1 Peter 5 | Three Calls for a Church Living as Exiles
1 Peter 5:1 to 7 | You Were Never Meant to Settle In
There is a phrase in Spanish that gets used a lot in Mexican hospitality. Mi casa es su casa. My house is your house. It is a warm thing to say to a guest, but this weekend at Redemption Gilbert we were reminded that God never says that to us about this world. This life, as good as it is, is not our final home. First Peter has been calling us exiles and pilgrims for four chapters now, and in chapter five, Peter finally turns his attention to what that means for how a church actually lives together, pastors and people alike.
This Is Not Your Final Home
It is easy to forget we are only passing through. We build routines, careers, and comfort, and slowly this world starts to feel permanent. Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17 and reminded them they were not of this world. Peter picks up that same thread here. Before he gives any instructions, he wants us to remember where we actually stand. We are not owners of this place. We are guests who have been given a home that is still coming.
A Call to Shepherds: Lead Like a Servant, Not a Celebrity
Peter speaks first to the elders, and he does not lead with authority. He leads with identification. He calls himself a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, someone who is in this with them rather than above them. From there he gives a picture of what faithful leadership actually looks like. Shepherd the flock willingly, not because you have to. Serve with a sincere heart, not for money. Lead by example, not by control.
A pastor is a servant, not an owner. A steward, not a celebrity. The flock belongs to God, never to the person who leads it. That is a hard thing to remember in a culture that often turns leaders into brands. But the reward Peter promises is not applause or platform. It is a crown that never fades, given by the Chief Shepherd Himself, on His timing, not ours.
A Call to Everyone: Put On Humility
Peter widens his focus from leaders to the whole church. Younger members, submit to those who are older. And then, all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. Humility is not a personality trait some people happen to have. It is something you put on, like clothing you choose every single morning.
God opposes the proud, Peter says, but gives grace to the humble. That is not a small warning. Pride quietly breaks our closeness with God and with each other, while humility opens the door to grace. True humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less, and thinking more of God and the people around you. A healthy church is not built on talent or impressive leadership. It is built on ordinary people choosing humility together, day after day.
A Call to Trust: Give God Your Anxiety
Peter closes this section with one of the most practical verses in the whole letter. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. The word behind anxiety describes a worry that splits the mind and steals peace, and if that sounds familiar, you are not alone.
We like to believe we are in control of our finances, our health, our schedules, even our future. But we are not owners of any of it. We are stewards of what God allows us to carry for a while. Trusting Him is not passive. It is an active decision to hand over what we cannot actually hold onto anyway. A healthy church is not one with no burdens. It is one that has learned where to put them.
Personal Reflection
Take a minute this week and think honestly about where your trust actually lives day to day.
Where in your life have you been quietly assuming you are in control, when really you are just a steward?
Is there a leader in your life you could encourage this week instead of critique?
As a practice, try naming one specific worry out loud in prayer each morning this week, and simply hand it over before you carry it into your day.
Go Deeper
There is a lot more packed into this passage than one post can hold, including a beautiful picture of what it looks like to actually care well for the people who lead you. Watch the full sermon in the Redemption Gilbert Sermon Library or on YouTube.
If this is your first time visiting Redemption Gilbert online, we would love to help you find your next step into community here. Start here.