Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

organization
-- This makes any effort to discuss the Bible and what it teaches to be fruitless
and frustrating
Mark A. Copeland
[Unless we can agree on the same standard of authority, any effort to study the Bible with JWs or
anyone else will not be productive. Understanding this will help us to realize what is...]
II. THE TASK IN STUDYING WITH JWs
A. HELP THEM SEE THE STANDARD OF THEIR AUTHORITY...
1. That their authority is the Executive Committee (EC) of the Watchtower Society
a. That they believe only the EC is capable of properly interpreting the Bible
b. That they must accept whatever interpretation is handed down by the EC
2. In this regard, they are not much different from other religious groups who have a standard
of authority different from just the Bible alone
a. Roman Catholics accept the authority of the pope, and church traditions
b. Mormons accept the authority of Joseph Smith, and succeeding presidents of the church
c. Many Protestants accept the authority of their creeds, catechisms, councils, synods, etc.
-- Their standard of authority is what separates one religious group form another; the
JWs are no different, and we must help them see that!
B. HELP THEM SEE THE DEFICIENCY OF THEIR AUTHORITY...
1. This is the same task required with anyone who accepts a standard of authority outside the
Bible alone; for example:
a. A Roman Catholic would have to see the fallibility of the pope and their traditions
b. Mormons would have to see that Joseph Smith was a false prophet
c. Protestants who claim to believe in sola scriptura (the Scriptures alone), would need to
be shown where their creeds, manuals, etc., contradict the Bible
2. With JWs, this involves demonstrating:
a. That the Watchtower Society considers the EC to be God’s inspired spokesman or
prophet today, who alone is able to properly understand the Bible
b. That the EC has made many prophetic statements based upon their interpretations
which have not come to pass
-- We must help them see that the EC therefore fails the test of a prophet or
spokesman for God, and qualifies as a false prophet who is not to be heeded - cf.
Deu 18:20-22
C. HELP THEM SEE THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES ALONE...
1. This is the same task with anyone who has been dependent upon some other source for
authority in religion
a. They must be convinced that the Bible can be understood by all alike
b. While there are parts that are difficult, what is necessary for salvation is clear
2. The problem is many people fall under the control of an authoritarian organization...
a. Before they have read much of the Bible themselves
b. Then told they cannot understand it on their own
-- We must develop confidence in the Bible as a book that can be understood, and
was written to be understood by the average person
[With these thoughts in mind, I offer the following...]
Topical Sermons 338