εξουσια: SEEING AUTHORITY FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES

September 8, 2024 - April 20, 2025 

Being a Christian isn’t about giving up our agency, our intellect or our choices. God’s design from the beginning is that we would have authority (in Greek, εξουσια). This authority operates in layers - I have authority over others, and some others have authority over me, and Christ has the supreme authority in my life. This will be our major focus this year.  

εξουσια: CRUCIFORM AUTHORITY

During this season of Lent, we will consider one last component of authority - the authority that comes from the cross.  We’ll call this “Cruciform Authority”, and we’ll explore both why it is is essential to Jesus’ kingship, and why it is essential to those who follow him

εξουσια: SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
& THE TRUTH

What does it mean to be a person of spiritual authority?  What does it mean to have it?  This is articulated fairly clearly in Luke 9 and 10.  Spiritual authority is the ability to speak and act on God’s behalf in the world around us.  It emanates from Jesus, not from us.

εξουσια: CHRIST THE AUTHOR

Jesus teaches as though he has intrinsic authority, not merely the ability to restate and reflect on the existing law.  He claims authority over human life, and also demonstrates authority over the spiritual world. Jesus has authority even over Scripture, for he is its author.

εξουσια: self vs. scripture

Understanding the what and why of our Bibles is essential.  In the church we have often taken for granted the authority of Scripture, but that authority is no longer a given in our culture (or even in all churches).  Often, we are encouraged to see the self or the culture as of equal or greater authority than the Bible.

εξουσια: CHRIST & CAESAR

Many scholars and authors have noted that we talk about our politics with religious fervor. For many in our increasingly secular culture, politics seems to be filling the void that faith once occupied. How should the church discuss politics from a faith perspective, without falling into mere support for a candidate or party?