2. Losing My Religion Beautiful

4. Bobby was a decent guy…

5. Bobby was a decent guy… Bobby became religious

6. The good people The bad people

7. Every religion Every political system Every culture Has the "good people" And the "bad people"

8. Except The Faith New Kingdom= New Rules

9. Religion makes people good For the sake of God

10. Religion makes people good For the sake of God The Faith makes Jesus glorious For the benefit of man

11. When men are lifted up They turn people off to God Or steal his glory When God is lifted up Men are drawn to him

12. God is lifted up When we live out the truth Of the Gospel of Jesus

13. Creation- in God's image Fall- "I/We will be like God" Redemption- Jesus buys back Restoration- God restores

14. When the primary focus is me Or even other people I'm living in the Fall

15. When the focus is Jesus I'm living as a New Creation Created, Redeemed Being Restored

16. Identity Value Purpose Created, Redeemed Being Restored

17. Man's Religion distorts it Identity Value Purpose

18. Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him

19. And as Jesus reclined at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples

20. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

21. The Good Ones want to know Why Jesus is with The Bad Ones

22. But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick

23. Jesus is calling The Pharisees "well"?!?

24. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” - Matt. 9

25. Jesus is calling The Religious Leaders "Righteous"?!?!?

26. Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners"

27. Man's Religion: "We're better than you are Because we've sacrificed the things you still do"

28. Religion: Makes heroes out of men Using the wrong standard Of comparison

29. "Look at what I've sacrificed!" Focus is on me Living in the Fall Makes me good and them bad

30. The Faith: I'm different, but no better Because I sin, too And God is both Perfect And Forgiving

31. The Faith: Makes God the hero And produces deep humility In those who know him

32. Mercy: I haven't walked in your shoes

33. Mercy: I haven't walked in your shoes I have the same propensity to sin

34. Mercy: I haven't walked in your shoes I have the same propensity to sin I'm not here to look down on But to give a hand up… If you're willing

35. Only happens When Jesus is the focus

36. "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice Doing religious things for God Without loving people made in the image of God is hypocrisy

37. But did Jesus Call them "righteous"? For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners"

38. "You guys are so busy Proclaiming your righteousness That you forgot to what's Most important: Showing mercy to people I love"

39. "You guys are so sick You can't even see how ill You actually are"

40. You calling us blind, boy? If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, "We see," your guilt remains - John 9

41. You can't heal people Who are unwilling to admit They're sick "Why you with those sinners?"

42. Man's Religion always creates Good people and Bad people Accepted people and Rejected people

43. What are some Modern religious judgments For seeing people as Accepted and Rejected ?

44. When men are lifted up They turn people off to God Or steal his glory When God alone is lifted up Men are drawn to him

45. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do…

46. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger

47. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long

48. They look and act religious And then tell you what to do In order to be accepted How does that make you feel?

49. …and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others

50. They love being honored They love titles and position And favor in society How does that make you feel?

51. When men are lifted up They turn people off to God Or steal his glory When God alone is lifted up Men are drawn to him

52. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers

53. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven

54. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant

55. Don't make heroes Out of people And don't make them The focus

56. We don't do "Reverend" Our Elders serve The ground is level Function relates to gifting Not giving $$

57. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted - Matthew 23, then 7 Woes

58. Religion makes men good For God's sake The Faith makes Jesus glorious For man's benefit

59. When men are exalted: - Position and favor must be kept - We use people and get used - Religion becomes a prison - God is a means of manipulation - Hypocrisy is the norm

60. When Jesus is Glorious: - Identity is in Christ alone - People: Mentor, Mutual, Mission - Faith sets us free - God has no ulterior motives - Transparency and authenticity

61. Any of us can slip into religion And struggle With wanting acceptance From (important) people

62. When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned

63. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles

64. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group

65. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray

66. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all… When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all…

67. "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"

68. Why wasn't Paul Affected by the need To please these religious men?

69. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me- Galatians 2 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me- Galatians 2

70. The only way men Stop being heroes Is for us to die And Christ to live through us= Value, Identity, Purpose

71. When Jesus is beautiful - No manipulation - No good/bad (He alone is good) - Identity, Value, Purpose - Fear of man dies

72. All black hats One white hat Only one Hero And we're drawn to him

73. Bobby fell…

74. Bobby fell… And found freedom Because God redeems

75. We lift Jesus Just Jesus Because he alone is worthy And that is to our benefit

76. Q and A

77. Great Clothes Exchange "Thank you!"

78. Thanksgiving Dinner, 6 PM

79. Christmas Offering

80. Thank you Guests! Card + Email