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Today, during Chanukkah, I have the privilege of being made an elder of Congregation Shema Yisrael. I am blessed to be a shepherd in the community, which I have been a part of my whole life. There are so many familiar faces here today, many of whom I remember from when I was 13 years old during my Bar Mitzvah. And so many here today that I consider my Mishpucha, my family. And of course, some faces are missing today, those who have gone on to be with the Lord.
Chanukkah is known as the festival of dedication, and so it is fitting to discuss what it means to be an elder and what an elder should be dedicated to. One question I have asked myself constantly for many years is this: What does it mean to be a faithful leader in Messiah’s community?
Peter, who was himself an elder, provides an important answer to that question in 1 Peter 5:1-5. His answer can be summarized in this way:
An elder shepherds with humility, serves with enthusiasm, and leads by example.
This morning, I want to walk us through this passage and examine the lessons it has, not only for those who are elders, but for all of us who are part of Messiah’s community.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
shepherd the flock of God that is among you,
Peter begins this section by calling himself a fellow elder, not an Apostle. Peter understood the difficult work of shepherding God’s people and spoke to his fellow elders as a co-worker across the table, not looking down on them from above.
In this first verse, Peter acknowledges the suffering of this world, but also the great and glorious future that awaits all God’s people. He continues and charges all those who are called to be elders to shepherd the people God has given us. Notice, the command is not to shepherd every single person, but to shepherd those who are among us. Who are these people? Everyone God brings to be a part of our local community.
In this verse, we see that the flock belongs to the Lord. God is the owner, not the elders. I have the privilege of being a leader in our community. But it is not my community or Rabbi Loren’s or anyone else’s. We are all under-shepherds, middle management, stewards of something precious that belongs to God alone. The fact that our community belongs to the Lord means that it is precious and priceless. It means that you and I are precious and priceless. Just as we would all be careful in handling a priceless work of art. So, elders should be very careful in how we handle the priceless community that was purchased through the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua. Peter continues and gives us a set of principles for being a good elder.
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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Peter gives us three principles for how an Elder should and should not act. The three things an elder should not do: An elder should oversee God’s flock not because they have to, not for money, and not to dominate others. These three categories describe too many so-called leaders. These false elders destroy the physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial lives of those who trust them. They are the prosperity teachers who shame their congregations into giving everything they have. Giving their grocery money, housing money, and even their children’s money, so these false leaders can continue to live in sinful excess like celebrities. These are the bullies who dominate their churches like steamrollers, rolling over everyone who disagrees with them. This is the opposite of the way Messiah Yeshua taught us to lead.
The examples I just gave are the extremes; you do not end up this way overnight. All Elders must be vigilant against envy controlling our actions. We must also be diligent in handling people with care, choosing the right approach for each person in every situation. Everyone is not always a nail that needs to be hammered down. We need to shepherd firmly, but from a place of gentleness and respect.
Now we can easily spend hours talking about what the right characteristics of an elder are, but in this passage, we have a few specific principles. A good shepherd oversees his flock. He protects his flock from the dangers outside and from the dangers within. We live in a world with many external dangers. At Shema, we take the physical safety of our congregation very seriously. We have people who are gifted and trained to help physically protect us from danger. Elders also counsel and assist people. Sometimes this means helping people trapped in abusive or sinful situations. Helping them to change their circumstances for the better.
A good shepherd also guides his flock from a place of love so that they grow and experience more blessings and protection. Something I often ask is what is best for our congregation as a group and as individuals. What sort of programs, Bible Studies, events, do our people want and need? Then I try to help make those things happen. Healthy growth can only be accomplished when we follow the example of Messiah Yeshua, who taught that a good shepherd knows his flock. He knows the people who are a part of his congregation.
One of the things I love about our congregation is how personable our leadership is. You will find Rabbi Loren most Shabbat mornings in the hallway kibitzing, chatting with people. You will see all of us after services, talking to everyone who wants to talk with us. In my case, sometimes for a long time! We do not hide away from our flock but make ourselves as available as we can in appropriate ways. I am especially thankful for our men’s study, which allows Mike, David, and me to connect on a deeper level with the men of our congregation.
An elder also leads willingly, moved by the spiritual call of the Lord. It is a burden felt in your kishkes, in the deepest part of yourself. There are many things I am uncertain about in my life, but I do not doubt that being here right now is the place the Lord has called me to be. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Finally, an elder is also eager to serve. This is the essence of servant-leadership and is part of the good example an elder should set. We do what is needed when it is needed. Whether it is something large or small. An elder should be eager to serve, constantly looking for ways to help others, as Messiah Yeshua did. Being an Elder is a lot of labor, a labor of love, but still labor! Peter goes on to encourage elders in their calling in verse 4.
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Serving as an Elder is a difficult calling. There is always more to be done, and certain times can be incredibly stressful. But we serve under the Chief Shepherd, our perfect Messiah. There will come a day when He returns, and we will receive an everlasting crown of glory. These are the treasures stored up for us in heaven and the greatest treasure, everlasting life in the glorious presence of God forever. Peter continues with a final command, one that applies to all of us, whether we are in leadership or simply part of God’s community.
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.”
Until verse 5, Peter has been addressing his fellow elders directly. But verse 5 is addressed to us all. Those who are under an elder’s leadership should be diligent in listening and acting rightly. This verse assumes that the elders are instructing their flock correctly. We should not obey the teachings and commands of leaders when they are wrong or sinful. In abusive congregations, complete obedience is taught and expected. But it is only our perfect Chief Shepherd whom we must always obey. However, when our leaders teach and instruct us correctly, we should listen because of their position given to them by Messiah Yeshua.
The guiding principle for the relationship between an elder and their flock is found in this verse. All of us should act humbly towards one another. Quoting Proverbs 3:34, Peter reminds us that God blesses the humble but stands against our pride. What does it mean to be humble towards one another? This doesn’t mean we beat ourselves up; it is the opposite of focusing on ourselves. True humility is looking at everything through the eyes of the Lord and acknowledging our complete dependence on Him. Humility reminds us that we are all sinners, that when someone annoys us, we can annoy them as well. When we are frustrated with others’ stubbornness, humility reminds us that we are stubborn as well. When we see a person’s need for the Lord in their life, humility reminds us that we need the Lord just as much.
True humility is not something we can create on our own inside ourselves. Humility is orienting our hearts and minds away from our own desires and towards the Lord. If we, leaders and those under them, approach every interaction in our lives from the starting place of “what does the Lord want me to do?” we will avoid all the sinful traps described in this passage and elsewhere in God’s Word.
Today, as I stand here, about to be dedicated as an elder during this festival of dedication, I am reminded that this calling is not about me. It is about faithfully stewarding the priceless flock that belongs to our Chief Shepherd.
Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5 have given us a clear picture:
An elder shepherds with humility, serves with enthusiasm, and leads by example.
But as we have seen, these words are not just for elders. It is a command for all of us. We are all called to be humble toward one another, to serve eagerly, and to set an example for those around us. So let us all be dedicated to the work of God’s kingdom. Working enthusiastically to bless the lives of those around us in every way possible, according to the teachings of our wonderful Messiah.
As we humbly serve each other, we have the promise that the Lord’s grace and glory will increase in our lives. May each of us experience the power of God that comes from humbly following His will in our lives and in our community. May we continue to be dedicated in our communities, dedicated to the Chief Shepherd, who in perfect love administrates His kingdom. May the Lord continue His transforming work within me and you and allow us all to continue to serve this community.