1. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

2. Why do we think the absence of a prohibition grants permission?

3.  Col. 3:17 - To act “in the name of the Lord,” we must have the Lord’s permission  Some have argued this means “to the glory of” – cf. 1 Cor. 10:31  Whose glory do we seek when we act on our own authority?

4.  John 12:44-50 – Jesus was careful to speak and act by God’s authority  To act on our own authority is to seek our own glory – John 7:16-18  To act based on a “God didn’t say I couldn’t” is to act on one’s own authority!

5.  Matt. 28:18 – Can anyone here make this claim?  Jesus is the Head of the church, His body – Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:15-18  The Head leads the body. The body does not lead the Head. – Col. 2:18-19

6.  These three words express the logical fallacy some use to establish authority for doctrine and practice  Our words and deeds cannot be based on what God didn’t say!  Our words and deeds must be based on what God did say!

7.  Are our doctrine and practice based on what is written and revealed?  We are to abide in the word of God – John 8:31-32  We are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God – Matt. 4:4  We are to bring every thought into the captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Cor. 10:5b

8.  Are our doctrine and practice based on what is written and revealed?  We are to observe all things that the Lord has commanded – Matt. 28:18-20  We are to show ourselves approved unto God by rightly dividing the word – 2 Tim. 2:15  We are to abide in the doctrine of Christ – 2 John 9  We are to follow the Lord and His apostles – John 10:27; 2 Thess. 3:6-9

9. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”