Session 10
1 Peter 5:1-11
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:8-9
Humility isn’t just a virtue; it’s a cornerstone of effective biblical leadership. Picture a tree-strong, resilient, yet firmly rooted in the soil. It stands tall, yet its roots run deep. Similarly, humility grounds leaders, reminding them of their humanity amidst their authority. It’s the humility that allows a leader to listen before they speak, to learn from mistakes, and to empathize.
This is the kind of leadership that Peter encouraged elders in the church to demonstrate. Godly leaders acknowledge their limitations, seek guidance, and serve with compassion. As you study this session, think about your role as a leader and ask God to reveal areas where you lack humility. Seek ways to nurture this important quality in your life. Think through some creative ways to encourage the adults in your Bible study to reflect humility and a firm dependence on God as they go through their lives each day.
Most people want to be seen and known. A football player does a little extra dance in the end zone. People post on social media fabulous pictures from their trips to fabulous places. It’s not wrong to want others to see and know us . . . unless what we want them to see or know is not really us. Some people think of humility as a low view of themselves. But humility is an honest view. People who are humble place themselves under the authority of God and recognize that without Him they are nothing. (PSG, p. 91)
Elders play a crucial role in showing the church how to navigate the Christian life in a world that can be pretty unfriendly-if not downright hostile-to believers. Judgment starts within the church itself (1 Pet. 4:17), so we need leaders like elders and pastors to set an example and guide the people toward a life of holiness.
When a church faces persecution, it can cause stress and anxiety in the congregation. That’s when pastors step up to the plate. They work to provide support and care for their weary flock, but they also encourage them to persevere through their suffering in a way that honors their faith.
Elders and pastors are like shepherds guiding sheep through treacherous terrain. They show them the way, protect them, and help them withstand trials. They walk alongside their congregation, offering comfort and strength while reminding them of the ultimate goal-a life of holiness and conformity to Christ.
In a hostile world, we need strong leaders who can demonstrate what it truly means to live as Christians, even in the face of opposition. Elders and pastors play a crucial role in this journey, offering guidance, support, and encouragement when the going gets tough.
This session highlights the role humility plays in the lives of both Christian leaders and laity. In the Old Testament, writers emphasized that God gave special blessings to the humble. The writer of Proverbs explained that arrogance brought disgrace, while humility brought wisdom (Prov. 11:2). He also wrote that honor followed humility (15:33). God mocks the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (3:34). The prophets taught that God would humble the proud (Isa. 2:11; Jer. 44:10). The hope for humanity was for people to humble themselves (Zeph. 2:3; 3:12).
In the New Testament, Jesus provided the ultimate example of humility (Matt. 11:29; 1 Cor. 4:21; Phil. 2:1-11). He urged those who followed Him to practice humility (Matt. 18:1; 23:12). Paul also encouraged Christians to live with humility (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12) and to associate with the humble rather than the proud (Rom. 12:16). James declared that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6). He added that if Christians humble themselves before the Lord, He will exalt them (4:10).
The biblical conceptions of humility flew in the face of Greek and Roman culture. Jesus flipped the ideas of greatness and servitude (Luke 9:48) in a way that countered Greco-Roman ideas of power. Peter encouraged the same humility as Jesus displayed when people oppressed Him. That humility would enable them to glorify God.
Read 1 Peter 5:1-11 and circle all the commands related to leaders. Double underline all the commands related to believers in general. Single underline the commands related to how believers respond to their enemy. (PSG. P. 92)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
(v. 1) Elders: The biblical evidence for the position of elder or pastor in a local congregation is legion. Luke, Paul, James, and Peter mention them in their writings to churches all over the Roman Empire. The term is always plural in the New Testament, which strongly suggests no church, small as they were, was shepherded by a single elder.
Elders play a particularly important role in modeling how to live as Christians in a society that is decidedly hostile toward Christians. Since purifying judgment begins with the members of the church (1 Pet. 4:17), leaders (elders, pastors) are needed to model and shepherd the people toward holiness (see 5:2-3). More than this, persecution leads to stress in a church, and pastors are needed to minister to their anxious and weary congregations. They also need to embrace the role of Peter and urge them to suffer for the right reasons instead of suffering for evil.
(v. 1) Witness to the sufferings: While the Gospels do not portray Peter as being at the cross, he did witness other aspects to Christ’s suffering. He saw the opposition rise against Jesus, witnessed the soldiers arrest Him in the garden, and was in the courtyard when the High Priest put Jesus on trial. He witnessed the suffering of Jesus, and then he entered into it as he began to preach the gospel for Him.
(v. 1) Shares in the glory: Peter understood the reality of suffering. He had seen what Christ endured, and he had endured his own share of persecution and opposition. But he also understood that this world is not all there is. While suffering would happen, glory would be the final result. For him, the key to dealing with suffering was to keep an eternal perspective. Understanding that Christ would return motivated obedience.
(v. 2) Shepherd God’s flock: Elders are shepherds (poimaino), and they are shepherds of a flock that does not belong to them. Followers of Jesus belong to God, and it is the gracious responsibility of elders to shepherd them according to the gospel.
In John 21, Jesus restored Peter after His disciples had denied Him three times. Each time, He made a reference to Peter’s role as a shepherd. Later, the apostle Paul challenged the leaders in Ephesus to embrace their responsibilities as shepherds called to protect God’s flock for predators. Read and reflect on the passages below. Ask God how you can care for the “sheep” who cross your paths each day:
(vv. 2-3) Overseeing . . . not lording . . . being examples: The desire to be an elder can be good (1 Tim. 3:1), but the attitude makes all the difference. Congregations need elders who shepherd not out of joyless obligation, but out of joy. The same logic applies to the temptation to take on the ministerial responsibilities for the potential financial benefits (v. 2). Authority is used in humility to serve, which leads to the Christlike within th flock. Servants of Jesus beget servants of Jesus when they are humble like Jesus.
(v. 4) Crown of glory: When the Lord returns, obedient under-shepherds will receive an unfading crown of glory. Peter likely contrasted such crowns with those bestowed on athletic or military champions. Such leafy, floral crowns represent much earthly glory, but they fade and wither. Not so the crown elders can receive.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.
(v. 5) Be subject to the elders: When Peter talked about those who were younger in the churches of Asia Minor, he was not necessarily talking about age. More likely, he was referring to spiritual maturity. Newer believers had a responsibility to place themselves under the teaching and authority of qualified elders. Peter urged every member of the churches to voluntarily and humbly subject themselves to the leaders God had placed in their midst. Just as churches need humble leaders, godly leaders need humble congregants. Ultimately, both leaders and laypeople will give an account to the same God.
(v. 5) Clothe yourselves with humility: Even on our best days, humility does not come naturally to the human race. And what’s true within the culture at large can be true within the church. That’s why Peter went to great lengths to emphasize how important it was that all of you demonstrate a humble spirit.
The Greek wording for clothe relates to putting on a garment, but it also carries a sense of making sure everything is secure and in place. It is the idea of tucking in anything that’s loose so it doesn’t get in the way of work or activity. For believers, humility is something we wear, something that we secure in our lives so we can be as effective as possible for the kingdom.
The Greek wording suggests pitting oneself against another. It could include a military connotation, which would imply going to war over a matter. At the very least, it suggests a rejection of a particular attitude or action. God is staunchly opposed to pride. In contrast, He provides grace and help for those who are humble.
(v. 6) Humble yourselves: Lest any reader miss the necessity of humility in any role, Peter doubled down on his instructions. Since God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (v. 5), it logically follows that humility is the only good and proper response toward Him. Believers should go where grace abounds, and that path requires humility.
As we nurture humility in our lives, God exalts us with an eternal reward (Himself), as opposed to us exalting ourselves and gaining nothing. The phrase mighty hand (krataian cheira) is a not-so-subtle reference to God’s acts of redemption related to the Exodus. God is not One to be trifled with. He is the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He led Israel out of captivity, and He is more than able to meet our needs. But we must maintain a spirit of humility so we can keep our relationship with Him in proper perspective.
(v. 6) At the proper time: God’s timing is always perfect. Peter did not pretend to know specifics about God’s deliverance or when He would move on behalf of His people. But He emphasized that it would be exactly right. Just as He sent His Son at the perfect moment (Gal. 4:4), He will exalt His children at the proper time.
(v. 7) Casting all your cares: One sign of a lack of humility is worry. Worry is a form of pride because it doubts God’s providential care and elevates one’s own understanding. The participle explains how we humble ourselves. We humble ourselves by casting off our cares to the Lord who reigns over them.
Believers never need to wonder if God will carry our cares and anxieties. Peter gave the perfect rationale for why we can trust Him: he cares about you. While God is so much greater than anything we can imagine, He still knows His people, and He knows our fears and pains. We can take great comfort in a God who knows us and cares for us.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. 10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.
(v. 8) Sober-minded . . . alert: Peter recognized that a real enemy was at work behind all the suffering and persecution. As a result, his closing exhortation to his readers was to maintain an attitude of spiritual readiness. The idea of being sober-minded related to nurturing a careful attitude. The warning to be alert emphasizes the importance of not allowing that attitude to falter.
The wording suggests a guard or a watchman who had the responsibility of identifying trouble before it started. Such an individual would stand at the gates of the city and look for signs of the enemy. Likewise, as Peter would note, Christians must be aware of their enemy’s work against the kingdom of God.
(v. 8) Your adversary: Typically, this would refer to an opponent. In Greek, it was often used to describe a person who was on the other side of a lawsuit, like a prosecuting attorney. Jesus used it in this sense when he talked about settling disputes quickly (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58). He also used it in a similar way in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8).
Only here in the New Testament does it describe Christians’ true adversary. To be sure, the devil is no ordinary foe. However, his power is limited by the Father. Still, believers are challenged to remain alert to his schemes. He is most dangerous when we are tempted to dismiss or diminish his influence.
(v. 8) Prowling around like a roaring lion: Peter called his readers to be alert in their attention to their holy lives because the devil consistently is prowling around like a lion looking for its next meal. Peter had already compared believers to sheep in a flock, so a stalking lion would have been an appropriate image for a predatory enemy.
The simile also illustrates the nature of the devil’s fear and intimidation tactics. One might go so far as to say that persecution is a roar and to leave the faith is to be devoured.
(v. 9) Resist him, firm in the faith: Resistance (antistete) is active engagement against a foe. One cannot passively resist the devil and hope to experience victory in the Christian life. The resistance Peter encouraged equated to a firmness in one’s faith. Belief that God and God alone saves and sustains us is the active resistance required to stay in that same faith. As we acknowledge the power of God in our lives, we can do a better job of identifying and rejecting the enemy’s attempts to disrupt our faith and witness.
(v. 9) Experienced by your fellow believers: No Christ follower lives on an island. Our lives are connected to other believers through the bond we share with Jesus. So, Peter’s readers could take comfort in the fact that they were not the only ones-or even the first ones-to take part in this spiritual warfare against Satan. The apostle made it clear that believers all over the known world were fighting the same battle. While Satan may try to leave us feeling isolated, our bond through Jesus remains powerful.
(vv. 10-11) The God of all grace: Peter wrapped up his first letter by reflecting on the same glorious theological truths with which he began: the grace and sovereignty of God. “Calling” is a reference to the means by which God effectively welcomes someone into a salvation relationship with Him. God is not passively waiting for believers to respond. He is effectively calling.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 99 of the Personal Study Guide:
Lead the group to frame these statements in the context of the church today. Describe what a church might look like to those living around it.
Guide the group to discuss the first set of questions on page 99 of the PSG. Encourage adults to take a moment to write an encouraging note or email to your pastor. Identify other ways you can support his ministry as a Bible study group.
Invite the group to share in a time of individual prayers for your pastor and church. Close the time by thanking God for His promises and guidance through Peter in facing the challenges of Christians
under persecution.
-->Wrap up the study of 1 Peter by sending the group an email or text encouraging them to spend time this week reviewing the sessions and noting significant truths that have brought meaning and support to their faith. Thank adults for their participation and share with them the launch of 2 Peter, where Peter emphasized more insights for practical Christian living.
Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. (See Romans 8:28-39; 2 Timothy 1:12.)
Use multiple Scripture passages to understand a major doctrine.
The Bible holds in perfect tension two things that seem contrary: God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. The letters of Peter are no exception. This is particularly true with regard to salvation. We are called by God and effectually held by Him, but we are simultaneously urged to choose and maintain faith. Read the following Bible passages and take note of what they teach about these theological truths: Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; John 1:12-14; 3:16; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7; and Ephesians 1:4-23.