There is relationship with god and life in his kingdom, and then there is religion. Our text paints for us what i believe is a very accurate picture of the times that we live in. Moving from rules to relationship stephen arterburn. Mar 28, 2016 the best decision you will ever make, ever, is to step into that relationship with jesus. What the bible says about sabbath and relationship with god. Jesus didnt disobey rules to be rebellious but to demonstrate that love makes the rule redundant. Experiencing healing from painful spiritual abuse, helping countless believers to understand and overcome their religious misconceptions now, drawing upon an additional ten years of. These shirts come in unisex sizes s, m, l, xl, xxl.
We all know the phrase, but when pressed, many of us have a hard time explaining exactly what we mean by it. Countless people have found that religion can kill the joy of a relationship with god. Those who possess a toxic faith have stepped across the line from a balanced perspective of god to an unbalanced faith in a weak, powerless or uncaring god. The relationship that christians have with jesus can vary greatly from person to person. Moving from rules to relationship online books in format pdf. Nothing matters more than relationships, and no one understands them better than jesus. Jesus religion author jefferson bethke burst into the cultural conversation in 2012 with a passionate, provocative poem titled why i hate religion, but love jesus. But when it comes to religious practice, christianity is in a state of serious decline. Moving from rules to relationship and read more jesus, less religion.
Religion, rules, and relationships sospression blog. Jesus is the fulfiller of the law, meaning that he came to carry out gods promises in the covenant as well as the prophets prediction of the coming messiah. An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. He discusses also the relationship between the reign of god, the church, and the religions. Truly through adversity we can become victorious and more strong in our relationship with christ. Learn to recognize serious misinterpretations of vital biblical concepts such as accountability. Allow him to fill you up and to change you for the better. Paul was the most religious man of his day, and here is what he wrote. At ym360, we want to see students know god and make him known. No phrase is more characteristic of evangelical lingo than this one. To show the importance of a person not just having a religion but a relationship with god. Feb 26, 2014 jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life.
To all who want to enter into deeper joy, fuller obedience, greater influence, and a. While there are many different types of religions out there i am only focusing on christianity today and what it means to truly live for jesus. This is by no means a generalization of believers in certain denominations because i know that there are those who choose religion over a relationship with christ in every christian church. From the bible, we learn that, god is a god of relationship, for he. As long as we are all able to grow from the experience then we know that we. It calls for exclusion based on one single criterion. The message blew up on socialmedia, triggering an avalanche of responses. The video has received over 20 million views over the past few months on youtube. By the time i finish writing this post, ill bet jeff bethke s viral youtube phenomenon why i hate religion, but love jesus has likely garnered 8 12 million views. Oct 09, 2006 the good news of the gospel of grace is we no longer have to live under the rules and regulations of the old testament law.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with jesus christ. Mar 15, 2012 i shared a video in church last week that a lot of people have been asking me about. Teach the jesus and relationships 4lesson bible study in your youth ministry and help your students see what jesus had to say about relationships. Jesus treated people differently when we think of jesus, we usually think of a soft spoken.
Jesus breaks religious rules compassion and justice. A crowd had gathered around jesus in a home, with the result that there was no time to eat. He does so because he values helping people more than following others expectations, traditions or religious rules. Moving from rules to relationship is a kind of blueprint on that journey.
Know god personally most people seek forgiveness and eternal life by being faithful members of some religion. Heather grey tee shirt that reads more jesus less religion in navy blue writing. Jesus is much more than a great leader or wise teacher. Aug 29, 2012 if we dont believe jesus is god, who became a man, lived a life of perfect obedience to his father, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, we wont be saved and can have no relationship with the father or jesus christ. Explain jesus relationship to the law and the christian believer s relationship to the law. In short, im learning the whole personal relationship with jesus perspective is more a modern evangelical construct than it is an historical, orthodox and biblical one. Not all families will be happy and supportive about one. Jesus doesnt hate religion the major problem with saying jesus hates religion is that it is not true.
Going to church becomes a chore just because you have to go because its sunday. Rules, laws and commandments within christianity and how they affect christians. However, although classified as a world religion, true christianity is not about earning eternal life, but rather about receiving eternal life as a free gift from jesus. Experiencing healing from painful spiritual abuse, helping countless believers to understand and overcome their religious misconceptions now, drawing upon an additional ten years of observation and experience. Thus, the basic rule that the commandment lays down is that god requires that each person set aside this day for the worship and service of him. I hate the aspect of religion that says you have to do something to be right with god. Think of the story of zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in jericho, who would have been considered the chief sinner in the city.
One contemporary christian musician writes, more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance. One decade ago, bestselling authors stephen arterburn and jack felton exposed the dangers of what they called toxic faith. If we dont believe jesus is god, who became a man, lived a life of perfect obedience to his father, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, we wont be saved and can have no relationship with the father or jesus christ. People get so caught up in being a specific religion instead of the actual meaning behind it. He loves a broken heart who wants to serve him rather than someone who is busy doing the right things. Religion can make us more environmentally friendly or not you might think that being religious would make you more likely to care about the natural world. What jesus really said about relationships articles. That probably sounds like a huge contradiction coming from from someone who claims to be a jesus freak and uprooted his family to move across the country to attend a bible college too. More jesus, less religion published by water brook press 5446 north academy boulevard, suite 200 colorado springs, colorado 80918 a division of random house, inc. The relationship principles of jesus by tom holladay. People more into religion than relationship with jesus. Click download or read online button to jesus christ and the religions book pdf for free now.
Christianity is relationship, not religion or ritual. The christfollowers voice directed toward the storm has no power, but the christfollowers voice directed towards the son jesus christ has great power. Discovering jesus, part 3 the social relationships of jesus. Oder your own copies of tireo classic cartoon movies on dvd u get over 200 cartoon movies with free audio messages all from tireo, u get more for your money, all cartoon movies produced. Whether you pray to god, jesus, allah, jehovah, the sun gods, or any one else is entirely between you and that entity. About the personal relationship with jesus and its a. Moving from religion to relationship faithlife sermons. How jesus broke the rules to set you free sharon jaynes. I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please god, and it didnt work. It has become obvious to me since writing toxic faiththat the way jesus did things on this earth was so different from how many of us.
In fact, few of the rules and regulations that comprised the religion of. Just because you have been converted to make a decision to turn away from sin and darkness, from the power of the devil to the living god. Experiencing healing from painful spiritual abuse, helping countless believers to understand and overcome their religious misconceptions. Mar 07, 2009 well, why cant people who claim to have a personal relationship with jesus agree on what he wants and what hes like. Religion can make us more environmentally friendly or not. Jesus himself lived out the ethic of the kingdom of god that he demanded of his followers.
When jefferson bethkes video went viral in early 2012, what impressed me even more than his spoken word poetry was how he responded to his critics. Jesus relationship on the law and the christian believer. We live in a rapidly changing world that has significantly altered the way people view relationships. We see god most clearly through our relationships with others. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the holy bible, new international version. Relationships, not rules, mattered to jesus faith and.
One decade ago, bestselling authors stephen arterburn and jack felton exposed the dangers of what they called toxic faith, helping countless believers to understand and overcome their religious misconceptions. Now, drawing upon an additional ten years of observation and experience, these authors go one step further, offering new insights and a. Moving from religion to relationship sermon by edward. Our relationship to jesus must be above any natural relationship we have, and we must follow him at all costs. The quickest way i can sum it up is to say that i have a personal relationship to jesus as opposed to i have a personal relationship with jesus. We began by talking about the 10 virgins 5 who were wise and 5 who were foolish. More jesus, less religion picks up where toxic faithleft off. Click here to access info from christian rules and laws please. In the passage before us we are going to consider the danger of living by rules rather than living in a relationship with the living god. Becoming citizens of gods kingdom has little to do with accepting a catalogue of rules or aligning with a religionit is all about a relationship with jesus.
The ancient role of a shepherd was much more than an assignment to herd sheep. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Aug 02, 2016 jesus realised that this mans needs were emotional as well as physical. Despite the very personal nature of religion, it is an issue that many couples struggle with on a repeated basis. This ought to give you some idea of the pernicious nature of religion. Now, drawing upon an additional ten years of observation and experience, these authors go one step further, offering new insights and a positive approach to the dilemma in this long. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with. Prayers become more of a scripted habit instead of coming from the heart. Download pdf jesus christ and the religions free online. When we gather with other christians, the decisions god wants us to make become even more apparent matthew 18. Jack felton christian library of lancaster collection.
Today i would like to fix your focus and motivate your mind to becoming more and more like christ. And i think as a man, i think it is easy to think i dont need help for this or that, but in my relationship with jesus, he has been such a friend to me that i can talk to him about anything. How to want more of jesus and less of you cindi mcmenamin read about christian dating and get advice, help and resources on christian single living. A guide to help you live a more fulfilled life part i we all live by a set of rules that guide the choices we make and the attitudes we hold. For readers who want to enter into a deeper joy, stronger obedience, greater influence, and healthier experience of god, more jesus, less religion points the way to the grace of the lord and shows what it takes to avoid the pitfalls of a faith based on legalism and works. The focus of the video by jefferson bethke is to highlight the difference between false religion and a relationship. I told you we were beginning an 8week series on authentic christianity. This is a perfect onehour video to watch with your womens bible study group to help the stories of jesus interaction with women come alive. Instantly our conversation changed directions and leapt toward the heart of christs gospel. For jesus it is, more often than not, a welcome first. The merriamwebster online dictionary defines religion as, the belief in a god or in a group of gods. If jesus and the early disciples didnt ask people to convert to a religion or ideology, then neither should we. Download jesus christ and the religions ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format.
Moving from rules to relationships colorado springs, co. All he wanted was for the disciples to make more disciples in the judaic religion but with a more spiritual emphasis. This man mattered far more than rules and he needed touching. Understand the difference between religion and relationship so you can please god and find joy in your life. Based on an exhaustive study of what jesus did and said about relationships, this book guides readers on a 40day journey that will bring new health and richness to their marriages, families, friendships, and all the relationships in their lives. How to embrace jesus without religion, read more about spiritual life growth, christian living, and faith. We are loved by christ no matter our age, sex, race. Because he is the way we will never get lost, because he is the truth we will never be confused, because he is the life we need never be depressed. As ye have therefore received christ jesus the lord, so walk ye in him.
Order 5 or more copies of how jesus broke the rules to set you free and receive a free dvd magdalena. Religion reforms, relationship with jesus christ transforms relationship now lets go to relationships from a christian perspective for relationship is what christianity is all about. Well, theres an answer to that question that is obvious to most of us. In that relationship with him, its almost like a father and son relationship where you can speak about the smallest minute things with one another. Apr, 2010 be set free from manmade rules, churchianity, and legalistic religion. Jesus helps us see whats right when were with people.
Moving from rules to relationship arterburn, stephen, felton, jack on. In each case of interfaith marriage or relationship, we see that religion is no more important than skin color, height, weight, or musical talent. Licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party on behalf of music bed music bed. Yet few, if any, of the rules and regulations that are important to us as christians today seemed to matter much to jesus. God desires to have a relationship with us no matter what day of the week it is. The law said that for one day each week, no work should be done. Relationships are about love, not jesus the atheist papers. Experiencing healing from painful spiritual abuse when religion becomes a means to avoid or control life, it becomes toxic. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are. An article in the journal of family psychology examined 94 different studies on family and religion found that religion had a small but distinct positive influence in preventing divorce among couples. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. The word religion has become a pejorative in the pulpits of too many preachers, and it has spread to the pews, as well.
Religion emphasizes doctrine whereas discipleship is about living to love and enlighten others without any emphasis on doctrine. Actually, helen, i answered, tucking my mail under my arm, i think of christianity more like having a relationship with god, not being religious. We repent from our former sins, cast off our old life a life which enjoyed living in the passing pleasures of sin. Today, church attendance is at an alltime low, and the number of americans who profess to being christian is rapidly dropping. The shepherd loved his sheep, he knew them, named them, provided for and protected them. Download one of the free kindle apps to start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, and computer. Recently amazon suggested a book with the following subtitle. Mar 02, 20 jesus summarizes the rules with two rules jesus doesnt break any of the bibles rules, but he breaks certain religious rules. This morning on twitter i saw this tweet, jesus offers relationship, not rules. They say things like relationship over religion or jesus over religion, but they forget things such as repentance and sanctification. How to want more of jesus and less of you christian dating. Jesus made no plans for his disciples to organize a new religion. To all who want to enter into deeper joy, fuller obedience, greater influence, and a healthier experience of god, more jesus, less religion points the way back to the grace of the lord and shows what it takes to avoid the pitfalls of toxic faith. Yet this image perfectly captures the essence of religious extremism.
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