Peter's Principles Part 1

It may surprise some of you to see me identifying leadership principles from an apostle not named Paul. But, the same inspiration was behind both men.

This is the first of several posts I will be making based on 1 Peter 5: 1-7. I encourage y'all to read and meditate on that passage. I will be unpacking this passage over the next several posts.

"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 compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."

A couple of summers ago we had an opportunity to visit Scotland with some of our friends, Tom and Donna. I'll put a plug in for their fantastic place that is 6 miles from St. Andrews. It is called Craigsanquhar House, and if you ever have a chance to go, it is a great place to stay.


One of the most interesting experiences we had on the trip came one day when we were returning to the manor house on a winding, one lane road. We turned a corner and almost ran into the small truck parked in the middle of the road. A few yards behind the truck, the road way was filled with sheep. Hundreds of sheep. They were moving the sheep from one pasture to another. Two people were running ahead of the herd closing gates so the sheep wouldn’t stray into the wrong area.

We sat there waiting for about twenty minutes waiting for the process to be completed. As we did so, we were totally surrounded by sheep. Every we looked, in every direction, there were sheep! We were 20-30 deep in sheep in all directions.

We were among the sheep! Up close and personal with hundreds of sheep.

So when Peter says that we are to shepherd the flock among us, this is the image I have.

We need to be among those we lead – up close, personal.

One other observation from this experience: There were millions of flies!

That comes with the territory of sheep. And it comes with the territory of leadership, too!

Leading people isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s smelly and there a lot of flies, yet we are called to be among those we lead, - flaws, flies, and all!

As a leader, we need to realize: Sheep happens!