TITLE: Shepherds or Bulldogs?

TEXT: 1 Peter 5:1-4

PROPOSITION: God's focus is on the type of leader for the church.

QUESTION: What?

KEY WORD: Qualities
 

Shepherds or Bulldogs?

There are two basic styles of leadership in our world.

1. Bulldog – authoritarian, dictator, in control, with power and force, uses fear to control – pushes rather than leads

2. Shepherd – seek what is best, feed, tend, care for, help, lead, guide, set an example, show the way

Six Qualities of Leadership

1. Followship

   1. He must submit to God and Bible.

   2. He can not lead until he learns to follow.

2. Work in groups.

   1. Elder”ship” – not individuals in row boats

   2. Plural – never one man leadership

3. Commitment to their responsibility.

   1. Welfare of the flock

   2. Doctrinal teaching

   3. Teaching, restoring, care for needy

   4. Help with personal and spiritual problems

4. Example

   1. Qualifications are given for a reason

   2. He must be a Christian of high moral integrity

   3. He must demonstrate leadership skills

5. Proven

   1. Mistake – put him in so he will be faithful

   2. We must see his leadership FIRST

6. Qualifications

   1. Read 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1

   2. He must pass the tests.

   3. We must be willing to follow – Hebrews 13:17

The Elder as a Shepherd

God used three words to describe the leaders of the Church of Christ: elders, bishops and pastors (shepherds).

1. Elder = older, mature, with some life experience

2. Bishop = manager, one who oversees the work

3. Pastor = shepherd, one who tends, feeds, cares for the flock

Not: Board of Directors

1. Meet in secret

2. Make decisions

3. Then tell everyone what they decided

IS: Shepherd

1. Jesus himself – John 10:11

2. Sheepfold = protect, keep flock together

3. Enemy = wolf

4. Among the flock

   1. A certain Australian shepherd wrote of his experiences with the flock. There was no sheep fold to coral the flock at night. He pitched a tent and the flock settled down nearby. During the night a predator disturbed the flock. He took his rifle and walked among the sheep and talked to them. Soon they were calm. So he laid his sleeping bag in their midst for the night to keep them calm. The sheep were comforted by his presence. They had confidence in him and trusted him. From past experience they knew he cared for them and protected them.

   2. 1 Peter 5:2

DANGERS: Three kinds of wolves & thieves, that attack the flock.

1. Sin in general

   1. James 1:27 Keep yourself pure, unspotted from the world.

   2. Study Joshua 7 – Achan – sin in the camp

   3. Withdraw fellowship from the sinner - 1 Cor 5:1-11

2. Strife and division.

   1. Grumblings

   2. Pride – selfish – my way or else

3. False doctrine.

   1. Romans 16:17

   2. False teachers often sneak in quietly, underhanded

   3. Sometimes the damage is done before leaders are aware.

Verses to Study

Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

Titus 1:5, 7 "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:" 7 "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;"

Acts 20:17 "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church."

Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine."

Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:"

1 Peter 5:1-3 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:" 2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" 3 "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock."

Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers;"

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

From these verses we see the elders are to:

1. feed the church

2. guard the flock

3. rule the church

4. tend the flock

5. watch over their souls

6. The members are to be submissive to the elders.

7. The elders are not to "lord over them"

8. The Elders are to lead by example

NOTE: The title idea came from Jim Mittenbrink.