RELIGION VS RELATIONSHIP | PAUL DAUGHERTY

About this sermon

#religion #Jesus #religionvsrelationship #pauldaugherty #victory #tulsa #sermons #church SERMON NOTES ---John 3:1-20 ---JESUS and NICODEMUS--Many have replaced information for intimacy. There’s a BIG difference between knowing about Jesus- and actually knowing Jesus- knowing about the healer, the savior, redeemer, and father- and actually knowing Him as YOUR healer, savior, father, friend… ----The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close to Jesus to get all the benefits but not so close that it requires anything from them. ----religion keeps us on a treadmill--- weighed down with burdens—bags---rocks—shame---guilt---unworthy---searching and striving to earn his love, his grace, his mercy, his promises-------Treadmill--- if other people are running faster- I have to run faster- performance- the feeling of constantly having to run- When you are planted in performance you are sure to burn out fast- fruit will come but it wont last—Because you are never able to REST because if you’re resting you feel GUILTY- someone else is out there- outperforming you… THIS PRODUCES exhausted Christians, exhausted pastors, exhausted men and women of God… -Mark 6:30-31- come away with me and take a rest… Moving From Religion to Relationship Means: 1---Moving from obligation to gratitude. (I have to vs. I get to---Blessing vs burden—not taking God for granted- or church- or His presence---Story- my son loves going on bike rides with dad- we feed ducks- we pet puppies- we play chase- he says THANK YOU DADDY) 2---Moving from “been there, done that” to “expectancy for so much more.” (Free to experience God in new ways. --No more boxes of familiarity---never arrived, always hungering for more of God) 3---Moving from hypocrisy to honesty. (No more Pretending ---come as you are—God loves it when we get real- get honest- get open- and he does surgery-) 4---Moving from merciless to merciful. (Stripping off a Judgmental spirit and being clothed in Compassion---Grace----receiving it and giving it on a hourly basis) 5---Moving from trusting my ongoing works to resting in His Finished Work. (Humility---keeps us on our knees for God’s mercy & need for His help) 6---Moving from enduring religion to enjoying God. (having fun following Jesus, laughing, smiling, living amazed by his love) These are characteristics of someone in a healthy relationship with God. 7---Moving from control to freedom. (---Free to ask for Help---Allowing Holy Spirit to lead & help me embrace His new ways) 8---Moving from religious rule keeping to grace inspired obedience. (me wanting to honor my parents because of their grace- me wanting to honor my wife because of her grace- we are so much better at doing good when it’s motivated by grace instead of guilt. 9---Moving from Me-centered to JESUS-centered---our identity, our self-worth, our righteousness,-it’s all in JESUS. ---Matt. 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” HOW YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH VICTORY Victory Church Website: http://victory.com Victory Church Facebook: http://bit.ly/2lfgplu Victory Church Instagram: http://bit.ly/2E7Qd48 Victory Church Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lp29pM Paul Daugherty Facebook: http://bit.ly/2BOyCN9 Paul Daugherty Instagram: http://bit.ly/2CiieFH Paul Daugherty Twitter: http://bit.ly/2E9tx3q

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