Sermon text
1 Peter 5:1-11
¹ So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Understanding the text
Peter has exhorted us to obey Christ and resist sin. We are to endure suffering while witnessing to the world of the saving power of God. This isn’t a solo project. Rather it’s a team effort and requires that we exercise humility towards one another. Elders are to oversee the Church of Christ. They are to serve the body through teaching, preaching, prayer, and practical care. In this, the elders serve under Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, seeking to glorify God, not for personal gain.
Additionally, the Church is to act in humility towards one another. We are to leverage our strengths and gifts for the sake of one another, pursuing each other’s joy and flourishing. We can humble ourselves knowing that it is God who defends and protects us. In this, we are able to lay aside our anxiety and resist the sin that fear, uncertainty, and the desire to be in control so often leads to.
Additional scripture
- Hebrews 13:17
- Acts 20:17-35
- Romans 12:3-8
Applying the text
- How does the gospel transform the way we think about leadership and authority in the Church?
- How does the gospel transform the way we think about submission to one another?
- How can anxiety and fear lead to sinful and destructive behavior (Genesis 3:6)?
Call to Worship
Psalm 24:1–6
¹ The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
² for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
³ Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵ He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Prayer of Confession
God of all grace, we are weak and forgetful people, easily distracted by the joys and sorrows of our lives. We are capable of great thoughts concerning You one moment, yet we forget Your kindness and live as though we had no hope the next. Forgive us, Father, for the unbelief that clings to our sinful flesh and clouds our minds with fear and doubt. Jesus, thank you for clinging to us even though we let go of you repeatedly. Holy Spirit, produce in us growing faith that we may live in Christ. Make Jesus our greatest hope and all our glory. In His name we pray, amen.
November Memory Verse
James 1:17
¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Resources for Parents
Did you know that the kids of Coram Deo are following along with our recent study through Genesis? They are! Every Sunday, the children's ministry team creates lessons that cover the scripture and concepts from a recent sermon. The teachers ask simple questions to help the kids learn to understand and apply what God says in the Bible.
We want to equip parents to talk to their kids about what they're learning. The following is the content that the children's classes taught this week. We encourage parents to use this resource at home to help you and your kids grow as you learn from God's word together.
Children's Lesson from Sunday, November 17
Scripture:
Genesis 22:1-14
The Main Point:
God is our provider.
Questions:
Q: What does God always give us?
A: What we need.
Q: What helped Abraham to obey?
A: Remembering God's promises.
Q: What better story does this lesson point us toward?
A: Jesus dying on the cross.
Q: When should we obey God?
A: All the time!
New City Catechism Question #42
Q: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith and practice it in our lives.
(Note: All of our classes work through one question per month from the New City Catechism. You can download the New City Catechism app with all the questions and children's songs for free.)