THE AUTHORITY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH

-Introduction

-Over that last several weeks, we have studied about God’s pattern for N.T. worship.

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

  topic pertaining to the church - it’s organization and authority.

-Chain of Authority

-1 Cor 11:1-3

            -God > Christ > Man > Woman   

                        -Quick note:  By looking at passages such as John 14-16, we could place the Holy

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

            -Side note:  It is very important to realize that submission does not necessitate

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

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

        not mean that the church belittles the women within it.

-God, the Father, is ultimately in authority. 

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

            -Matt 16:16-19, Col 1:18 - Jesus is in authority over the church.

            -Therefore, the church must abide within His authority and by His doctrine.  Col 3:17,

  2 John 9-11

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

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

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

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

-Matt 16:19 - “shall be bound...shall be loosed” (KJV) - Greek verb tense indicates a

  meaning of “shall have been bound...shall have been loosed.”

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

        originated and was authoritative from heaven.

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

           -Acts 14:21-23; 20:17,28

-Current System of Authority and Organization

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

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

            -side note:  As we know, there is also the office of deacon designated within the

              church.  Yet, even though this office is part of the leadership of the church, it is not a

              position of authority.  Let’s be careful not to confuse issues of leadership & authority.

-Acts 15:1-6

            -Here, we see that the apostles were being very respectful of the elders in the church. 

              At that time, the apostles were the highest authority in the church on earth.  Yet, they

              still consulted with and worked with the elders of the church.

-Heb 13:17

            -We, as members of the Lord’s church, are to submit to the elders as long as what they

              do is in accordance with the doctrine of Christ.

            -We might not always fully agree with their decisions regarding non-doctrinal matters.

              But, even so, we need to accept those decisions and submit to them.

                        -1 Pet 5:1-3 - Elders are not to be dictators.  They are to oversee, lead and feed.

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

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

            -We don’t have the time to explore this fact with this lesson, but this truth is evident

              throughout the N.T. scriptures.

-Summary and Invitation

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

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

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

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

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

  organization is exposed.

-Eph 4:4-6

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

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

  willing.

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

-I don’t point these things out in an arrogant “look at us” fashion.  I’m simply trying to

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

  than manmade organizations.

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

  saved.

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

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

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

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

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

Date:  Feb 12, 2006