CATALYSTFEBRUARY 14, 2014

Sr. High Series: ReflectJerry Gaffney

Reflect: In Your Response to Authority

Main Text: Rom 13:1-5

Main Point: Reflecting God with our response to authority means we are to obey him by submitting to the ______he has ordained.

Preface: Rebellion is sown into the sinful nature and still indwells the Christian’s heart

  • Isa 30:9 For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of theLord;(Isaiah 30:9, ESV)
  • Jer 5:23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.(Jeremiah 5:23, ESV)
  • Ezekiel: 12:2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of arebellioushouse, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are arebellioushouse. (Ezekiel: 12:2 ESV)
  • Deut 9:24 You have been rebellious against theLordfrom the day that I knew you.(Deuteronomy 9:24, ESV)
  • Gen 6:5-6 TheLordsaw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that everyintention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.6AndtheLordregretted that he had made man on the earth, and itgrieved him to his heart.(Genesis 6:5-6, ESV)
  • Because of our sinful nature God instituted authorities

Read Romans 13:1-5

Let every personbe subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and youwill receive his approval,4forhe is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God,an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but alsofor the sake of conscience.

Point 1: God calls us to submit ourselves to various intuitions at various times in our life, but we always live under ______

  1. In Government

All authorities come from God and have been______

When we resist authority we incur ______

  1. In Work

Col 3:22-25

Bondservants,obeyin everything those who are your earthly masters,not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.23Whatever you do, work heartily,as for the Lord and not for men,24knowing that from the Lordyou will receive the inheritance as your reward.You are serving the Lord Christ.25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.(Colossians 3:22-25, ESV)

Our work is ultimately ______

  1. In pastoral relationships

Heb 13:17

Obeyyour leaders and submit to them,for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have togive an account.Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.(Hebrews 13:17, ESV)

  1. In the marriage relationship

Eph 5:22-24

Wives,submit to your own husbands,as to the Lord.23Forthe husband is the head of the wife even asChrist is the head of the church, his body, and ishimself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submitin everything to their husbands.(Ephesians 5:22-24, ESV)

  1. In your parental relationship

Eph 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),3“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.(Ephesians 6:1-4, ESV)

If we do not obey and honor our parents ______

Point 2: We are called to disobey authorities only when it ______

Acts 4:18-20

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John answered them,“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,20forwe cannot but speak of whatwe have seen and heard.”(Acts 4:18-20, ESV)

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered,“We must obey God rather than men.(Acts 5:29, ESV)

Point 3: ______is the safeguard to authority

  • In Acts 25 we see Paul using appeal
  • Appeal is a tool to safeguard ______on the part of the one who is in authority
  • It helps those of us in authority to ______
  • Appeal should always be preceded by a ______

Discussion questions

  • Would you characterize yourself as someone who is submissive to those in authority
  • Would your parents characterize you as a son or daughter who is submissive to those in authority
  • Why or why not?

Take it home questions

  • For parents
  • Have you taught your children the concept of appealing?
  • How often do you give into your children’s appeals?
  • For bosses and employers
  • Have you created an environment where your employees feel welcome to disagree with you?
  • If you have, how can you be certain that it really exists? (hint: ask them)
  • For children
  • Are there any areas of subtle or outright rebellion you are currently involved in?
  • Sneaking, hiding, partially obeying?
  • For all
  • According to Romans 13 is Tim’s hair/beard in violation of any known law?