THE AUTHORITY AND ORGANIZATION O

From: Subject: THE AUTHORITY AND ORGANIZATION O Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:57:31 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.sallisawchurchofchrist.com/Sermon%20Outlines/AuthorityandOrganization.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 THE AUTHORITY AND ORGANIZATION O

THE AUTHORITY AND ORGANIZATION OF = THE=20 CHURCH

-Introduction

-Over that last several weeks, we have studied = about God=92s=20 pattern for N.T. worship.

-Now, in this morning=92s lesson, I would like to = take a look=20 at another important

topic pertaining to the church - it=92s = organization and=20 authority.

-Chain of Authority

-1 Cor 11:1-3

&= nbsp; =20 -God > Christ > Man > Woman

&= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 -Quick note: By looking at passages such as John 14-16, we could = place the=20 Holy

=20 Spirit after Christ. It was Jesus who sent the = Holy=20 Spirit.

&= nbsp; =20 -Side note: It is very important to realize that submission does = not=20 necessitate

= inferiority. Jesus submitted to the Father but was not inferior to = Him. The idea of

= women=20 being in submission to the men (in terms of authority and leadership) = does

= not mean=20 that the church belittles the women within it.

-God, the Father, is ultimately in authority. =

-God, the Father, gave authority to Jesus. = John=20 12:48-50, Matt 28:18-20, Eph 1:20-23

&= nbsp; =20 -Matt 16:16-19, Col 1:18 - Jesus is in authority over the church.

&= nbsp; =20 -Therefore, the church must abide within His authority and by His=20 doctrine. Col 3:17,

2 John = 9-11

-Jesus gave authority to the apostles. Matt=20 28:18-20

-The baptism of the Holy = Spirit was=20 given to them in Acts 2 so that all things Jesus

taught them = would be=20 brought to their remembrance, that they would be guided into

all truth and = that they=20 would receive additional teaching (see John 14:26, 16:13).

-Matt 16:19 - = =93shall be=20 bound...shall be loosed=94 (KJV) - Greek verb tense indicates a

meaning of = =93shall have=20 been bound...shall have been loosed.=94

=20 -With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were teaching that = which=20

=20 originated and was authoritative from heaven.

-The apostles gave authority to the elders in the = church.

&= nbsp;=20 -Acts 14:21-23; 20:17,28

-Current System of Authority and = Organization

-Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and the = apostles=20 eventually died. So, who did

that leave in authority within the church = here on=20 earth? - the elders

&= nbsp; =20 -side note: As we know, there is also the office of deacon = designated=20 within the

&= nbsp; =20 church. Yet, even though this office is part of the = leadership of=20 the church, it is not a

&= nbsp; =20 position of authority. Let=92s be careful not to confuse = issues of=20 leadership & authority.

-Acts 15:1-6

&= nbsp; =20 -Here, we see that the apostles were being very respectful of the elders = in the=20 church.

&= nbsp; =20 At that time, the apostles were the highest authority in the = church on=20 earth. Yet, they

&= nbsp; =20 still consulted with and worked with the elders of the = church.

-Heb 13:17

&= nbsp; =20 -We, as members of the Lord=92s church, are to submit to the elders as = long as=20 what they

&= nbsp; =20 do is in accordance with the doctrine of Christ.

&= nbsp; =20 -We might not always fully agree with their decisions regarding = non-doctrinal=20 matters.

&= nbsp; =20 But, even so, we need to accept those decisions and submit to = them.

&= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 -1 Pet 5:1-3 - Elders are not to be dictators. They are to = oversee, lead=20 and feed.

-The church is to consist of independent, = autonomous=20 congregations that operate under the

oversight and authority of their own elders = within the=20 doctrine of Christ.

&= nbsp; =20 -We don=92t have the time to explore this fact with this lesson, but = this truth is=20 evident

&= nbsp; =20 throughout the N.T. scriptures.

-Summary and Invitation

-By looking at the scriptural pattern for the = church, we can=20 see that we are not to have

earthly headquarters, head offices, = districts or=20 regions, man-made creeds, boards of

directors, boards of regents, popes, = presidents,=20 national conventions, etc., etc.

-When one considers the topic of this lesson, the = topic of=20 the previous lessons regarding

the pattern for worship and considers the = doctrine of=20 Christ - every man-made religious

organization is exposed.

-Eph 4:4-6

-Are we being too narrow minded? Is the = church of=20 Christ too exclusive?

-Those are very = important=20 questions that we=92ll address in next week=92s lesson, Lord

willing.

-I think you will = definitely want=20 to hear that lesson.

-I don=92t point these things out in an arrogant = =93look at us=94=20 fashion. I=92m simply trying to

show that the church is distinctive and=20 identifiable. It is unique and therefore different

than manmade organizations.

-It is the church that we need to identify and be a = part=20 of. It is the body of Christ - the

saved.

-What about you this morning? Are you a part = of the=20 church? Have you obeyed the Gospel?

-If not, = believe (John=20 3:16, 8:24), confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repent (Luke

13:3,5; Acts = 17:30), be=20 baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38).

-If so, have you = remained=20 faithful? If not, confess your shortcomings, repent of them and =

pray for = God=92s forgiveness=20 (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).

Date: Feb 12, = 2006

Return to the Sermon Outline Index = Page

Return to the Sallisaw Church of = Christ Home=20 Page