“Religion” or “Relationship”?

2. “Religion” or “Relationship”?

3. Spirituality in America today . . . RELIGION: Just about me & “God” How do I earn supernatural blessing and avoid supernatural curses RELATIONSHIP: Just about me & people How do I feel close to God and make the world a better place

4. “Radical Middle”not “either . . . or”but “and . . .both”

5. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with [everything]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’b40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

6. Matthew 6:9-12 “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done . . . Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

7. Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

8. Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [religious] gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

9. Right religion (belief in God) without right relationship (with people) is

10. Right religion (belief in God) without right relationship (with people) is pointless

11. Right religion with right relationship creates a

12. Right religion with right relationship creates a revolution!

13. “Religion” All about “God” How do I EARN God’s blessing and avoid God’s curses

14. 1) Go to the sacred place

15. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader

16. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader 3) Repeat the sacred rituals

17. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader 3) Repeat the sacred rituals 4) Recite the sacred text

18. Religion by itself (1) Change our hearts

19. Religion by itself (1) Change our hearts (2) Cause us to know & loveGod

20. Religion by itself (1) Change our hearts (2) Cause us to know & loveGod (3) Give us love for others

22. 1) Sacred place: The Tabernacle

23. 1) Sacred place: The Tabernacle 2) Sacred leader: Moses

24. 1) Sacred place: The Tabernacle 2) Sacred leader: Moses 3) Sacred rituals: 630+ commands

25. 1) Sacred place: The Tabernacle 2) Sacred leader: Moses 3) Sacred rituals: 630+ commands 4) Sacred text: The Torah

26. Isaiah 29:13 “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their [religious] worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

27. Psalm 14:2-3 The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.3 All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

28. 1) Go to the sacred place

29. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader

30. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader 3) Repeat the sacred rituals

31. 1) Go to the sacred place 2) Obey the sacred leader 3) Repeat the sacred rituals 4) Recite the sacred text

32. LOVE “love the Lord your God”

33. LOVE “love the Lord your God” “love your neighbor”

34. LOVE “love the Lord your God” “love your neighbor” “love your enemies”

35. John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36. There is no sacred placejust sacred people! “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” [Mt 18:20]

37. There is no sacred leaderjust a sacred family led by the Holy Spirit “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. . . and he will tell you what is yet to come.” [Jn 16:13]

38. Our sacred text is now our family message and story but not our righteousness “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” [Rom 3:21f]

39. There is no sacred ritual just one sacred responsibility “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [John 13:34-35]

40. Right religion with right relationship creates a revolution!

41. 1) Sacred place – family table

42. 1) Sacred place – family table 2) sacred leader – loving parent

43. 1) Sacred place – family table 2) sacred leader – loving parent 3) sacred text – family story

44. 1) Sacred place – family table 2) sacred leader – loving parent 3) sacred text – family story 4) ritual – love one another

45. “Love one another” It’s less complicated but more demanding

46. This Summer KEEP GROWING (right religion)

47. This Summer KEEP GROWING (right religion) LOVE ONE ANOTHER (right relationship)

48. ANY PLACE OF NEED #PrayFIRST

49. ANY PLACE OF NEED #PrayFIRST #LoveBETTER

50. ANY PLACE OF NEED #PrayFIRST #LoveBETTER #OneANOTHER (Sundays)