"Alignment & Authority"
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Discussion:
Discussion:
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
You see, Peter forgot his place in the alignment! He started believing his own press! (self preservation)
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Why do you think Jesus reacted so strongly to Peter?
Why do you think Jesus reacted so strongly to Peter?
Why do you think Jesus turned and looked at all the disciples while speaking to Peter?
Why do you think Jesus turned and looked at all the disciples while speaking to Peter?
What do you think it meant when Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom?
What do you think it meant when Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom?
Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?
Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?
In what ways might an increase in understanding of authority benefit our lives?
In what ways might an increase in understanding of authority benefit our lives?
Aligning our Motives
Aligning our Motives
Jesus modeled the values of His Kingdom everyday of His life.
Jesus modeled the values of His Kingdom everyday of His life.
He expects us to do the same.
He expects us to do the same.
Those values are not about power and position over others, but about loving and serving.
Those values are not about power and position over others, but about loving and serving.
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Why should the desire for authority over others be shunned? (verses 42-43) _________________________________________________________________
What should we desire instead? (verse 44) _________________________________________________________________
Jesus had all authority and power but embraced the role of what? (verse 45) _________________________________________________________________
Why is power and position alluring to us, and how do we instead embrace serving others? _________________________________________________________________
Aligning with the Values of the Kingdom to Exercise His Authority
Aligning with the Values of the Kingdom to Exercise His Authority
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
God trusts us with authority when we align ourselves with His Kingdom and its values.
God trusts us with authority when we align ourselves with His Kingdom and its values.
Forgiveness and humility are essential elements in binding and loosing. (exercising authority)
Forgiveness and humility are essential elements in binding and loosing. (exercising authority)
What are the conditions in which the things we ask for come to pass? (verse 19) _________________________________________________________________
Why do you think Peter asked how many times he should forgive others? _________________________________________________________________
What should our response be when someone wrongs us? _________________________________________________________________
The Value of Authority
The Value of Authority
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Authority comes from above, and God blesses us when we recognize and honor authority.
Authority comes from above, and God blesses us when we recognize and honor authority.
We are also given authority in relation to other people, and we must lead in a way that pleases God.
We are also given authority in relation to other people, and we must lead in a way that pleases God.
In what way was humility revealed in the centurion? (verse 8) _________________________________________________________________
What enabled the centurion to have authority? (verse 9) _________________________________________________________________
In what way did the centurion acknowledge the authority of Jesus? (verse 8) _________________________________________________________________
How should we acknowledge authorities in our lives? _________________________________________________________________
The Value of Aligning with Others
The Value of Aligning with Others
And having an high priest over the house of God;
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Aligning with Kingdom values necessarily involves aligning with other people in the family of God.
Aligning with Kingdom values necessarily involves aligning with other people in the family of God.
This is a powerful process, helping to care for one another and encourage one another to good deeds.
This is a powerful process, helping to care for one another and encourage one another to good deeds.
What should we consider concerning good works? (verse 24) _________________________________________________________________
How can you encourage someone to good deeds? __________________________________________________________________
How could someone help you in spiritual growth? __________________________________________________________________
Closing
Closing
Why is alignment with the core values of the Kingdom of God vital in exercising authority?
Why is alignment with the core values of the Kingdom of God vital in exercising authority?
What role does submission and forgiveness play in functioning in the authority we have been granted?
What role does submission and forgiveness play in functioning in the authority we have been granted?