A Shepherd’s Heart

BEING FORGED: THE RECIPE FOR THE CHURCH

A RECIPE CONTAINS:
• the name of the dish
• a list of ingredients with the exact quantity (degree) of each ingredient
• a description of how the dish should be prepared and completed, this is known as the method.
• a statement as to the number of portions or servings the recipe produces, which is known as the yield.

Apart from the minimum information mentioned earlier, standard recipes often include information on:

• the cost of all the ingredients
• the total cost of the dish when prepared
• a photo (picture) of the finished dish with garnish
If you have the wrong ingredients you will not get the right results.

If you have the right ingredients and the wrong method you will not get the right results. If you have the right ingredients and the right method you will get the right results.

GOD’S RECIPE FOR THE CHURCH:

THE NAME: “Ekklesia” = “The called out ones” - set apart ones - holy ones (1 Peter 2:9)

1 Peter 5:1-11 (NIV) - To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them— not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

THE INGREDIENTS: Structure & Function: Jesus, Elders and Pastors
• Jesus is the head (leader) of the Church (Colossians 1:18)
• Jesus and appointed leadership through the apostles: Elders & Pastors (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5)
• Elders are to be appointed over every gathering of believers (church). The “office” of Elders is an essential, structural ingredient according to the recipe of God’s church.
• Elders are to be shepherds, overseers and servants of God’s people. This is the role and purpose of the ingredient.
• Elders are to execute the role (how it’s to be done - the method) by:
o being a shepherd who is responsible to take care of God’s flock
o watching over them by choice not obligation
o not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording over, but being and example
• We who are younger (in age and maturity) are to submit to the authority and leadership of our Elders

THE COST OF THE INGREDIENTS: THE COST OF LEADING AND FOLLOWING
• Humble yourselves under God and before others - submit to one another out of reverence for Christ
• Cast your anxieties on God - prayer, petition, perseverance
• Be alert and sober minded, resist the devil and stand firm in THE FAITH
o Know and Live out the truth: The recipe! The ingredients, the method, and the cost.
• The total cost will be the surrender of your life. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:25)

Luke 14:26-30 (NIV) - “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

THE PICTURE OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT
• We will suffer but it will be for a while, not eternal
• God’s grace will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast
• The gates of Hell will not prevail!
- If you have the wrong ingredients you will not get the right results
- If you have the right ingredients and the wrong method you will not get the right results
- If you have the right ingredients and the right method you will get the right results.
- You cannot divorce the message of Jesus with the methods of Jesus and get the results of Jesus.

CONCLUSION:
• God has a recipe for His church
• In order to get the results of God’s recipe, both the ingredients and the method matter.
• The ingredients of the recipe include structure and function: Jesus is the head, Elders oversee, direct, pastors and people execute ministry. (Acts 14:23, Ephesians 4:12, Matthew 28:19-20)
• The method is living a life that is growing in Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity being on mission to reach the lost and make disciples who make disciples.
• The cost is a surrendered and submitted life, one that perseveres and is a living sacrifice for Jesus.
• The results are a glorified God, changed lives who change lives and a church - a people - who look and
live like Jesus that the gates of Hell will not prevail against!

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: 1 Peter5
Icebreaker: What is your favorite thing or memory about being a part of a church body?
Sermon Reflection - What challenged you from the sermon?
Questions:
1. Read 1 Peter 5:1-4. What can you discover from this passage about Christian leadership and responsibility?
2. Where and with whom have you been given the responsibility and privilege to ‘care for a flock’? (Flocks don’t look the same, but we have people we are in relationship with, responsible to and for.) What are qualities of a good shepherd?
3. Read 1 Peter 5:5. How would you describe your responsiveness to the authority God has placed in the church? How can you grow in this relationship?
4. What things are you consciously doing to grow in being humble towards others you are in relationship with?
5. Read 1 Peter 5:6-11. There are several directive statements in these passages; which statements stand out to you? Share what causes it to stand out to you.
6. God gives leadership in the church and gives us one another to stand firm as his people - royal priests, a holy nation - showing God’s goodness to others around us, living his way even in the midst of suffering. This is a quick summary of 1 Peter. What have you gleaned from this series? How will that impact your thinking and choices even this summer? What is one thing you want to meditate on and apply to your life from 1 Peter?
Next week: We begin a new series - Delivered! This is a series through the book of Exodus.
Passages for next week: Exodus 1-3
_{Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Holy Bible: The Amplified Bible. Copyright 1987, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.}

Recipe information taken from - www.tafensw.au