From boldness to selflessness – Peter’s leadership transformation Shepherding the Early Church

A story for people in leading positions and business owners

Peter’s story in the New Testament offers so many different topics for us to learn from. In this article, we will have a look at Peter’s transformation into a leader of the early church.

Simon, a young and simple fisherman with a one-man band leadership style, who at times was bold and impulsive, had a great deal to unlearn before he became apostle Peter, a ‘fellow elder’ who shepherded the community of the early church.

Simon aspired to become a man whom people recognised, appreciated, and received well, being aware of his position in life and society. Like most young people, Simon assumed that such status among people would be found in personal achievement, striving, success. The world that Simon grew up and lived in fostered such a thinking. It was a world that rewarded pride, arrogance, and self-promotion. Which is quite similar to the world that we are living today.

Simon is not far from any of us. And some of us know him all too well.

A meeting at the lake of Gennesaret turned Simon’s life around, making him a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) “(1) On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, (2) and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. (3) Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. (4) And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (6) And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. (7) They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (8) But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (9) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, (10) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (11) And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.”

As a disciple of Jesus, Simon went on a humbling journey. A journey that enabled him to trade his own selfish ambitions for selfless service to the community of Christ. In becoming the apostle Peter and maturing as such, Jesus’ commission came to fulfilment and fruitfulness.

John 21:15-17 (ESV) “(15) When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (16) He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” (17) He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

God led Simon on a journey to become Peter, a respected elder in the early church. It was not the road of fame accompanied by admiration and applause. It was not one where striving and effort would get the price. It was a humbling journey, based on faith that led him to become Peter. Peter, the selfless ‘fellow elder’ who shepherded the early church, was formed throughout many years of navigating weakness, humiliation, sacrifice, selflessness, and death.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter had come to leave the one-man band leadership style behind and embraced team leadership. But Peter first had to learn the leadership style of ‘shepherding’. It did not come naturally to him, but over time his rough edges had been smoothened. A shepherd is caring, enabling, healing, and life-giving, always on the look-out for his sheep, always prepared to do whatever it takes to care for and protect his sheep.

A true shepherd will not become authoritarian, oppressive, or exploitative. The position is not for personal benefit, but for the benefit of the people. While being in the position of a shepherd one is frequently tempted to exchange service for homage. This might be driven by the ego that craves recognition and admiration from the people. This temptation reveals that humans in general rather crave homage than chasing service.

1 Peter 5:2-5 (ESV) “(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; (3) not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (4) And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (5) 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.”

2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV) “(5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pride and sense of status where no longer to be found in Peter. He had arrived at a state of being that provided an enabling, servant leadership to his fellow Christians. Peter encouraged the Christian community to stand strong in the face of adversity, namely the persecution of Christians in Rome through the emperor Nero.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

We are not nearly as strong, graceful or intelligent as we are tempted to believe. We are all weak, fallible, and in desperate need of God’s strength and power. Without him we cannot accomplish anything of genuine, lasting value.

Summary - Peter’s main transformations

• Peter had once been keen to give his opinion, he even rebuked Jesus, always wanting the first position. Now, he humbly comes alongside his fellow elders. Being happy to serve them. (Luke 9:33-35)

• Peter had not cared much about others. Now he is shepherding the people entrusted to him.

• Peter acted on impulse. Now, Peter acts on gratitude. (Matthew 26:51-54)

• Peter was anxious, forgot Jesus words, lost his cool and slashed out with the sword to cut an ear off. Now, he is casting his burdens on the Lord. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

• Peter had fallen asleep and run away in hard times when Jesus needed his support. Now he is deeply concerned for the hardships and challenges the people entrusted to him are facing.