How God Structured The Church

Read the Text: 1 Peter 5

Memorize the Text:  

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

(1 Peter 6:6-7, CSB)

Consider the Text: 1 Peter 5:1-5

As a believer, we live with a hope that is not wishful thinking but a hope based on the certainty of Christ. We do not journey through life with hopelessness because we must allow Christ to consume us and live in the hope of him alone. To promote living in hope, the Lord joined us with other believers in a covenant relationship that flows from our covenant relationship with Jesus. The Lord provided the structure for the body of Christ to aid the church in functioning and operating in unity. Peter addressed this structure in his first letter and challenged believers to live out this structure.

CHRIST THE SHEPHERD

Christ is the Great Shepherd who cares for, leads, and engages the sheep (the church). As the Great Shepherd, Christ exists as the Giver of Direction. Like the brain working as the central hub in the body that gives direction, Christ is the head of the church, providing the direction for the church to thrive, function, and live. Thus, as believers and churches, we must seek the Lord's direction and find our purpose in life in Christ.

Christ also serves as the Giver of Life to the body. The apostle Paul stated that Christ serves as the knitter and enabler of the body in Colossians 2. As the Great Shepherd, Christ brings the body together and allows believers to carry out the strategic task within the gathering. These abilities used by the believer come from the Lord and happen in the power and strength of the Lord. Thus, as believers and churches, we must identify Christ as who united us and equipped us for the task ahead.

Christ provides the needed bonding agent to keep the church unified. The apostle Paul noted that Christ holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). Thus, the church finds direction, vision, purpose, and unity in the Lord. When Christ brings the church together, then the church must rest in the Lord for unity. Today, believers allow many temporary measures to become dividing agents. The truth comes that believers must rest in Christ and find the bond of the body in him.  

PASTORS, THE UNDERSHEPHERD

Peter built upon the foundation set forth by the apostle Paul concerning the structure of the church by identifying pastors as the undershepherds. As the undershepherd, the pastor is responsible for representing Christ in the local setting and serving as the ambassador representing Christ. Thus, the pastor's leadership does not come from the individual but must come from the Lord. As an ambassador, the pastor's leading occurs only from the direction of the Lord. Believers today must recognize that pastors serve as an ambassador representing the marching orders that come from the Lord.

The pastor must display spiritual maturity. Peter used the word elder to speak of this position. The term does not reflect a numerical age but represents a deep spiritual maturity. Maturity is needed because the leader must reflect a life of maturity that only comes from a relationship with Christ. Thus, one called to pastoral ministry must display a level of spiritual maturity to carry out the task of the Lord. 

The pastor must carry out the task of feeding, protecting, and leading the flock. The role of the pastor mirrors that of a shepherd watching over a flock of sheep. The feed of the sheep happens when the elder is preaching and teaching. This provides the food of truth needed to equip the saints for the work of ministry. At the same time, the pastor protects the flock by a guard the flock against false doctrine, mistruths, and influences of this world. As a result, the elders exercise oversight of the flock to lead them toward obedience in following Christ.

DEACONS, THE SERVANTS

The Lord knew that leaders could not accomplish the task of ministry alone. Therefore, the Lord brought helpers alongside the leaders throughout the Bible to carry out the church's tasks. In the New Testament, these helpers became identified as deacons. The function of deacons did not rest in decision-making; instead, their role exists as servant leaders within the body of Christ. Deacons were selected to meet the needs of the local body. For example, in Acts 6, they were put together to wait on the table so that the elders would be freed to carry out the work of preaching, praying, leading, and reaching.

Deacons exist to support unity in the body by dealing with the issues that may cause division. They come alongside the elders and provide the needed support to move the congregation forward in following the Lord. As a result, they support the work of the Kingdom of God. The deacons model the servant heart of Jesus and mirror his genuine care in their engagement and work in the local body. The role of deacons differs from the role of elders, but the two together form a mighty ministry for the Lord.  

MEMBERS, THE FLOCK

The apostle Peter noted that the church's structure includes the flock members. Therefore, the members receive the command to play an important role. The apostle Paul noted that everyone must use their giftedness for ministry and that the leaders must equip the flock for ministry. Peter then called believers to follow the leading of those placed in leadership by the Lord. When the body follows their leader, they demonstrate honor to the Lord for his developed structure, defer to the leading of the Lord through his plan, and respect the Lord's leading through his work in the appointed leaders.

Today, the church honors the Lord through exact obedience. We must approach this task of obedience in humility in leadership and as those following. Everything exists because of the Lord, and in humility, we must come to the Lord's structure and plan to carry out his will. When the flock follows the Lord through his structure, the result is advantageous because it brings him glory and provides us with purpose. What role are you playing in the local body?

This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.