Lesson 3 – Learning How to Establish Authority

 

Does it really matter how we work and worship as a church?  If so, how do we determine what the church should or should not be doing?

 

Memory Verse:  Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 

In the name of Jesus

1.      Is there any action which must not be done in Jesus’ name?

2.      What does Paul mean by “in the name” of Jesus?

  1. Read Luke 6:46 for an explanation.
  2. If a police officer says “stop in the name of the law”, what does he mean by in the name of the law?

 

The Doctrine Of Christ – 2 John 9-11

1.      The word doctrine in the NT is usually translated from the Greek word “didaskalia” (#1319), and simply means “what is taught”, or “teaching”.

2.      What must we teach ‘as doctrine’?  (Prov. 4:2; John 7:16-17; Acts 2:42; Rom. 6:17).

3.      What is our source of doctrine? (2 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 1:11-12)

4.      When does our worship become ‘vain’? (Matt. 15:9)

5.      What is a person’s relationship with God when they teach or follow false doctrines? (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Thes. 1:8,9; 2:10; 2 John 9)

6.      What should our attitude be toward those who do not follow the doctrine of Christ? (Rom. 16:17; 2 Tim. 2:15-18,24-26; 2 John 10-11).

 

According to the pattern – Heb. 8:5

1.      Moses was commanded to build the tabernacle “according to the pattern” which was given to him by God on the mountain (Ex. 25:40; Num. 8:4).

  1. The Hebrew writer says that this was a “copy and shadow” of the heavenly things.  What does “copy” and “shadow” mean? (Col. 2:17; Heb. 9:9,23-24; 10:1).
  2. If God spoke from the mountain commanding Moses to build the tabernacle according to His pattern, shouldn’t we then expect the same from Him who speaks from heaven concerning His church? (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:10,11; 4:17)

2.      We must build the church today on the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ and His teachings (Luke 6:47-49; Psalm 127:1; Isaiah 28:16-17; 1 Peter 2:6-8), because if that foundation is destroyed, the church will not stand (Psalm 11:3).

 

Learning How to Establish Authority

We see Jesus and His followers in the New Testament using three ways to establish their authority:  Precept, Example, Necessary Inference.

1.      Precept (Command) – A command came directly from God.

  1. These commands can be either general or specific.

                           i.      A general command (Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world).  What things are left up to the discretion of those who “Go”?

 

                         ii.      A specific command (Acts 8:26)  What was not up to Philip’s discretion?

  1. Some examples of commands for the Christian.

                           i.      Partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-24).

                         ii.      Singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:17).

 

  1. It is important to know the difference between aids and additions – An aid assists me in fulfilling God’s commands, an addition is adding to what God commanded.

                           i.      What is an aid to preaching the gospel and what would be an addition?

 

                         ii.      What is an aid to singing and what would be an addition?

 

 

2.      Example (Approved by Apostles) – Those practices of the church or apostles which were approved by the apostles.  The apostles were men “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thes. 2:4), so their approval meant the approval of God (Matt. 16:19).

  1. Whose examples are we to follow? (Phil. 4:9; 1 Cor. 11:1)

 

  1. Were all practices of the church and apostles approved by God (1 Cor. 5:1,2; 11:20-22; Gal. 2:11-13)? 

 

3.      Necessary Inference –  Necessary conclusions made when a direct command or example did not make specifications. 

  1. We must ensure that we only make those conclusions which are necessary as a result of considering all the facts.  Sometimes people make conclusions that are unwarranted by the truth of Scripture.
  2. Here are some examples of people in Scripture making a necessary inference.

                           i.      Matthew 22:23-33 – What conclusion does Jesus make concerning the resurrection from a passage in Exodus 3:2-6?

 

                         ii.      Acts 15:13-21 – James also makes a judgment about the Gentiles.  From that prophecy of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles, James “judgment” was that they shouldn’t trouble the Gentiles with Moses’ law.

 

An exercise for you – Read Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26.

·         What are the direct commands?

 

·         What are the approved examples?

 

·         What are the necessary conclusions?

 

·         Why do we follow examples like meeting on the first day of the week, yet we don’t all preach until midnight?  How do we discern between examples?