Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends
Christ's lordship over worship, mission, service, and endurance
Christ exercises true authority as the risen Lord who rules his people, sends them in mission, shepherds his servants, and sustains faithful obedience.
Help believers receive Christ's authority as good news: the reign of the Lord who commands, sends, protects, corrects, and gathers his people.
- Main Format
- 6 sessions
- Flexible Formats
- 4, 6, 8 session options
- Scripture Focus
- Authority of Christ across Scripture primary text
- Book
- 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter, 2 Corinthians, Acts, Colossians, Ephesians, Exodus, Isaiah teaching path
Why This Series
Help believers receive Christ's authority as good news: the reign of the Lord who commands, sends, protects, corrects, and gathers his people.
Gospel thread: The series repeatedly anchors each movement in Christ's saving work: The gospel proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord, crucified and risen for the salvation of sinners. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of believers to bring them to confess Christ and live under His lordship. The gospel proclaims that Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again as Lord. Those who receive Him live under His grace, love Him with sincere devotion, and await His return with hope. The Chief Shepherd who suffered and rose will appear in glory, rewarding faithful under-shepherds who serve His redeemed flock.
Doctrinal thread: The doctrinal movement emphasizes Authority of Christ, Divine Mercy, Divine Sovereignty, Church Discipline, Knowledge of God with support from Servant, Spirit, Glory, Faith.
Shepherding burden: Christ's authority can be resisted, flattened, or reduced to a slogan. This series helps teachers show his lordship as living, gracious, holy, and comprehensive.
Standard Session Guide
- 11 Corinthians 12:1-3
The Spirit's Mark: Confessing Jesus as Lord
The Holy Spirit always leads people to honor Jesus as Lord.
Teaching aim: Paul introduces instruction about spiritual gifts by correcting confusion about spiritual experiences and establishing that the Spirit of God always leads people to confess Jesus as Lord.
Gospel clarity: The gospel proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord, crucified and risen for the salvation of sinners. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of believers to bring them to confess Christ and live under His lordship.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Authority of Christ, Human Sinfulness, Spirit.
This passage opens the series by establishing the starting point for Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends.
DoctrinesCross References - 21 Corinthians 16:21-24
Love the Lord or Face Judgment: Grace and Devotion in the Church
The church lives under the grace of Christ and must love the Lord with sincere devotion.
Teaching aim: Paul closes the letter with a personal greeting, a solemn warning concerning devotion to the Lord, and a final expression of grace and love toward the Corinthian church.
Gospel clarity: The gospel proclaims that Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again as Lord. Those who receive Him live under His grace, love Him with sincere devotion, and await His return with hope.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because 1 Corinthians 16:21-24 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Authority of Christ, Divine Mercy, Faith.
This passage continues the cross-book theme with 1 Corinthians 16:21-24.
ThemesDoctrinesCross References - 4Acts 10:24-48
God Shows No Partiality: The Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
God Himself testifies that the gospel belongs to the nations; forgiveness and the Spirit are given apart from ethnic distinction.
Teaching aim: To record the formal proclamation of the gospel to Gentiles and the Spirit's unmistakable confirmation that they are included without distinction.
Gospel clarity: Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. The Spirit is given by grace, confirming inclusion in Christ.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because Acts 10:24-48 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Divine Sovereignty, Authority of Christ, Divine Mercy.
This passage continues the cross-book theme with Acts 10:24-48.
Cross References - 5Acts 13:1-12
The Spirit's Commission: Gospel Advance and Spiritual Authority
The missionary expansion of the church proceeds by the Spirit's initiative and advances despite spiritual resistance.
Teaching aim: To mark the formal sending of Barnabas and Saul from Antioch under the Spirit's direction and to demonstrate the gospel's authority over spiritual opposition in a Gentile setting.
Gospel clarity: The Lord Jesus is proclaimed with authority. When the gospel confronts deception, Christ's truth prevails and brings saving faith.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because Acts 13:1-12 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Divine Sovereignty, Authority of Christ, Spirit.
This passage continues the cross-book theme with Acts 13:1-12.
DoctrinesCross References - 7Ephesians 6:5-9
Serving Christ: Masters and Servants Under One Lord
All service and authority stand under Christ, the impartial Master in heaven.
Teaching aim: Paul applies Spirit-filled household order to bondservants and masters by commanding servants to obey with sincerity as serving Christ, and commanding masters to treat servants with the same Lord-conscious integrity, abandoning threats because both servant and master have one Master in heaven who shows no favoritism.
Gospel clarity: The gospel does not leave authority and labor untouched. Christ is Lord over the unseen places of work, service, power, management, and accountability. Those with little earthly power are dignified by the truth that their service is seen by Christ and rewarded by the Lord. Those with earthly authority are humbled by the truth that they are not ultimate; they too answer to the Master in heaven, who shows no favoritism.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because Ephesians 6:5-9 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Authority of Christ, Divine Judgment, Obedience.
This passage continues the cross-book theme with Ephesians 6:5-9.
Cross References - 8Isaiah 48:12-16
The LORD Calls Israel to Hear His Word
The eternal Creator speaks and sends according to his purpose.
Teaching aim: To reaffirm the LORD's eternal identity, creative authority, and active sending in redemptive history.
Gospel clarity: Isaiah 48:12-16 reveals the eternal Creator who speaks, sends, and acts through his Spirit. The gospel declares that Christ, sent by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, fulfills God's saving purpose.
Why this session belongs here
Selected because Isaiah 48:12-16 contributes to Authority of Christ: The Lord Who Reigns and Sends through Divine Sovereignty, Authority of Christ, Glory.
This passage continues the cross-book theme with Isaiah 48:12-16.
DoctrinesCross References