1. Generic & Specific Authority (Colossians 3:16,17) I. We Must Not Go Beyond Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:32; II John 9). II. We Can Establish Authority for What We Do From Scripture (II Timothy 3:16,17).

2. A. Commands (Matthew 28:19,20). B. Approved Examples (I Corinthians 4:16,17; 11:1,2). C. Necessary Inferences (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1,2).

3. Generic & Specific Authority (Colossians 3:16,17) III. There Are Different Types of Authority.

4. A. Generic Authority (Hebrews 10:24,25; Acts 20:7; 5:12; 19:9; James 2:2). B. Specific Authority (Genesis 6:14; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 26:30; I Corinthians 14:15,26).

5. Generic & Specific Authority (Colossians 3:16,17) III. There Are Different Types of Authority. IV. While We Must Have Authority For All That We Do, We Do Not Have To Have Specific Authority For All That We Do.

6. IV. … We Do Not Have To Have Specific Authority For All That We Do. A. The Bible Class Issue. 1. There is no specific authority for Bible classes. 2. There is no specific authority for women teachers. 3. There is generic authority for classes & women teaching children and other women.

7. Generic & Specific Authority (Colossians 3:16,17) V. Specific Authority is Usually Determined By the Specifics of the Command.

8. A. Binding Examples (Philippians 4:9). B. Is Every Apostolic Example Restrictive? (Acts 20:7). C. There Are Times When Examples Clarify the Specifics of a Command (Acts 20:7).

9. V. Specific Authority is Usually Determined By the Specifics of the Command. D. When We Have Generic Authority We Should Be Careful Not to Imagine that We Must Have Specific Authority to Act. 1. The Lord’s Supper on Sunday Evening (I Cor. 11:25; 11:18). 2. Respect for Conscience (Romans 14:23).