Sermon Tone Analysis

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Anger
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Openness
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1. INTRODUCTION
Religiosity is a way of thinking and living that people can be in, or can fall into, yet it is ungodly and can bring much harm to those who are in it, and those who are influenced by it.
For our purposes, we need to understand what religiosity is, how it works, and how to get people free from it.
Its one of the most dangerous and effective weapons used by the enemy to thrawt the work of a individual and the church at large.
Its been used disimpower every generation.
It’s focused more on doing right than loving people
2. OVERVIEW
3. Definitions and initial insights
4. RELIGIOUS THINGS PEOPLE might RELY ON TO PLEASE GOD
5. SOME characteristic beliefs and fruit of religiosity
6. more UNGODLY fruit from LIVING IN RELIGIOSITY
7. GOD’S FAVOR AND SALVATION COME THRu faith AND GRACE
8. outward VERSUS inward-BASED RELIGION
9. God is primarily interested in a right heart
10.
JESUS IS PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN A RIGHT HEART
11. true religion: caring for others, A PURE HEART
12. SOME POSSIBLE ROOTS OF RELIGIOSITY IN PEOPLE
13. key ministry issues
14.
conclusion
15. questions for contemplation & application
16. key personal thought(S)
17. key verse(S)
18. bibliography
3. DEFINITIONS AND INITIAL INSIGHTS
3.1 Definition of religion
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.[1]
3.2 A basic definition of religiosity
Religiosity is about doing religious things in order to earn God’s favor and salvation.
3.3 A deadly shift
Religiosity shifts the focus from the heart and faith, to externals and works.
Love God = want to do good works
afraid of God= trying to do the right thing to please Him
3.4 Religiosity complicates and corrupts the connection between God and people
Religiosity could be about anything or anyone that comes in between God and the believer to make the relationship between them involve extra steps or requirements (often ritual), and that makes salvation of the person about more than just loving and believing in Jesus, and obeying Him.
3.5 Religiosity within Christianity versus other faith systems
a.
In all non-Christian faith systems, religiosity is required by their god(s).
b.
In Christianity, religiosity is reprehensibleto God.
(Matthew 23)
c.
Religion is primarily about works, but true Christianity is primarily about faith!
Relationship vs religious practise
d.
This key difference sets true Christianity apart from all other faith systems!
4. RELIGIOUS THINGS PEOPLE MIGHT RELY ON TO PLEASE GOD
4.1 Some religious activities people might rely on to please God:
Right thing wrong motivation
You can sin even when doing the right thing
If your motivation for doing it is inpure
a. being associated with religious people
b. doing good works to help people (i.e.
acts of kindness, gifts to the poor, etc.)
c. engaging in religious activities (i.e.
going to church, observing special religious events, etc.)
d. keeping church rules and expectations(i.e.
regarding dress code, religious language, etc.)
e. serving in the church (i.e. as a choir member, teacher, pastor, elder, etc.)
f. witnessing to others about Jesus
g. reading the Bible
h.
trying to obey/follow what is written in the Bible
i. reading or studying Christian books
j. praying
k. tithing
This is why Religiocity is so dangerous.
Its not determined by what you do, but rather why you are doing it!
Note: All of these things are good and important to do, but they become defiled or bad things when we do them for the wrong reason—i.e. to earn God’s favor and fellowship.
5. SOME CHARACTERISTIC BELIEFS AND FRUIT OF RELIGIOSITY
Note: The following have been taken from a 2018 Charisma News article by J. Lee Grady entitled
“8 Signs You Might Be Battling a Religious Spirit.”
(see item 1 in the Bibliography).
5.1 “God is demanding—we need to perform for Him”
A religious spirit views God as a cold, harsh, distant taskmaster rather than an approachable, loving Father.
When we base our relationship with God on our ability to perform spiritual duties, we deny the power of grace.
God does not love us because we pray, read our Bibles, attend church or witness, yet millions of Christians think God is mad if they don't perform these and other duties perfectly.
As a result, they struggle to find true intimacy with Jesus.
5.2 “God accepts us on the basis of our outer lives”
A religious spirit places emphasis on doing outward things to show others that God accepts him.
We deceive ourselves into believing that we can win God's approval through a religious dress code, certain spiritual disciplines, particular music styles or even doctrinal positions.
5.3 “We need to follow traditions and formulas to get the right results”
A religious spirit develops traditions and formulas to accomplish spiritual goals.
We trust in our liturgies, denominational policies or man-made programs to obtain results that only God alone can give.
5.4 Joyless, cynical, critical; genuine joy and love are threatening
A religious spirit becomes joyless, cynical and hypercritical.
This can turn a home or a church completely sour.
Then, whenever genuine joy and love are expressed, this becomes a threat to those who have lost the simplicity of true faith.
5.5 Pride and exclusiveness
A religious spirit becomes prideful and isolated, thinking that his righteousness is special and that he cannot associate with other believers who have different standards.
Churches that allow these attitudes become elitist and dangerously vulnerable to deception or cult-like practices.
5.6 Judgmental towards sinners
A religious spirit develops a harsh, judgmental attitude toward sinners, yet those who ingest this poison typically struggle with sinful habits that they cannot admit to anyone else.
Religious people rarely interact with nonbelievers because they don't want their own superior morals to be tainted by them.
5.7 Rejection of progressive revelation and change
A religious spirit rejects progressive revelation and refuses to embrace change.
This is why many churches become irrelevant to society.
They become so focused on what God did 50 years ago that they become stuck in a time warp and cannot move forward when the Holy Spirit begins to open new understanding.
When religious groups refuse to shift with God's new directives, they become "old wineskins," and God must find more flexible vessels that are willing to implement change.
5.8 Self-righteousness, anger at those who oppose religiosity
A religious spirit persecutes those who disagree with his self-righteous views and becomes angry whenever the message of grace threatens to undermine his religiosity.
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