1Peter 5:1-5 - Servant leadershipElders – presbytous – prester – pastor (shepherds – oversee the flock)1. Shepherd the flock –poimino also means “feed” Feed the flockIt happened to peter - “peter do you love me? Feed my sheep?” John 21:15-17Shepherd’s feed (feed them lead them to green pastures)2. Calling – “Exercising oversight not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;The difference between having to and wanting to. (can’t get out of it,)It is a calling instead of a chore, a privileged that God assigned you to serve“not for shameful gain, but eagerly.” Eagerly - with “alacrity”- cheerful readinessBecause you are genuinely concerned for their well-beingH. B. London's book, Pastors at Greater Risk.1. Discouragement 50% of pastors report feeling so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could.2. Failure – 70% of pastors say they have a lower self-image now than when they started. ( for every 4,000 new churches that begin - 7,000 churches close.)3. Loneliness – 70% of pastors do not have someone they consider a close friend. (wives)4. Moral Failure – 33% of pastors confess having involved in inappropriate sexual behavior.5. Financial Pressure – 70% of pastors feel grossly underpaid.6. Anger – see above- under constant criticism80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.80% believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively94% feel under pressure to have a perfect family.7. Burnout - 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.90% work more than 50 hours a week.8. Physical Health – 75% of pastors report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry. 1,500 pastors leave their ministries each month due to burnout, conflict, or moral failure.9. Marriage/Family Problems – 80% of pastors believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families.10. Too Busy/Driven – 90% of pastors feel they are inadequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.4. Lead don't lord – “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”Matthew 20:25 – “But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave – 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Be Examples: John 13 - Jesus last supper towel, don’t wash my feet5. Reward - stephanos doxa - crown of glory – Chief Shepherd6. Humility - Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of yo

Isaac IdentityIsaac is the child of Promise1. A life birthed through faith Abraham – “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nation … fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ” Rom. 4:18 & 21Sarah – “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” Heb.11:112. God named Isaac (Laughter)The incongruity theory – “laughter often emerges out of the tension between what we expect—and what actually happens.”Abraham - Gen17:17 –“Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”Sarah - Gen 18:12 – “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13 The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh … But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Gen 21:6 – “And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”God - Gen 17:19 – “… and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.”3. An identity in joy It is laughable that God would save us.4. The Sacrifice of Joy John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”Rejoiced – agalliao – exceeding joy, to leap for joy Glad – a satisfied contentmentWe follow Isaac to the altar to lay our lives down at the presence of God’s sacrifice Our faith walk is filled with trials and laughter with God.

Persecution Sunday1 Peter 4:12-19 More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all other centuries combined[christianity.com] Christians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide. (75% of all persecuted) Currently over 100 million Christians are being persecuted worldwide [Reuters, 2013] An average of at least 180 Christians around the world are killed each month for theirfaith. (Source: Open Doors USA) It is claimed that 105,000 Christians are martyred for their faith each year [DeseretNews, 2011] Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments orsurrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Christ. (Source: U.S. Departmentof State) In 41 of the 50 worst nations for persecution, Christians are being persecuted by Islamicextremists. (Source: Open Doors)Persecution Normal - TEXT1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you totest you, as though something strange were happening to you.”Something strange – astonished & shockedFiery trial – burning – pirosis (burned on the cross) fiery furnaceWhat is strange is to not be persecutedIf we oppose sin & slander, murder and cruelty, and we speak out against it and defend theweak; we call out the sins of this land and lay our lives down for others – shouldn’t we bepersecuted? OR DO WE.John 15:20 – “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than hismaster.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they willalso keep yours.2 Timothy 3:12 - “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”Why Persecution1. It is an assurance that our faith is effective witness.Matt 5:11-12-“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter allkinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your rewardis great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.2. The privilege to be united with Christs suffering – koinania – shareCol. 1:24 – “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling upwhat is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,”3. Rejoice - But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoiceand be glad when his glory is revealed. (combined identity in Christ)Phil 3:10 –“ That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”4. It ignites the faith of othersPhil 1:12-14- I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has reallyserved to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the wholeimperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most ofthe brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are muchmore bold to speak the word without fear.5. The Spirit meets you - "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you areblessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." (4:14)6. Faith tried & purified - :19 – “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's willentrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”Can God use you as kindling for the fire of His testimony?Hebrews 13:3 – “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who aremistreated, since you also are in the body.

Abraham IdentityPromise of AbrahamGen.12:3b – “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”(Gen. 18:18, 22:18)Gen.17:4 – ““Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude ofnations.”Gen.17:7 – “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed (offspring)after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and toyour Seed (offspring) after you.By FaithRom.4:21 – “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. That iswhy his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”23 But the words “it was counted tohim” were not written for his sake alone,24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us whobelieve in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,25 who was delivered up for ourtrespasses and raised for our justification.”Promised Seed - JesusGal. 3:16 – “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say"and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who isChrist.” NIVRom.4 :16 – “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on graceand be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to theone who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,”The Promised Blessing from the SeedGal.3:14 – “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, sothat we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”Eph.1:13 – “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,Adoption & InheritanceRom. 8:16-17- The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children ofGod,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…Heb 11:9-10 - “By faith he (Abraham) went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreignland, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.10 For he waslooking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”Rev 21:7 – “The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he willbe My son.” BSBHeb 4:13 – “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of theworld did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”

Team JesusTEXT – 3:8- 4:111 Peter 4: 7 – “The end of all things is at hand”1. Huddle together 1 Peter 3:8- “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” ESV1. Unity of mind - Jesus the object of our unity2. Sympathy – (sympaths) understanding each other’s pain3. Brotherly love (Philadelphos) We are a team4. Compassion - tender heart5. Friendly & Kind – courteous(esteem others)2. A Ready Defense 1 Peter 3:14-15 – “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” apologia3. Listen to your Coach1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”Examples: Jesus suffering – died rose again – victory lap - days of Noah (A Baptism ofrighteousness not debauchery)1 Peter 4:1-2 – “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,[a] arm yourselves with the same way ofthinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of thetime in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.4. Be a Team PlayerI Peter 4:7 – “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sobermindedfor the sake of your prayers.”A. Love Covers – 4:8 – “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers amultitude of sins.”1. Keep- Perpetual effort2. Earnestly – a fully stretched muscle3. Love – agape4. Covers – calypso5. Multitude of sin Our jersey covers us – cover your teamB. Show hospitality – (4:9) “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”True hospitality is sacrificial, uncomfortable, and does not seek to impress others. Be generous to guests without complaining (concession stands) represent!C. Play your position - Use your gifts4:10-11 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God'svaried grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as onewho serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorifiedthrough Jesus Christ.”

Joseph IdentityDestiny as RulersRev. 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such thesecond death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reignwith him for a thousand years.”Rev. 5:10 – “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reignon the earth.”1 Cor. 6:2-3 – “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to bejudged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judgeangels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!”Sovereign PlanGen 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it aboutthat many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”Rom. 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together forgood, for those who are called according to his purpose.Joseph’s trainingThe Favored childGen. 33:2 – “And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children,and Rachel and Joseph last of all.”Gen 37:3-4 - “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the sonof his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.4But when his brothers saw that theirfather loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully tohim.”The Vision - Gen 37:5The Betrayal – the well, slavery, prison then favorThe OutcomeGen 45:7-8 – “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and tokeep alive for you many survivors.8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He hasmade me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.1. Lord of the House – “Chief Steward of the King." (From Potiphar's to Pharaohs’ steward)2. Father to Pharaoh Chief and honored advisor (Interpreting dreams) growing gifting3. Ruler of the landFrom dreams to realityKeeping perspective - Giving up on GodMany live to maintain their lives while others learn to reign in life Reigning over finances Ruling over Relationships Ruling over circumstances The power of redemption & resurrection

1 Peter 3- MarriageIntro - 1 Peter 2:13 – “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,”Governing Authority is a human institution – Slavery is a distortion of God’s office of authority, (change the authority structure within the hearts of men by becoming a slave to Christ)Marriage – foundational human institutionThe uniqueness of men & women- designed to be differentAnd God said it was very good- Gen 1:31 – we are not the same, opposite but complimentsWives – “holy women who hoped in God”1. Submission - “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, An act of free will, if you serve to get something back – that’s a jobIf you are forced against your will – that’s slavery. Submission is a loving response Submission is not weakness but in fact strength – to join together and fit well2. Respect – Jewelry (adornment)“They may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct”1. Be kind and support him.2. Build him up rather than tear him down.3. Praise him.4. Invest in him5. Put more effort into your role as a wife, than your role as a mom6. Speak loving, encouraging, and uplifting words into his life.3. Courage - “do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”(Sarah & Abraham) Go where he wants to lead, Don’t be sacred or skiddish,be courageous together in faith.Husbands1. Understand - Live with your wives in an understanding way, (learn her needs & thoughts)1. Fine – she knows she’s right and you need to shut up2. Nothing – there’s something there you need to be worried about3. Go ahead – this is a dare not permission4. Whatever - that means she’s not happy with the situation5. That’s oaky – she is figuring out how to make you pay for your mistake2. Honor - Showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, Since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, Set her above – all things Honor her in choices, decisions, words, deeds Honor her gifts, abilities, intelligence3. Share – She is co-heir with you in ChristShare your life your thoughts, your plans, your joys and sorrowsConclusion: So that your prayers may not be hindered. No prayer is like no oxygen

Jacob IdentityDestinyHosea 12:2-5 – “The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. 4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there—5 the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!1. Identity with ManGenesis 25:23 – “And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.””:26…”Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob.”Jacob – "holder of the heel“ or "supplanter” which means to trip up or overthrow2. Identity with GodMessengers: Mahanaim (God’s Camp) double campGod’s - Genesis 32:1-2 – Angels meet Jacob – God’s Camp ConfidenceJacob’s – 32:3-8 – Fear and calling on the promises of GodFear of Esau- Jacobs prayerGeorge Mueller- was once asked what was the most important part of prayer. He replied: “The 15 minutes after I’ve said, ‘Amen.’”Schemes of JacobHe put out five waves of deflection:1.two hundred female goats & twenty male goats,2.two hundred ewes & twenty rams,3.thirty milk camels with their colts,4.forty cows and ten bulls,5.twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Even his wives & childrenWrestling with GodEven when God crippled Jacob he held on for a blessing- tenacityNew Identity“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” “Israel” = sarah (meaning struggle or rule) and el (God). “He who struggles or rules with God “Jesus wrestled for you and gives you His name.Wrestling for your identity in God

Suffering ServantsTEXT: 1 Peter 2:18 - “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the goodand gentle but also to the unjust.”Slaves with unjust masters are the worst case scenario of submission for the Christian.Peter and Paul were not writing as a treatise on slavery.They were writing for Christian behavior with Christ as our example (Jesus is the suffering servant)Slavery in Jesus day – William Barclay“It has been computed that in the Roman Empire there were 60 million slaves. In Paul’s therewas a terrible idleness among the citizens of Rome. It was beneath the dignity of a Roman citizento work. Practically all work was done by slaves, even doctors and teachers, even the closestfriends of the Emperors, their secretaries who dealt with letters and appeals and finance, wereslaves.” Therefore a lot of slaves in ChurchRoman slaveryGaius, the Roman lawyer, in the Institutes says: ‘We may note that it is universally accepted thatthe master possesses the power of life and death over the slave.’A Roman writer says: ‘Whatever a master does to a slave, undeservedly, in anger, willingly,unwillingly, in forgetfulness, after careful thought, knowingly, unknowingly, is judgment, justiceand law.’”Hebrew slavery- OT law Slavery was not prohibited by the Law. The Israelites and even the priests were allowedto possess slaves from the other nations. ((Lev. 22:11, 25:44, 46) Even an Israelite could sell one of his family into slavery, or even himself if forced to bypoverty (Exodus 21:7; Lev. 25:35-42). By law, a Hebrew slave was to be treated even better than the slaves taken from theheathen ( Lev. 25:35-42, 46). Slaves were given Sabbath rest (see Exodus 11:5; 12:44; 23:12; 25:6). A master was to be punished for cruelty or injury to his slave (Exodus 21:20; 21:26-27). According to Job31:13 a slave could even file a grievance against his master Runaway slaves were not to be returned, but were to be given sanctuary (Deut. 23:15).Christianity & Slavery (Eph.6:5-9, 1 Cor.)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male norfemale; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).The slave is the Lord’s free man and the master is the Lord’s slave. 1 Cor.7:22Slave and master are now called brothers in the Lord and this transformed slavery from theinside - at the heart.“Paul (Peter and) may well have accepted the institution of slavery because it was almostimpossible to imagine society without it. If Christianity had in fact given the slaves anyencouragement to revolt or leave their masters, nothing but tragedy could have followed. Anysuch revolt would have been savagely been crushed: slaves who took their freedom would havebeen mercilessly punished; and Christianity would itself have been branded as revolutionary andsubversive. Given the Christian faith, liberation would come – but the time was not ripe; and tohave encouraged slaves for it and to seize it would have done infinitely more harm than good.There are some things which cannot be achieved suddenly and for which the world must waituntil the leaven works.” - William Barclay William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, [revised edition], 1976), pp. 179-180.Jesus the suffering servant :21-25Skirting the issue the word “slave” appears in the NT 130 times in the original text.There are plenty of words for servant, there’s only one word for slave, doulosYet in the history of the evangelical translation of the Greek into the English, all the translatorsconsistently have avoided the use of the word.You do have a personal relationship to Jesus Christ, you are His slave.Example:Matthew 6:24 - Jesus said this, “No man can be a slave to two masters.” (servant)Matt.25:21 – “‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[slave- doulos] You have been faithfulover a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’Mark 10.44- 45 - “… whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; andwhoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did notcome to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”Rev. 22:3 – “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of theLamb will be in it, and his slaves (servants) will worship him. 4 They will see his face, andhis name will be on their foreheads.” [ branded]We call Him master and Lord but do not recognize the implications Paul a slave (servant ) of Jesus Christ James, a slave (servant) of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jude, a slave (servant) of Jesus Christ and brother of James Simeon Peter, a slave (servant) and apostle of Jesus Christ, Jesus – 1 Peter 2:21 – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered foryou, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”Five Things about slavery1. exclusive ownership (1 Cor. 6:20)2. constant availability and obedience3. subject to one alien will (not my will but thine, no man can be slave to two master)4. complete dependence (apart from you I can do nothing)Col.3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing thatfrom the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”“It is the Lord Christ to whom you are enslaved.”The Key: We serve a Good Master