Introduction from 1 Pet 1:1 & 2 Pet 1:1

Peter is writing to elders & younger

Elder: Those who exercise oversight.

Younger: Those who are entrusted to someone’s care/leadership.

This is for leaders who are leading, many of us; and followers who are under leadership—all of us!

Peter is writing for us.

• elect exiles, according to the foreknowledge of God, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ—grace and peace be multiplied)
• To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
• May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Peter is excited to be writing to his brothers who are suffering, because there is real hope!

1) Peter is writing from experience. (vs 1)

Fellow elder:

• He understands the responsibility; he’s not asking us to do something he himself does not do.
• Like Paul’s “imitate me, as I imitate Christ.”

Witness of the suffering

• Peter understands leadership in suffering, not only from living it, but from watching Jesus live it: weary, thankless, self-sacrificing, slandered, misunderstood, rejected, murdered.

Partaker in the glory.

• Peter witnessed the glorified Jesus on the mountain; he saw the risen Jesus multiple times. He knows what’s coming and he says—this suffering is worth it; trust me!

2) Shepherd like Jesus—Exercising Oversight (vs 2-5)

Willingly, eagerly, by example.

• Peter addresses three examples,

Willingly, as God would have you; not under compulsion.

• Intentionally, deliberately (Heb 10:25): This isn’t the draft—no compulsion.
• Leadership is intentional.
  • Scanning the horizon for bearing and danger.
  • Defending and guarding
  • Caring & nurturing

Eagerly, not for shameful gain.

• E.g. (Jesus had compassion Matt 9:36; Mk 6:34; Is 40)
• Leadership responds to need.
• T10LCB: Chapter 5 “Burden” PG.
  • Introduce “The Top 10 Leadership Conversations in the Bible”

Being an example, not domineering (Matt 20:25; Mk 10:42— Peter remembers James & John’s audacious ask)

• Jesus, the shepherd (John 10)
  • The guide to God (1-5)
  • The door, the way to God (7)
  • Lays down his life for the sheep. (11)
  • Leads his sheep with voice (27)
  • Believe the works (37-38)
• E.g. Jesus washes the disciples feet (John 13:15; Lk 22:24-28)
• Leadership works alongside, it doesn’t dominate
• “The Patriot” — Leadership example. He lived with the men, fought with them in the final battle when he takes up the flag and charges against the route—they follow him.

He gives you his crown.

• All of this effort to lead like Jesus comes from an attitude.
• Each of these is an attribute—it’s not a how to.
• The result of being a Christ following leader is that he honors you, as he was honored. He crowns you with his glory.
• Leading during and through suffering is hard—but it’s worth it!

You younger: A word to you, subject yourself to your leaders.

• Subject is both follow them, submit to them, but also, be like them.
• As they are like Christ, you be like them.
• Leaders recreate the type of leader they are.
• We want you to be like Jesus. He is the ultimate leader! (T10LCB: p133)
• It’s no advantage to us to be difficult to lead. (Heb 13:17)

3) Put on Humility—Especially During Suffering (6-11)

This address is to elders/leaders and young, followers: BE HUMBLE.

• Peter must be thinking back to the Lord’s Supper (Lk 22:31)
• Satan came for Judas and came for Peter too.

Be prepared and be guard. (Lk 22:31-46)

• Our reaction to the knowing that the Devil is after us should be vigilance—not bravado.
• You know he’s coming—watch out. Don’t be lazy.
• Jesus’ rebuke to Peter was stern, “Could you not stay awake for even one hour?!” Pray for yourself that you may not enter into Temptation!”
• Leaders, we must be vigilant! The target is on their backs.
• Failure Types: (T10LCB, Chapter 4 “Failure”)
  • Character vs Competency
  • Qualifying vs Disqualifying
  • Character: Complete vs Partial
  • Competency Failure: Direct vs Indirect
  • Saul: Completed, Disqualifying, Character based failure
  • Peter: Qualifying, Partial, Character-based failure

Cast your anxieties on him—he cares for you!

Resist the Devil by being firm in your faith

• Matt 4:1-17—Fight lies with truth.
• James 4— says the exact same thing.
• We fight powers and principalities different than the flesh.
• Michael appealed to God to rebuke the devil.
• Knowing that your brothers face the same trial:
  • Two fold response:
  • Pray for your brothers
  • Tell your brothers—starting with your Big Brother.

After suffering comes establishment

John 21:

• Do you love me (x3)
• Feed my sheep (x3)
• Follow me

Acts 1:15, 2:14, 4:8, 5:29, 15:7 (Peter was instrumental in the Gentiles being accepted into the church.)

In His second letter, Peter reminds his readers—reminds us:

2 Peter 1:19 (ESV) — And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

To him be dominion forever and ever amen!

• Our call is to submit our leadership, especially through out suffering to Jesus. Because our leadership, as shepherds, as younger men in the church, is all for the dominion of the Chief Shepherd.

Benediction:

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV) — Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.