SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

- Where does the earthly instituion of government come from? If it is not an invention of man, what is the purpose of government? Are there governments that God has not established?

- How should a follower of Christ feel about the government he or she finds him- or herself under? Read 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and 1 Peter 2:7. What can we do to honor the governments God has established? Why would we ever submit to governmental authority?

- Are earthly governments the only forms of authority in people's lives? What other institutions of authority has God appointed? Why would we ever not submit to governmental authority? Can you think of examples of this from the Bible?