1. A Peculiar People Weird? Peculiar? – special, chosen, called
God’s people
Are called out of the world
To God’s priorities

2. “Why is the church of Christ so weird?”
Authority of the Scriptures

3. The need for authority
It is not in man to direct his own footsteps (Jeremiah 10:23)
The way that seems right to man leads to death (Proverbs 14:12)
We must seek God’s way (Jeremiah 10:24)

4. The need for authority
It is not in man to direct his own footsteps (Jeremiah 10:23)
John 17:20-23
Christ prays for unity that the world might believe that the Father sent him
For unity, there must be a common standard (John 17:17)

5. God’s Right to Authority
The Father has ultimate authority (1 Corinthians 15:27) and has given Christ all authority (Matthew 28:18-20)
God is the Creator (Genesis 1-2; 1 Peter 4:19)
He is the source of salvation (Hebrews 5:9)
To all who obey him
To be saved, we must call on the name of the Lord, which is obedience (Romans 10:13-17)
Obedience is to be in harmony with God’s word (John 4:24John 17:17)

6. Establishing Authority
The New Testament is authoritative (Hebrews 9:15-17)
Christ spoke the words of the Father (John 12:49)
He gave the Father’s word to the apostles (John 17:8) and sent them out with it (Matthew 10:40)
Their authority is to be accepted (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 3 John 9)

7. Establishing Authority
The New Testament is authoritative (Hebrews 9:15-17)
Direct command
“Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19)
“Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38)
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

8. Establishing Authority
The New Testament is authoritative (Hebrews 9:15-17)
Direct command
Approved examples (Philippians 3:17)
It is a command to follow the example set (1 Corinthians 11:1)
The Philippians were to do the things they saw in Paul (Philippians 4:9)
Thessalonica imitated faithful men and became examples themselves (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)

9. Establishing Authority
The New Testament is authoritative (Hebrews 9:15-17)
Direct command
Approved examples (Philippians 3:17)
Forced conclusion (Necessary Inference)
“A point of authority that although it is neither expressly stated nor shown in example but must be clearly concluded as necessary” (S. Sullivan)
Matthew 22:31-32
John 3:23

10. Establishing Authority
The New Testament is authoritative (Hebrews 9:15-17)
Direct command
Approved examples (Philippians 3:17)
Forced conclusion (Necessary Inference)
Respecting the silence
We have an example in the Israelites (1 Corinthians 10:11) that God makes his desires clear (Jeremiah 32:35)
If we cannot establish its authority, it is not authorized (Hebrews 7:12-14)

11. Authority of the Scriptures
The need for authority
We cannot lead ourselves
If we try, it leads to death

12. Authority of the Scriptures
The need for authority
God’s right to authority
As the one with ultimate authority
As the Creator
As the source of salvation

13. Authority of the Scriptures
The need for authority
God’s right to authority
Establishing authority
The New Testament carries God’s authority
We can establish this authority through means of direct command, approved example, and forced conclusions
If we cannot establish the authority, it is not authorized