This text is about how to be elder shepherds in a suffering church.

And the reason I say that is because I'm thinking back three weeks to the text just before this one.

We had Mission's Week in between.

So go back with me into the previous paragraph three weeks ago and remember verse 12

Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you to test you as though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing.

So here's a church that is moving into an ordeal.

They're in it already in part. We know that from chapter one because it talks about how to handle the present sufferings and they're moving into something worse evidently.

And not only are they moving into suffering from men, but Peter tells them in verse 17 of chapter 4 that it is a judgment from God on the world which starts at the house of God.

Verse 17, for it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God,

and if it begins with us first,

what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?

Now on the basis of that, here comes the ordeal, here comes the fiery ordeal, and it is God purifying his body before he punishes the world.

Therefore, verse 1, I speak, I exhort the elders among you.

This is Elder 101 for the Suffering Church. This is how to lead a suffering Church, how to shepherd a suffering church. Now keep that in mind because that's going to give you a special slant in a minute on how to read

verses 2 through 4 of chapter 5. But first let's just make three simple observations.

These are real important, and yet very, very easy to make observations.

Number one, there were elders in the churches.

There were elders in the churches.

Now that's significant to whom was this letter written?

Chapter 1, verse 1, Pontus, Galatia, Capidosia, Asia,

Bethinia.

Five big Roman provinces, how many churches?

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