Category: Digging Deeper

“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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

1 Peter 5:2-3 (CSB)

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CHRIST’S GRACE SHAPED PETER’S LEADERSHIP

 

Peter doesn’t mince words when he speaks to leaders within the church. He calls them to shepherd but clarifies that they should do so willingly and set an example for those they lead. But why would he place so much emphasis on the way they shepherd?

 

Perhaps his own failures lurked as a not-too-distant memory. He was the disciple who walked on water with Jesus, yet all too quickly rushed to defend Jesus in the garden. In John 6, when some of His disciples found it hard to follow and accept His teachings, Jesus asked the remaining disciples if they wanted to go away too. And Peter replies so authentically, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Later, he would deny three times even knowing Jesus.

 

However, I believe Jesus’ words and example had a far more lasting impact on his ministry than any of his failures. During the Last Supper, Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

 

Jesus isn’t simply telling Peter of a specific sin he will commit but ultimately speaking of a life of suffering to come for the sake of Jesus’ call on his life. In his kindness, Jesus adds his prayer that his faith would not fail so that he might strengthen his brothers. 

 

Fallible as he was, Peter was a pivotal leader in building the church. In Matthew 16, Jesus told him, “On this rock, I will build my church.” Peter made mistakes, but God’s plans and purposes prevailed, and even the powers of hell could not overcome them. And Peter is now imploring fellow leaders to understand and walk out the high calling of leading God’s chosen people.  

 

This is convicting in a time when churchgoers often take the posture of consumers, looking to pastors and leaders to perform, entertain, and lead perfect lives without sin or struggle. Yet Peter’s life shows us that pastors and leaders within the church can deeply love the Lord, be eager to serve, and still show their humanity. 

 

Paul encourages church leaders in Titus 1 to “Hold to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able to both encourage with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.” As our campus transitions through the Whatever It Takes campaign, it will be easy to focus on minor inconveniences. Yet we have this glorious opportunity to model Jesus by praying for our church leaders that their faith would not fail, that their work might strengthen the members, and that they might hold fast to God’s word. That’s doing whatever it takes. That’s the foundation God uses to build eternity in the hearts of those who still need Jesus.

 

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Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

 

So, if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

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THE THICK OF IT

 

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Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

 

Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

1 Peter 4:13 (NLT)

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SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN OUR SUFFERING

 

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Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

 

Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

1 Peter 4:13 (NLT)

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WHEN WILL MY SUFFERING END?

 

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Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

 

Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

1 Peter 4:13 (NLT)

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FINDING JOY AMID SUFFERING

 

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Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

 

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

1 Peter 4:12 (NLT)

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WHY ME?

 

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Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way. 

 

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

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FOR GOD

Peter concludes this section of his letter by urging believers to serve one another. The problem we all battle is that we are all fundamentally bent toward seeking our glory. Notice how Peter says the focus should be on God and not ourselves. He reminds us that God is the gift giver, and we are the stewards of those gifts. When we speak and teach, we are not giving our ideas and opinions but rather the word of God. When we serve, we don’t do it in the flesh but with the strength that God supplies. We do these things “in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” The point is clear. There is no room in the body of Christ for selfish servants who seek their own glory. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:16 that we were created “for Him.” We are made for God. God designed us for His purposes. Why were all things created for Jesus? As one theologian explained, “Did he need another waterfall, an extra million stars, or a thundering herd of buffalo storming across an empty continent? No, the purpose of Creation is to point to Jesus. All of it, in its created glory, is a testimony to the power, the wonder, and the incredible beauty of our Savior.” Pastor and Theologian John Piper said, “Our salvation is for God’s sake. He created us to display his glory.” First Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) says: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

During the 1920s, a running back for Notre Dame kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of his highlights and achievements on the football field. He was particularly obnoxious about how great a football player he was and his ability to get free and score. One Monday morning, after a particularly good game, he bragged about how great he was. During the first play of practice, the team lined up to run a play. When the ball was snapped, the offensive line, which typically blocked for him, stood aside and let the defense in. The defense buried him for a loss. His blockers on the offensive line shouted, “They can’t do that! Show them your newspaper clippings!” That self-centered player may be why Notre Dame football players don’t have names on the back of their jerseys to this day. The idea is that no player plays for himself but rather for the good and success of the team. It’s not about the player’s name on the back of the jersey but the team’s name on the front.

In the same way, God did not create us to lead self-centered lives that are all about us. That is not why He created us. He created us to make much of His name and to fulfill His purposes. Ask God to help you make your life more about Him and others than yourself.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

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LOVE COVERS

Peter promotes love as the primary trait we should display in our relationships with other believers. The reason, Peter explains, is that love covers a multitude of sins. This does not mean that love ignores, overlooks, or tries to hide sin. Instead, Peter probably was thinking back to his words in 4:1–2 that believers should live the rest of their lives according to God’s will and not human desires. As believers, they were “finished with sin.” The “covering of sins” is the believer’s ability to forgive one another because Christ has forgiven them. Remember Peter’s conversation with the Lord: “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22, CSB).

In the early days of television, there was a sitcom in which two characters discussed an acquaintance who had the annoying habit of slapping his friends across the chest whenever they met. “I’ve got a solution,” said one character to the other. “I put a stick of dynamite in my vest pocket, and the next time he slaps me, he is going to get his hand blown off.” He hadn’t bothered to think the dynamite would hurt him more than his friend.

Pastor and author David Jeremiah says, “An unforgiving spirit is like that. The Bible tells us to beware of the root of bitterness that can spring up and defile many. Jesus told us to be quick and frequent forgivers. His phrase ‘seventy times seven’ wasn’t intended to give us a literal count, but to convey an ongoing attitude.” Whenever someone hurts us, we can either hold on to the grudge or process it on our knees, releasing the bitterness and leaving the matter in God’s hands. In other words, don’t walk around with dynamite in your pocket. Are you withholding forgiveness from someone who has hurt you in some way? How do you speak about this person? Spend a few moments thinking about the benefits of forgiving someone and how that outweighs holding a grudge against someone. Praise God for being a God who forgives. Thank Him for forgiving you of all your sins – past, present, and future – through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV)

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STAY READY

These early Christians who faced persecution took great comfort in the fact that their suffering would one day end and that the evil ways of the wicked would be judged. Peter, like the other apostles, was always aware that Christ could return at any moment (see Romans 13:11–12; 1 Corinthians 7:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:3; 1 John 2:18). Likewise, as believers, we need to be mindful that “the end of all things is near,” for Christ can come at any time. To be ready, Peter tells us to think clearly and restrain ourselves from sin as we lean on the Lord in prayer.

Pastor Rick Ezell writes: “George Tulloch led an expedition to the spot where the Titanic sank in 1912. He and his crew recovered numerous artifacts. Before leaving the site, Tulloch’s team set out to raise a 20-ton piece of iron. They successfully lifted it to the surface, but a storm blew in, the ropes broke, and the Atlantic reclaimed her treasure. Tulloch was forced to retreat and regroup. Before he left, he did something curious. He descended into the deep and, with the robotic arm of his submarine, attached a strip of metal to a section of the hull. On the metal, he’d written these words, ‘I will come back, George Tulloch.’”

Jesus uttered the exact words to His disciples: “I will come back.” Jesus made a promise He intends to keep. We just don’t know when He will come for us. In C.S. Lewis’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a conversation between Lucy and Aslan, the lion who is the Christ figure in the story, unfolds: “Do not look so sad. We shall meet soon again.” “Please, Aslan,” said Lucy, “What do you call soon?” “I call all times soon,” said Aslan; and instantly he was vanished away. James tells us that until we meet Jesus, we should strengthen our hearts and patiently endure, knowing it will all be worth it. Are you ready for His coming?

If today was your last day on earth, what undone “business” would you take care of? What is keeping you from acting on these things today? How does the assurance of Jesus’ return help you endure difficult times? Praise God for being a promise-keeping God. Thank Him for the hope and promise of Jesus’ second coming. 

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Peter 4:4-5 (ESV)

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PEER PRESSURE

 

When you begin to follow Jesus, you won’t desire the same worldly lifestyle that you used to enjoy. Your unbelieving friends may be surprised that you no longer want to do the same things or visit the usual places. Peter reminds us that these friends will not only be shocked at our changing desires and behavior, but they will malign us. They may take your avoidance as an insult. The word for “malign” in the Greek language means to “heap abuse on” or “slander.” Peter doesn’t want us to feel the pressure to garner their acceptance, so he reminds us that they will have to give account to God for their carnal lifestyle and choices one day.

How else can we stand against the pressure to conform? The principle in the following verse is critical to our pursuit of godliness. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (ESV) says, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” There is power in numbers! We need positive peer pressure from other believers to encourage us to stay strong and fight well. Christianity is not a solo sport. It’s a team effort. You need other believers’ gifts, strength, and encouragement to keep you strong. And others need you. Who are your running partners? Who will be with you when the going gets tough?

When you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing that science has discovered why they fly that way. Research has revealed that as each bird flaps its wings, it uplifts the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew independently.  Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the “V,” and another goose flies the point. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Even geese have learned the power of community! Ask the Lord to give encouraging friends who make you want to stay true to the Lord.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.