A Shepard's Heart

Text: I Peter 4:19-5:1-4 Peter, the Shepherd Calls for a: I. Commitment from the Sheep. 4:19-entrust your souls/lives to a faithful Creator ***entrust is an accounting term. Peter is saying to them deposit your lives/commit your lives/give over your lives to your faithful Creator. To the one who made you/the one who sustains you/the one who knows the number of your days/knows the number of hairs on your head/the one who allows and knows your suffering give Him your life! II. Commitment from the Shepherds-lead (oversee) the flock of God among you (vs. 5:2) A. Why shepherd? 1. We are Equal-share the same responsibility 2. We have the same Example. Shepherding involves suffering-I am an eyewitness of the Chief Shepherd/His sufferings and His Response to it 3. We will share in glory together B. What’s involved in shepherding? The key phrase is “exercising oversight.” The phrase means to watch closely which requires involvement in their lives. As you watch them closely this is should be your attitude: 1. Watch them willingly not because you are forced too. 2. Don’t watch them for selfish reasons but because it is your desire. (If any man aspires to the office of overseer or has the desire) 3. Don’t watch them being arrogant, but as you watch them be examples (example means leave your imprint which should mean being a selfless committed faithful slave of Christ) !!! If this is done you (shepherd’s) will receive the unfading crown (stephanos) of glory.