acts 4:18-4:20

God’s new people will do new things, so what does that look like in our normal everyday lives? Peter tells us throughout the rest of the book: o How we interact with governing authorities. [2:13-17] o How we treat our bosses and employees. [2:18-25] o How husbands and wives respond to each other. [3:1-7] o How we relate to one another in the church. [3:8-5:14] God's Word is enduring & true regardless of the policies of the previous, current, or future administrations. His Word always supersedes our current situation. Since God establishes all authority, they are tasked with punishing wrong and praising good. It’s the will of the Lord for His new people to do good while submitting to authority whenever they can. But what are Christians to do when it seems like governing authorities are punishing those who do good and praising those who do evil? First remember that the Christian’s allegiance is to God first and foremost. They cannot give to earthly authorities what they should only give to God. They must obey God rather than men, and defy rulers only when those rulers commanded something against what God has already established. Second, recognize that if we refuse to submit properly to God, then there's no way we will submit properly to anyone else (in the government, workplace, home, or church).

God’s new people will do new things, so what does that look like in our normal everyday lives? Peter tells us throughout the rest of the book: o How we interact with governing authorities. [2:13-17] o How we treat our bosses and employees. [2:18-25] o How husbands and wives respond to each other. [3:1-7] o How we relate to one another in the church. [3:8-5:14] God's Word is enduring & true regardless of the policies of the previous, current, or future administrations. His Word always supersedes our current situation. Since God establishes all authority, they are tasked with punishing wrong and praising good. It’s the will of the Lord for His new people to do good while submitting to authority whenever they can. But what are Christians to do when it seems like governing authorities are punishing those who do good and praising those who do evil? First remember that the Christian’s allegiance is to God first and foremost. They cannot give to earthly authorities what they should only give to God. They must obey God rather than men, and defy rulers only when those rulers commanded something against what God has already established. Second, recognize that if we refuse to submit properly to God, then there's no way we will submit properly to anyone else (in the government, workplace, home, or church).

Welcome to the audio podcast for Dogwood Church in Athens, TX.

Authority - God's Covering for My Life: When Authority Fails