Introduction

• The word autonomy is not in the New Testament.

• Is this concept in the Bible?

Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 5 – Jesus has all authority and the church is subject to Him. Specifically, all members are subject to Christ, therefore all local churches are also subject to Christ. The church cannot be autonomous as relates to Christ.

The Herald of Truth was a work by multiple churches with a single church’s elders overseeing. This violated local church autonomy.

I Peter 5:1-3

One church is not to oversee any function of another local church. Each local church is to be self-governing.

Autonomy is lost when multiple churches send money to another church to do a work.

Philippians 4:15-16 – Money was sent directly to the preacher (Paul, in this case).

I Corinthians 16:1-4

I Corinthians 4:4-5

Acts 14:23

Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24

I John 2:16

Lust of the flesh

• Ecclesiastes 2:8, 11; 5:10 – It is our spiritual appetite that needs attention!

• I Timothy 6:7-19 – We should be content with basic necessities.

• Philippians 4:11-12 – Paul had learned to be content. Accumulating things won’t make you content. You have to learn to be content with what you already have.

Lust of the eyes

• Job 31:1 – Job knew how important it was to guard his eyes.

• Matthew 5:27-29 – Be careful of the thoughts of your mind.

• Matthew 18:6-7 – Be careful of causing others to lust and sin.

• I Timothy 4:12 – Do people see us as believers or do they see a lack of purity in us?

Pride of life

• Proverbs 12:15 – It is easy to stop listening if we think we are right.

• Proverbs 26:4-5 – Don’t answer a fool with the same type of foolishness.

• John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:59-63 – Jesus refused to answer their misunderstanding.

• Matthew 27:39-40

• Acts 6:14 – This could be the same confusion coming up again.

• Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to be silent.

God loves us and has warned about the temptations of Satan. Let us take God’s warnings to heart!

Introduction

• Mary was called “Magdalene” because she was from the town of Magdala.

• She was mentioned in all four gospels.

Eyewitness of Jesus’

• Death – Mark 15:40

• Burial – Mark 15:47

• Resurrection – Mark 16:9

There is no evidence that Mary …

• Is the sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50.

• Was ever a prostitute.

• Was an “apostle to the apostles.”

• Ever had romantic feelings or relationship with Jesus (this idea was popularized by The Da Vinci Code and Jesus Christ Superstar).

The value of women

• Luke 18:1-3

  • She was a traveling disciple.

  • She was a healed disciple.

  • She was a contributing disciple. Mark 15:41.

• Luke 23:50-24:3

  • Women were the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection!

Courage

• Mark 15:43; John 20:19 – Joseph and the disciples feared the Jews, but Mary was right there anyway!

• Mark 14:26-31, 50 – The apostles fled! Mary did not.

• John 19:26-27, 25 – Mary Magdalene was standing by the cross. Despite his bold claims, Peter was gone, but Mary Magdalene was there, along with Jesus’ mother and aunt.

• Matthew 27:57-61 – Mary was there when Jesus’ body was taken down.

• Mark 16:1-3

The importance of the resurrection

• I Corinthians 15:14-19 – The resurrection is crucial to our faith!

• John 20:1-18 – If the body was stolen, why were the wrappings set aside?

  • One word each!

    • Mary!

    • Rabboni!

• Acts 1:14 – Is Mary Magdalene included in this group?

The time, place, and who will lead us to the right church.

• Ephesians 4:5; I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23

• If the church was established in the days of John the Baptist:

  • The church had no head.

  • The church was not purchased with blood. Matthew 20:28

  • Christ could not be preached. Matthew 16:20; Luke 24:46; Acts 1

  • The church would lack a foundation. Acts 4:10-12; I Corinthians 3:11

• It is critical to learn the time, place, who, and what of the right church.

Time: Pentecost, 33 AD

• Isaiah 2:2-3

• Joel 2:28-32

Place: Jerusalem

• Acts 2:47

Who: Jesus

• Daniel 2:44

• Acts 2:36

• I Corinthians 15:27-28

• Matthew 16:18

• Acts 20:28 – Jesus purchased the church with His own blood.

What: Christ’s church

• I Corinthians 3:11; 1:2

• I Peter 3:15

• Ephesians 3:10-11

Was the church at Benchley started in AD 30-33 in Jerusalem?

• No, but its teaching and practice had its start in AD 30-33 in Jerusalem.

• For example, the local Mormon church wasn’t started in 1830 in New York, but we can tell from its teaching and practice that it is a Mormon church.