1. SIMPLY CHURCH

2. remove the varnish of human tradition to uncover the original, unadulterated new testament church GOAL

3. (And why this isn’t a bad word!) WHAT IS RELIGION?

4. Latin: religio Derived from ligare “bind, connect” Re (again) + ligare (to connect) = to reconnect

5. Lost connection He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Gen 3:24 …your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. Isa 59:2

6. Covenant with Israel “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine.” Ex 19:5 “I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” Lev 26:11-12 “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Deut 4:7

7. Future covenant “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Ezek 37:27 “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.” Ezek 43:7

8. Covenant of Christ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:13 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him… Col 1:21-22 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. Heb 7:19

9. Covenant of Christ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Jas 4:8 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession… Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people… 1 Pet 2:9-10 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Rev 21:3

10. WHY SHOULD I SEEK AUTHORITY?

11. Negative examples Covenant at Sinai Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Lev 10:3 Entering the promised land The sin of Achan, Joshua 7 Bringing ark to Jerusalem The sin of Uzzah, 2 Sam 6; 1 Chron 13 Beginning of the church The sin of Ananias & Sapphira, Acts 5

12. Jesus’ example “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 5:30 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38 “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” John 8:28 “I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” John 8:29

13. Jesus’ example “For I have not spoken on m own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” John 12:49 “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” John 14:10

14. Jesus’ teaching “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3-4 “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” John 14:23-24 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10 “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:14

15. HOW DO I DRAW NEAR TO GOD?

16. Two competing views Self-centered religion Romans 1 False “gods” are created in their image (v 23, 25, 28) All about fulfilling own selfish desires (v 24, 26, 28-30) Matthew 6 Worship of self (v 1, 2, 5, 16) Matthew 15 Disregard God’s commandments to follow tradition (v 3, 6, 9)

17. Two competing views God-centered religion Philippians 1 Based on knowledge (v 9) Knowledge leads one to approve the “excellent” (v 10a) Approval leads to a pure life (v 10b) All to God’s glory (v 11)

18. Three questions What did Jesus and His apostles SAY? What did Jesus and His apostles DO? What can we INFER from Jesus and His apostles (includes underlying principles)?

19. Music in worship APPLICATION

20. Direct statements “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.” Rom 15:9 I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 1 Cor 14:15 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Eph 5:19 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:16 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Heb 13:15 Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. James 5:13

21. Examples And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matt 26:30 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

22. Relevant Principles Silence Hebrews 7:14 Also Lev 10:1-2; 2 Sam 7; 1 Chron 13) Unity Romans 14