In review…Every church family has these three groups of believers:
Little Children – immature believers, just getting their spiritual footing. They need to observe and learn from those more mature than themselves.
Young men – believers who are transitioning into adulthood – spiritual adolescence. These participate in ministry under the guidance of mature believers.
Fathers – mature believers who lead by example and handle the word of God carefully with knowledge and wisdom.
These three groups can be understood in the business world by these titles:
Apprentice – little children – Know very little about the business, but must be trained in order to become a profitable member of the team.
Journeyman – young men – knows the basics of the business and can be trusted to complete projects that have been given to them.
Master craftsman – Fathers – knows the business, whether it is plumbing, carpentry, tech related, etc., and trains those in his care to broaden their understanding and ability within that business to become a valuable team member.
No church can be healthy if it only has immature believers who sit and wait to be fed and have their personal needs looked after by a precious few mature believers. There must always be older believers lifting up the young to maturity.
It was a wonderful study today, as we examined Jesus’s command to Peter to feed his lambs (those immature believers who need to the milk of the Word – 1 Peter 2:2-3: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.), and feed his sheep (believers who are maturing in their faith and need the meat of the Word of God to help them grow strong.) – John 21:14-17
We see the same admonition that Peter delivers to the elders he is writing to in 1 Peter 5:1-11.
Peter commands them to faithfully and humbly “feed the flock of God.” The reward to all who handle the Word of God carefully, seeking to grow the lambs and build the sheep, is a crown of glory! This is not just pastors and missionaries, but it is for everyone who seeks to build others in the Word.
1 Peter 5:4: And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
This is another transdispensational verse, because it agrees with Paul concerning Christ’s appearing (the rapture of the Church Age saints). The crown rewards are dispensed at the judgment seat of Christ, which comes after the rapture. Please see 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and 1 John 2:28. The appearing of Christ is the rapture and the coming kingdom is the 2nd Advent.
The Crowns available to New Testament Church Believers:
Incorruptible Crown: 1 Corinthians 9:25 – Temperance and Moderation
Crown of Rejoicing: 1 Thessalonians 2:19 – Soul winners Crown
Crown of Life: Revelation 2:10 & James 1:12 – Martyr’s Crown
Crown of Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8 – given to those who love the appearing of the Lord at the rapture
Crown of Glory: 1 Peter 5:4 – the Discipler’s Crown (2 Timothy 2:2)
We will continue our study of this incredibly important teaching this coming Sunday.