The text for Pastor John's sermon this morning is found in 1 Peter, Chapter Vib,

1 through 4. Therefore, I exhort the elders among you as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

shepherd the flock of God among you. Exercising oversight not under, but voluntarily, according to the will of God,

and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness.

Nor yet is Lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Probably the issue that the elders have spent more time on in recent years than any other issue is the issue of how to provide pastoral care for about 1100 people scattered all over the Twin Cities.

You notice in verse 4 here,

it says that the Chief Shepherd is going to come one of these days, perhaps very soon.

And when he comes, there's going to be a reckoning with his under-shepherds or reward or not.

And so there's a sobriety and an earnestness that comes over this whole issue

when you see it in the light of eternity. We've been convicted in recent years, especially

by texts like Hebrews 1317 your leaders keep watch over your souls as those

who will have to give an account in text like acts 28.

Be on your guard and for yourself and for all the flock,

among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood.

And you can hear the kind of seriousness that is in Paul's voice when he says that to the elders at Epits, they are overseeing and caring for the church

which he bought with his own blood.

You don't play games here.

You're not cavalier about this.

You're not breezy. You will be called to account. The great Shepherd will come. How did you handle and work for and shepherd and serve those whom he bought with his own blood.

Now over the years, it's been four or five,

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