Spiritual Authority

Intro: Who was or is now your favorite teacher in school?

Study

  1. Eph 4:11-13 1 Cor 4:15 God has established spiritual authorities in the church, leaders who he will use in our lives to help us grow.
    1. 1 Cor 11:1 God will use imperfect pastors and leaders to perfect Christ likeness in our lives as individuals.
      1. Heb 13:17 No matter who we are everyone of us needs to be under spiritual authority.
      2. Heb 12:11,Ps 141:5 God will use spiritual authority to cause us to grow into who we need to be to fulfill the call of God in our lives.
    2. Eph 4:15 Spiritual authorities will encourage us, believe in us, and pray for us,but they will also at times rebuke us, and speak the truth.
  2. Prov 16:18, 2 Sam 12:9+13 We must choose to humble ourselves when God uses a spiritual authority to rebuke us, and reveal one of our blind spots.
    1. Gen 3:12-13,Rom 3:23 The way we grow is to admit we have those blind spots and work on them, rather than flip it back on others.
      1. Numbers 12:1-10 Those who are unteachable, defiant, or gossip about spiritual authorities are prideful and will be judged by God.
      2. Prov 10:17, 12:1, 15:32 A major part of fulfilling our purpose on earth depends on how we respond to the spiritual authorities in our lives.
    2. Titus 3:1-2 Our relationships with spiritual authorities are very important, we need to respond humbly and submissive when God uses them to speak to us.

Discussion

  1. Can you share a time when you were rebuked by your spiritual authority? how did you respond? how did you grow?
  2. What are some blind spots that you are working on that God revealed to you through your spiritual authority?
  3. What are some of the many benefits of humility and submission to spiritual authority? what are some of the many problems with rebellion and pride?
  4. Why is it so difficult for many people to humble themselves and submit to spiritual authority? Have you ever personally struggled with this?

End: Pray for any who have struggled with the wrong attitude towards spiritual authority, then take requests.