Quit Quitting: Throwing Off Dead Religion (Matthew 23:5a, 23-28)

Series: Quit Quitting

Sermon: Throwing Off Dead Religion

Scripture: Matthew 23:5a, 23-28

Date: June 2, 2019

LAST WEEK'S WEEKLY GROWTH SUGGESTION: Ask God to show you any area of unbelief and trust God to untangle you.

But all their works they do to be seen by men.  (Matthew 23:5a)

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.  These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you cleanse the outside fo the cup and dish, but inside they are full fo extortion and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  (Matthew 23:23-28)

If we get more caught up in a religion, church, or denomination than we do Jesus, we will be tempted to quit.

When I say "religion" today, I'm talking about dead religion: a system that emphasizes rules, rituals, and regulations as a way to earn God's favor.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race (marathon) that is set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1)

"There is always a danger that in our worship we would simply focus on the motions, but our hearts would not be in it.  There is a danger that would follow the rules, do everything right, but not be right in our hearts."  -Kyle Idleman

Here's three helpful ways to make sure we are living with God and not simply dead religion:

1. Let's value relationship over rules
2. Let's value purpose over performance
   • "The law got one thing done: it dramatically played out the futility of our trying to please God.  But Jesus offers His work of perfection as our own."  -Kyle Idleman
   • A major theme of Hebrews is the superiority of Christ: He is better.
   • The purpose is that we help each other see that Jesus is better.
   • I'll grow frustrated
   • I'll feel exhausted
   • I'll fake it till I can't fake it anymore
     • Matthew 23:5a
   • I'll end up conceited or defeated
   • Matthew 23:27
3. Let's value helping over hindering
   • What helps?
     1. When I'm growing in my love for Jesus and others
     2. When I am worshipping from my heart
        • "The music must not turn the church into an audience enjoying the music but into a congregation singing the Lord's praises in His presence."  -John Calvin
     3. When I am responsive to the Holy Spirit