1 Peter 5 | On Christian Leadership

What does 1 Peter 5 teach about Christian leadership?
How can I cast my anxieties on God?
What does it mean that Satan prowls like a roaring lion?
How do humility and faith work together in resisting the devil?
What promise does God give to suffering believers in 1 Peter 5?

In this episode of God’s Plan, Your Part, we dive into 1 Peter 5, the final chapter of Peter’s first letter, where he closes with powerful instructions for both leaders and believers. Peter exhorts elders to shepherd the flock of God with humility, integrity, and eagerness—not for selfish gain or control, but as examples of Christlike leadership. He reminds us that when the Chief Shepherd appears, faithful leaders will receive an unfading crown of glory.

For all believers, Peter calls us to humility, urging us to clothe ourselves with grace-filled attitudes toward one another. He gives a profound reminder: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. A core truth in this passage is that we are to cast all our anxieties on God because He cares for us. Worry, Peter explains, is a subtle form of pride that assumes control lies in our hands instead of His.

Peter also warns that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Yet, the command is simple: resist him, stand firm in faith, and remember that Christians all over the world share in these same struggles. Our strength comes not from fear, but from trust in God’s promises.

This chapter ends with encouragement: after suffering for a little while, the God of all grace will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish His people. No matter the trial, our hope is secure in Christ, and He alone carries ultimate dominion forever.

We also reflect on modern-day persecution, especially among Christians in Nigeria, who model what it means to stand firm in faith even in the midst of intense suffering. Their witness challenges us to live boldly and pray faithfully for our global brothers and sisters.

Join us as we uncover how 1 Peter 5 still speaks directly into our lives today—whether you’re leading, struggling with worry, or learning to resist the enemy.

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Transcript

 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5

Speaker: [00:00:00] Hey everyone. Welcome to God's Plan, your Part year two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's Plan and your part in it. 

Speaker 2: Today we're looking at the final chapter in one Peter. Before we move on to second Peter, uh, Peter here is clearly closing out his letter.

It actually felt a little bit like he was closing out his letter yesterday in chapter. Four. Uh, but there is some strong, uh, takeaways here, I think, and it lands, uh, obviously as we've been talking about. Peter is gonna highlight suffering as he continues to highlight suffering. Uh, so where do you wanna go with this?

Speaker: I think it actually talks more about responsibilities of the flock. 

Speaker 2: I do like that a lot. I know that I found as 

Speaker: much suffering in here so much as I found, uh, 

Speaker 2: he, he makes a note about, uh, be encouraged as you suffer, as your brothers throughout the world are suffering. And this 

Speaker: is talking I think, too, but like the, I would've thought the last couple of chapters are talking about suffering that has to do with at the hands [00:01:00] of others, right?

This like specifically calls out Satan as being that person who mm-hmm. I don't know, brings on the suffering in a different way, but I think what I took more from this than even that part was the responsibility that shepherds need to have over their, their sheep. In this case, they're talking about elders, um, and the responsibility that they have is huge.

Uh, whether it be resisting the devil or it mean like not domineering over someone. That's like words that are used in here in verse uh, three. Um, and just being humble. So I think there's a lot of charge to leaders, but also reminding them that Satan is the actual enemy here. Um, and to really resist him.

Speaker 2: Okay. There's also a lot of, yes, you are completely correct. Uh, there's a lot of thoughts at the top of chapter five about leadership that actually find pretty encouraging. So, um, Peter is encouraging his fellow Christian [00:02:00] leaders. Uh, where is that starting in it's first one? Verse one going into verse two, 

Speaker: fellow elders 

Speaker 2: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Um. I love this. I think this is a very crystal clear, um, note from Peter as to what it looks like to be a godly leader in God's house. And there are some things that are probably checks for us today. Uh, if you are a Christian leader, um, there's. What do you mean? 

Speaker: Checks? 

Speaker 2: Yeah, like things you should be aware of.

Okay. Or something that could be a correction. Reminders. I'm just thinking of, and some of you may have heard this before I have, but, um, I just came across this podcast, the religion business I think it's called, and they, they're highlighting the significant amount. It's significant amount of, uh, [00:03:00] financial fraud that exists in yikes Christian religion or Christian.

Religious institutions in the United States, like churches? Yes. 

Speaker: Okay. Why don't you just say that? It, 

Speaker 2: it's like astronomical. That's gross. Um, so it just makes me think of, uh, when you are leading people, you're going to do it, um, shepherding the flock. Well, not doing it for your own shameful gain. There are apparently many in our nation and our culture and context words are not easy for you to say that are.

Um. They're not doing this, they're not heating this call, and I think that's a a problem. Okay. There you go. 

Speaker: Yeah. So I guess if we look back at, um, verse four, uh, after all of these reminders or checks, if you will, it says, and when the Chief Shepherd comes referring to Jesus, shepherd is uppercase, J or excuse me, uppercase s in this sentence.

Um, it says you'll receive [00:04:00] unfading crowns of glory or an unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger be subject to the elders. So I kind of like how it's like. Like, don't be prideful in this life. Be humble in this life, and you will have a crown that is unfading when you, when you're, I guess, united with the shepherd, right?

Mm-hmm. Um, and then it does bump down into, I think, a very important verse, uh, verse five, likewise who you're younger. You who are younger be subject to the elders. Um, 'cause then it just reminds like this idea of humility. So if you are young, obviously respect those that are older mm-hmm. Than you. But I think that also plays back to the fact that even if you are in charge and flock or like in charge of a flock of people shepherding them, um, you need to humble yourself before them because Jesus is the shepherd.

I don't know. I kinda like how it all like, feels like a chain reaction kind of thing. It's all connected. 

Speaker 2: I agree. You seem like 

Speaker: you don't [00:05:00] have much today. 

Speaker 2: Well, I'm thinking, I was actually reading as you were talking. Oh, okay. Um, verse six, humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God. So at the proper time, he may exalt you casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.

Um, what I was actually looking for is like a clear. Indication that that's directly connected to the thought about shepherding the flock? Um, I think oftentimes if you are a leader, uh, and you could probably apply that to any context. You don't have to be a leader of some giant organization or anything.

If you are a leader, you probably feel a lot of. Anxieties. Mm-hmm. Uh, a lot of things you're concerned about, a lot of decisions you need to make. And I think it's interesting that Peter says to humble yourselves, uh, before he says, to cast your anxieties on him. Mm-hmm. Um, because I think he's, I don't know, intentionally or unintentionally laying out really a two step plan.

Um, you will not be able to cast your [00:06:00] anxieties on him and trust that he cares for you if you are not humble. Arrogant. People don't want to ask for help. 

Speaker: Well, the, our study Bible mentions that, um, casting your anxieties on him says that worry is a form of pride. Right. Yikes. I never really think of it that way.

Right. And also when I read that verse, I was like, okay, cast your anxieties on him. I've heard that a thousand times. But anxiety to me, when I hear people say that like, oh, I suffer with anxiety. I always think, oh, that's not me. Like I don't have anxiety issues, but I do worry all the time. Mm-hmm. And in this sense, it's saying.

Worrying is a sense of pride because you feel like you have everything in your hands and like who by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Not one. Right? So that is actually. I don't know. That's super helpful for me because I worry all the time. I worry about my kids, I worry about my husband going off to work every day, like, you know, traffic, all the things.

I hate it. So that is prideful because it assumes that you have some kind of power in stuff that is [00:07:00] completely out of your hands. Mm-hmm. So I do appreciate that verse, and it kind of puts a different spin on it if you are one of those people that say, I'm not anxious, but you worry a whole lot. That's you.

Speaker 2: Yeah, and, and Peter's call is to humble yourself before God recognize that you are not in control. He is. You may be. Uh, serving and leading on behalf of him, but he is still in charge and he holds the, the, he holds the whole world in his hand, and so we should cast our anxie on him and trust that he actually cares for us.

A lot of times. Actually, this is an important point. Uh, if you are prideful and arrogant, you are unintentionally broadcasting the fact that you do not believe that God cares for you. Mm-hmm. Um. Because you're just not making time for 'em. 

Speaker: Well, right. If, if you go right into verse eight, it talks about those things where it says, be sober minded, be watchful.

Your adversary, the devil. Prs around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour again. Our study Bible mentions that Satan is hopeful that we will be terrified. We will be scared of persecution. [00:08:00] And guess what? 100% m and there are parts of me sometimes that worry, and I'm so nervous about certain things, like I said, for my kids, for my husband, all these things.

But that is just a foothold, uh, for Satan to creep in. And I mean, obviously just devour you up like a line because again, worrying is not gonna get you anywhere, but it does create this sense of pride and like no need for relying on God and what he is up to. 

Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Also, I mean, on that Satan note, how's that for transition on that Satan note?

Wow. Um, verse nine, resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same kind of suffering are being experienced mm-hmm. By your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ himself will restore confirm strength in establish you.

You already talked about that some, um, but. It's interesting to me that Satan can have this big booming presence in our minds, and even sometimes in our churches. I think like he just kind [00:09:00] of looms large as this mystical adversary. I think it's interesting that oftentimes in the Bible, um, opposing Satan is presented as very simple.

Um, there's a, there's another passage where it says, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Mm-hmm. And so you get this. Two piece command here. That's one. Humble yourself before God, cast your anxieties on him and resist the devil. Mm-hmm. And I think it's, it's powerful. Like Satan is certainly not as powerful as we make him out to be sometimes, especially, uh, when we are humble before God and trusting that he goes before us.

There's no competition whatsoever. It's like the 

Speaker: darkness and light. Yeah. The darkness and light like idea where there is light, there is not darkness, it's not possible. Mm-hmm. So if Christ is in you. You don't have anything to fear. And honestly, I, as soon as you read that verse about, um, brothers suffering throughout the world, like, oh gosh, here I am, like so worried about whatever [00:10:00] it is.

Mm-hmm. And we, you know, we have brothers and sisters in Christ across the world who are being executed for their faith, and they still come together every day. Pray and seek God and do it without fear. 

Speaker 2: For what it's worth, if you're listening in lifetime, a significant amount of Christians in Nigeria are coming under.

Yes, that's what I was referring to, incredible persecution. And you, we would certainly invite you to pray with them and for them, uh, there's been some really. 

Speaker: Horrible, like 

Speaker 2: thought provoking, I guess, images online, uh, particularly, I, I was thinking of this, um, this group of Christian believers that were gathered worshiping in a church that had been destroyed.

Mm-hmm. And so the, the church building was burned down. It was, you know, the walls were knocked in. Uh, I believe several people were killed as part of this attack. And the believers came back the next time. And gathered together and worshiped Christ together. Uh, it's, it's really thought provoking and very compelling.

[00:11:00] And, uh, maybe that's the, your part. We just invite you to pray for Christian believers, particularly in Nigeria. Um, but all around the world who are experiencing persecution. We need to stand with them and intercede. For them and with them. So that's the year apart for today. It is Friday. We will not, will not be back again tomorrow.

Uh, we'll be back again on Monday and starting out second. Peter, Jenny, you made a face like you wanted to say some more. No, I 

Speaker: just, we, we are all over the place in this episode. It feels like a little bit of stop start, stop start. And I guess we're done now. 

Speaker 2: We'll be back on Monday. We'll see you then.

Speaker: Thanks for joining today's episode of God's Plan, your part. As always, please consider partnering with us as we are a listener supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with support from listeners just like you. 

Speaker 2: We've made it super easy to partner with us, and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description.

You can support us with as little as $3 a month. 

Speaker: Every little bit of this helps so much and we're so thankful for your support With that in mind. Here's today's reading 

Speaker 2: one Peter chapter five. [00:12:00] So I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed.

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another. For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time, he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.

Be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion. Seeking someone to devour, resist him. Firm in your faith knowing that the same kind of suffering [00:13:00] are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world, and after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you to him, be the dominion for and ever.

Amen. By Sylvanus, a faithful brother. As I regard him, I have written briefly to you exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings and so does Mark my son, greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, your Part. Don't forget, you can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode, and if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at God's Plan, your part@gmail.com.

As always, if you don't have a Bible or if you'd like to use the one that we use. [00:14:00] Uh, reach out to us via email and we'll be happy to send one to you. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you again tomorrow.