Jesus, Salvation, & Catholicism, Part 2: “Who Has the Authority?”
May 1, 2022

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Message Review

Before Jesus physically left this earth, he established a new covenant with a new group of people whom he called His Church. But when he ascended, who did he leave in charge? Who has the authority now?

Main Point | Jesus plus no one is the head of His Church. Scripture plus nothing is our only authority.

Scripture References | Matthew 27:50-51; Romans 10:9-10 & 13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:9

Challenge Question | Who is your head, and what is your authority?

Questions

  • Out of all the insightful Church history shared on Sunday, was there anything new you learned about the history of the Church or Catholic church?  Was there anything you had a hard time with or that you disagreed with? What was it and why?

  • Read Romans 10:9-10, 13. The Catholic faith believes that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic church because God dispenses his grace through the Catholic Church’s channels of grace. What is the difference between what the Catholic faith believes about salvation and what the writers of Scripture say in regard to salvation?

  • The Catholic faith believes that the Pope is the authority of Christ’s Church, but the writers of the New Testament say something different. Read Ephesians 1:19-23. What is different and what are the implications of the difference?

  • Read 1 Timothy 2:5-6 and Hebrews 4:14-16. What are these passages saying regarding how we approach God? When was the last time you approached God on your own?

  • Read 1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 2:5, and James 5:16. When it comes to “confession,” the Catholic faith believes that only the Pope can absolve people of sins and that people must confess their sins to him. However, the writers of Scripture state otherwise.  Read 1 John 1:9 and James 5:16. What is true? When was the last time you confessed sin?

Next Step Challenge

This week, pick one of those passages from above and memorize it! We encourage you to print this out and put it in a place you will see it continually.

Yearly Bible Plan

  • Monday: Leviticus 1-4

  • Tuesday: Leviticus 5-7

  • Wednesday: Leviticus 8-10

  • Thursday: Leviticus 11-12

  • Friday: Leviticus 13

  • Saturday: Leviticus 14-15

  • Sunday: Leviticus 16-18

To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.