Called by God to this position

• Enthusiastically  doing the work with eagerness, excitement
• Supportive of those under you to make correct decisions without micro management

Proving, to be a good example to the flock, the church

• Humility …  lowliness of mind
• Love…  toward everyone.

Exhibiting, displaying God’s power and grace in every situation.

• Phil 4:11 – 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.

Able to discern false teaching …  be on guard as to what can harm the flock…  passion for the flock

He was humble, he exhorted them as a fellow elder

• Phil 2:3,4 – 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
• 1Peter 5:6-7 – 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 
• Phil 2:20,21 – 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

Having the hope of being pleasing to the Lord at His return.  Looking to the future.

• Looking to the Chief Shepherd when he appears…  Looking for a “well done good and faithful servant”
• Looking to the Word of God for his marching orders.

• 1Peter 4:11 – Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterences of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strengh 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.

D. Discernment – The Final Characteristic of a good Shepherd which is essential in these last days

Ability to discern error, false teaching …  be on guard as to what can harm the flock…  have passion for the flock

• Acts 10:29 – 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
• 2Cor 2:11 KJV – 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
• 1Peter 5:8 – 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 
  • As mentioned earlier, we are in the last days and church has not seen this situation before
  • The man of God needs to be clear headed, sober minded.
    • Sober minded – sober, to abstain from wine be calm (vigilant), circumspect, free from illusion, i.e. from the intoxicating influences of sin
  • Be on the alert …. 
    • Alert – awake (in the night), watch, vigilant. literally, “stay awake”; (responsible, watchful)

Why?

• Your adversary the devil prowls about trying to devour any one he can
• Your adversary
• Your adversary…   God’s adversary the devil.The devil… slanderer; a false accuser; unjustly criticizing to hurt (malign) and condemn to sever a relationship
• prowls, lurks, walk around.
• devour – drink down, swallow, destroy, consume.

Conclusion –

Our Goal —
A perfect marriage between the needs of all..

• God, who wants to provide the best for His church
• A man of God doing and fulfilling exactly what God wants to be done and because he is a man of God, fulfilling exactly what he was to be done.
• The flock itself to grow in grace

• There are also some pastors, shepherds that seek the position for the wrong reasons
  • money, sordid gain, filthy lucre
  • they also may be looking for a congregation that they can grow into a large church for the $
  • they are willing to compromize God’s message to attract more people
  • they want to be the leader where everyone looks up to them… A cult

I hope I speak for all of us…  We at Cornerstone want:

• we desperately want to hear God’s message on a weekly basis
• we want a man whose bliss is to study and teach God’s word consistently
• all for the spiritual growth, sanctification, the edification of our families, our church and our community.