Do you ever long to get “inside information?” Do you like to know what happens in meetings, and do you especially like to be the first one to know? It’s quite delicious sometimes. What if you could hear what the apostle Peter said to the first century elders? Would it be juicy? Actually, you can read it for yourself in 1 Peter 5. It’s not sensational but it is powerful. It is pragmatic. It is not complicated. It does require spiritual power. Leadership in the Church is not about money, influence or personal gain. Leadership in the Church is for others. It is for their growth, their comfort, their direction, their unity, and their protection. New Testament Church leaders are referred to as Shepherds because God’s people are referred to as sheep. Sheep are often vulnerable, frail, prone to wander and even dangerous to themselves. New Testament leadership is supposed to join the Chief Shepherd in providing what His people need. What His people need is nourishment, care and direction. This requires more than one person and more than preaching. This requires life together. We’re going to study this more on Sunday and we’ll see how the offices of Elder and Deacon are part of what makes Baptists distinctive in a world where “anything goes.”