What Church Has The Authority to be a Church?

“I’m A Member of the church of Christ for She is the Only Church with Authority”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  19 March 2017

Text: Mark 11.27 - 33

Thesis: ALL Authority Belongs to Christ!

1           Introduction

A.   We are in the middle of the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation – the bloodiest event in history fought over religious authority.

1.      Ultimately, ALL religious division has authority as it’s root cause. 

2.     Luther and Leo

3.    Henry VIII and Clement VIII

a.    BTW if you have $61,946.00 you can buy from the Vatican a replica of the letter Henry sent Clement!

4.    Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots

5.    Calvin and Geneva

6.    John Knox and Mary, Queen of Scots

7.     Right here in the Carolina’s – Presbyterian Lowlanders and Anglican Highlanders battled it out at Kings Mountain on October 6, 1780 just south of here.

8.    Jesus Christ and the “chief priests, scribes and elders”

9.    WHO has the authority to dispense and proclaim truth?

10.            IN this case, Christ exercised authority over the Jewish priests, scribes and elders.

2          “By What Authority are You Doing These Things?  Who Gave You This Authority to Do Them?”

A.   On this occasion He did not tell them.

B.   He did disclose the answer to His disciples:

1.      Matthew 28.16 - 20

3          To What End Did He Exercise This Authority?

A.   Matthew 16.13 - 19

4         To Whom Did He Delegate His Authority?

A.   Acts 1.4 – 9

B.   Acts 2.37 – 47

C.    John 5.25 - 35

5          The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:

A.   To whom did Christ give authority to establish the 2^nd church?

B.   I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST FOR SHE IS THE ONLY CHURCH EVER ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRSIT!   All other churches since have been established outside of this authority.

6         The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today

A.   To preach and teach the singularity of the One True Church and the One True Way to Salvation!

7          “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.