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Station 2: Authority of the Church

Objective:

  • What authority does the Church over me?
  • Why does the Church have this authority?
  • How can I deal with this authority?

Key Verse:

" Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls" Hebrews 13:17

Outline:

What authority does the Church over me?

  • Lead and govern
  • Sanctify
  • Teach
  • binding and loosing 
    • mark 12:9
    • matt 16:19
    • john 20:23
    • matt 18:17&18
  • Teaching and preaching 

Why does the Church have this authority?

  • The father to the Son 
  • matt 28:18
  • eph 1:22-23
  • The Son to his bride
  • Ap[ostolic succeession
  • Hirarcky of the church

How can I deal with this authority?

  • Understand
  • Love
  • Respect 
    • Luke 10:16
    • 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [d]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. 1 thess 5:12-13
    •  Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 1 tim 5:17
  • Obey
    • " Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls" Hebrews 13:17
  • Appreciate
    • Appreciate 
      • Giving
      • The simplest form of appreciation is to be thankful 
      • "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
      • "Do all things without complaining and disputing" Philippians 2:14
      • "Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned." James 5:9
  • Conclude with the concept of authority of love

Authority of Love

  • "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
  • The authority of love is a Biblical concept and it is the highest level of authority 
  • When you love someone, you want to do what is pleasing to them, you want to make them happy 
  • You obey who you love out of love and respect not out of fear 
  • Responding to the authority of love is more spiritually mature than responding to any other form of authority 
  • Even though that person cannot force me to do something, I listen to him because I love him 


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