Preserving a Righteous Dominion - Discussion

Review:

Main Point: The dominion of God’s people is to reflect the dominion of God: Protecting the lowly and advancing the good of those within our influence.

Protecting those under authority.

Protecting proper dominion.

How would you characterize the ordinary American’s disposition toward authority?

An experience with bad authority tends to result in bad disposition towards authority generally.

Has anyone here ever engaged with someone in that conversation? It’s a bit of a hot topic. There’s politics involved. Slavery has been at the center of a lot of that modern conversation. How did that go?

Bad authority doesn’t mean we resort to no authority.

Bad authority means we need to know what good and biblically ordered authority looks like.

I’d like to talk about that place of authority in the church a bit more, but I’d like to give opportunity for discussion on the sermon. There was a lot there, and potentially some challenging portions that are worth talking about!

Anyone walk away wrestling with a particular verse or argument?

There’s a difference between, “What am I free to do?” and “What is good for my neighbor/ my servant?”

Relationship outside the church:

1 Peter 2:13–17 NASB95

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Ordinary Relationships within the church:

The basis of this edification:

Ephesians 2:11–14 NASB95

11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Ephesians 4:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 6:1–9 NASB95

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

The Church:

1 Peter 5:1–5 NASB95

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Hebrews 13:17 NASB95

17 Obey (trust them, be persuaded by them) your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.