1. When Relationships Collide

2. WHAT AUDACITY! 1Co 6 1 “When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask the unrighteous to judge the matter instead of taking it to the holy ones!” (PE)

3. WHAT AUDACITY! Rom 13 1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

4. WHAT AUDACITY! Rom 13 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

5. 6 REASONS WHY NOT “Do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?” (1Co 6:2)

6. 6 REASONS WHY NOT Matt 19 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Cf Lk 22: 29-30)

7. 6 REASONS WHY NOT Rev 2:26 “ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.”

8. 6 REASONS WHY NOT Rev 20 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

9. 6 REASONS WHY NOT “And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” (1Co 6:2)

10. 6 REASONS WHY NOT 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1Co 6:3)

11. 6 REASONS WHY NOT “Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?” (1Co 6:4)

12. 6 REASONS WHY NOT “I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!” (1Co 6:5)

13. 6 REASONS WHY NOT “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. (1Co 6:7-8)

14. SIGNIFICANT PUSH-BACK The Roman system is unjust because it is heavily skewed in favor of the one with money Roman law is more concerned with what is law than what is just Roman law is unjust because it favors the one with more social status Injustices in the Roman system makes Paul’s injunctions relative rather than normative There is no Christian alternative Injustice if we have no recourse

15. INSIGNIFICANT PUSH-BACK

16. THE CASE OF MATTHEW 18 15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

17. THE CASE OF MATTHEW 18 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

18. CONCLUSION 1. Judgment in the household of God 2. Injustice of the Cross 3. Kingdom of God & Authority 4. Kingdom Justice