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Pastor Fielding's Message
SHEPHERDS OF GOD'S FLOCK
1 Peter 5:1-5 ESV
April, 2008
INTRODUCTION
God’s timing is truly amazing. Three things came together this week that points to God’s providence. First, we had our first board meeting Tuesday night since Tim stepped down and Mario was elected in our annual business meeting. Second, on Wednesday I received word that Ray Huff, a deacon and loyal friend died. Third, today after service Connie and Tim will be training our deacons and tellers on proper procedures in counting the offering. Then, I opened my Bible and realized that today’s text is all about church leadership. There are no accidents with God. The Lord is in this.
As I begin this message, I want to dedicate it to Ray Huff. In fact, I’m going to send a copy of this message to his wife. As I read this text, I found myself thinking about Ray and remembering his love for the Lord, his loyalty to me, and his nurturing of the flock.
The bulk of our text is written to ‘the elders among you.’ Now when we think of our elders, we immediately think of someone older than us. We automatically assume that it is a reference to age. But its use in the New Testament has less to do with age and more to do with maturity, leadership, and authority. The Greek word elder is—presbyteros—Presbyter. Another word that is used interchangeably is—overseer—episkopoi (BISHOP). Presbyters or bishops were those whose responsibility it was to lead the local assembly. In our modern setting, we would call these men pastors and deacons.
Hear Mar 22, 2009 sermon
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