Messages

If you want to know why religion fails look no further than what it means to be human.

Human Nature

By nature mankind suppresses the emotions stirred by the knowledge of God in order to be at peace with rejecting God! (1:18-20)

By nature mankind intellectually rationalizes the rejection of God’s authority in order to justify the creation of his own gods that mankind has authority over! (1:21-27)

By nature mankind values the approval of man more than God. (1:28-32)

Conclusion: It is in the nature of all mankind to serve ourselves rather than God. Therefore, any man driven effort to glorify God (religion) will always fail because in the end it will really be about glorifying ourselves. By nature mankind rejects God for himself!

Challenge:

Are you defining morality by your terms (“religious” or not) or are you submitting to God and thus submitting to his terms?

Identify the areas and ways in your life that you are rejecting the authority of God, be honest about the price you, your family and those around you are paying for it, and then repent and claim God’s grace!

Related Discussion Guide: The Wrath of God Revealed

How should Christians respond to the pressure of being religious?

Don’t Be Ashamed To Abandon Religion

Romans 1:8-17

The Church in Rome was famous because of the Gospel! (1:8)

As an Apostle, Paul had authority over the church but he did not see his standing or spirituality as greater than the church. (1:9-15)

The Gospel is so powerful that it makes no sense to even dabble with religion! (1:16-17)

Challenge: Romans 1:8-17 should lead us to pray something like this,

Dear Lord grant me to have faith in you, therefore teach me what you alone did for me that I may be blown away by it; that I may be confident that I am eternally secure by it; and that I may be committed to joyfully walk under your rule and thus in your ways (righteousness!) because of it!

Related: Religion vs. The Gospel

God never planned on your success and that’s REALLY good news!

Message Notes

1. Paul didn’t see himself as one called to achieve success for God but rather to bask in what God had achieved for him! – Romans 1:1
   1. Paul considered his greatest joy to be a slave of Christ! – “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus”
   2. Paul new He didn’t make himself an apostle nor see his apostleship as something to benefit himself. - called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2. God’s plan has always been for Jesus to succeed! – Romans 1:2-6
3. God’s plan is to come to us, not us to Him! – Romans 1:7

Conclusions: If you gave your life to Jesus it’s because He called you. If He called you it’s His will for you to live in faith and submission to Him and His will is never thwarted. He is and will be your success! Likewise, if you are being convicted of your need to surrender to Him then know there is no reason not to do it. If you are being convicted that means your being invited! Because it’s based on what He did we can totally surrender to Him for who He is (GOD) without worry of failure!

Related: Life Group Discussion Guide

Learn how a former slave girl rose to prominence and sparked the Gospel's explosion into Europe. Snowbird director Spencer Davis leads us through the story of Lydia in Acts 16.

*Notes are not available for this message.