November 2, 2025
Who Gave You the Right?
Pastor Alan Smith

Sermon Notes

I. Authority Exposed

Mark 11:27-28
And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”

II. Truth Suppressed

Mark 11:29-32a
Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”

III. Cowardice Revealed

Mark 11:32b-33
they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Jesus’ authority is divine, but the human heart resists surrender to it.

Next Steps

• Trust in Jesus for salvation by surrendering your heart and life to Him today.
• Identify one area of life where you’ve resisted God’s authority and take one step this week to submit that area to Christ.
• Ask God for courage to speak and live truth this week, especially where you’re tempted to stay silent for fear of rejection.

Deep Dive

1. What does this passage teach us about how people typically respond to God’s authority?
2. Read Mark 1:22 and 2:10. How do these earlier references to Jesus’ authority connect with Mark 11?
3. How does Proverbs 29:25 (“fear of man lays a snare”) challenge us in our daily decisions?

Springboards

1. Read Mark 12:1-12. How does this parable reflect God’s long-suffering character?
2. Read Hebrews 11:36–38. How does this support Jesus’ point in the parable?
3. In what ways do people reject God’s messengers today?