There is 5 things we are going to go over today, that Peter outlines in our text:
1. Who Peter Exhorts? (v.1) the Elders
i) Exhort- Para-come along side Kaleo-to call (so Peter was called to come along side the Elders of the Church. (the Leadership of the Body of Christ)
1.1.1.1. Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"
1.1.1.2. (There are Four offices in the Church Leadership) note the word "Some" --it is not before the word Teacher, so we believe the Pastor / Teacher has one office.
1.1.1.3. Others disagree with that view they say that there are 5 offices the Pastor and the Teacher are separate offices, and I understand the thought behind that, because I know there are some Pastors that are not good teachers. And some teachers that are not good Pastors.
(i) But grammatically speaking, there are four offices: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor / Teacher.
(ii) There are Three separate people that hold these four offices, one of them is in 1 Peter 5:1 it's the word Elder-(presbyteros)-Presbyterian, means older mature, in the Church
(b) The Bishop- (the Second Person mentioned) in light of these three offices.
(i) 1 Timothy 3:1-7
(ii) Paul gives an outline to this position
(iii) Bishop-(episkopeo) Episcope, or Episkipellions. They get there word from this word bishop.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. This word simply means an Overseer, an Inspector, one who watches over, or oversees the well being of the Church. We often refer to them as Pastors.
1.1.1.1.1.1.2. Elder is who they are (Spiritually Mature)
1.1.1.1.1.1.3. Bishop-speaks of what they do (they oversee)
1.1.2. Look at 1 Peter 5:2, "as overseers" same word for Bishop (Elder, bishop, overseer, we would say Pastor) often times can be used interchangeably.
1.1.3. They can be referred to sometimes as these same names, they oversee the spiritual needs of the flock of God.
1.2. Deacon- (the 3rd person we are talking about regarding these offices)
means-Diaconos --means waiter or servant, found in 1 Timothy 3:8 talks about the qualifications of the Deacon.
1.2.1.1. We call him usher, servant or waiter. Cares for the physical needs of the body of Christ. women help out in this area as well.
1.2.1.2. Jesus was a example of this in John 13 as He girded Himself and washed the feet of the disciples. As a servant.
2nd thing we are going to look at is the Why! Why can Peter exhort these Shepard's /Pastors? He gives us three reasons in verse 1.
1. Peter according to Galatians 2:9 was one of the pillars of the Church, one of the go to guys. And yet with that Peter did not think himself over them, he was a fellow brother, elder. Equal.
2. Peter is a witness of the sufferings of Christ v.1b
2.1. Peter saw it all, in the garden, at the court yard, at the cross.
2.2. Witness- Martyr. Means more then just witnessing visually, which Peter did. but willing to die for Christ.
3. Peter was a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. (v.1c) Peter understood he would see Jesus one day face to face. 1 Peter 4:13
a) Peter can exhort these pastors because he had a close intimate relationship • 3rd thing is what Peter exhorts them to do. V.2 (He exhorts them and commands them) to shepherd the flock of God, he talks about 2 things:
1. The Shepherd-(John 21:15 ) when we say Shepherd it means to feed, to nourish, to tend, to oversee. Goes along the Bishop which means to oversee.

2. "more than these" (John 21:15-17)--could be speaking about the fish, or the men. Jesus is saying do you love ME more than anything or anyone? Tend My sheep (feed)
3. Being a shepherd means feeding, nourishing, and tending the sheep. Why?
f) No wonder we are told in Isaiah 53:6 "......."
g) We are referred to as sheep. As dumb lost sheep before the Great Shepherd saved us.
• The main purpose of the Shepherd is to feed the sheep. 2x Jesus says feed My sheep
• In the Church shepherds are to teach the sheep corporately. Verse by verse!

V.2b 'The Flock of God' Among you.
1. Speaks of Equality, we are all on the same page, the Pastor is not above everyone else.
3. We are God's Church not "My Church"
4th thing to look at, is how Peter Exhorts them to shepherd.
(v.2-3 he gives us three contrast on how to shepherd the flock of God)
• if you want to be rich, don't become a Pastor.
• Its more like you can't wait to get up and get into God's Word every moment of the day
3. V.3 Not to lord it over them'
• some pastors say its my way or the highway.
• We are all equal
Be an example to the flock.

• 5th and final thing is the Reason behind the Exhortation
v.4 Shepherd the flock of God, it involves a reward. "Crown of glory" --eternal life.
Jesus Christ is coming back for His sheep