Title: Too Much Religion, and not Enough Relationship
Text: Zechariah 7:4-14
Author: Darrow Perkins
INTRODUCTION: I'd like to start out by asking a few questions. "Are religious rituals right or wrong? Are they pleasing to the Lord or displeasing? Does the Lord require that we fast or observe other traditions our churches or Scriptures recommends? What about special religious celebrations and memorial services? Put another way, are church traditions and ceremonies helpful to us? And which ones are really required by God? Furthermore, should we observe religious traditions and rituals even if they are not commanded by God?" These are very good questions because we should always take notice of what we're doing in the name of religion and ask ourselves the question, "am I doing this for me or to be seen doing it, or am I doing it because it's what God wants me to do?" Too many times, we find ourselves doing things out of religion or doing things religiously, and not because of our relationship with God. Here's what I'm talking about:
- We go to worship on Sundays;
- We clap when somebody tells us to clap;
- We say "Amen" when somebody tells us to say "Amen;"
- We sing because somebody encouraged us to do so;
And we primarily do them in the name of "religion."
I believe we have to ask ourselves do we do what we do in the name of religion or because of our relationship with the Lord. We should examine ourselves and see if what we're doing is "Too Much Religion, and Not Enough Relationship!"
BACKGROUND/TEXT: Our text today is found in the Book of Zechariah. This book is contained in the portion of the Bible known as the "minor prophets" and I will tell you that there's nothing minor about what this prophet had to say. The name Zechariah means "God remembers"; his father's name was Berechiah and his name means "God or Jehovah will bless"; his grandfather's name was Iddo, whowas the head of the priestly families coming back from exile ...
Text: Zechariah 7:4-14
Author: Darrow Perkins
INTRODUCTION: I'd like to start out by asking a few questions. "Are religious rituals right or wrong? Are they pleasing to the Lord or displeasing? Does the Lord require that we fast or observe other traditions our churches or Scriptures recommends? What about special religious celebrations and memorial services? Put another way, are church traditions and ceremonies helpful to us? And which ones are really required by God? Furthermore, should we observe religious traditions and rituals even if they are not commanded by God?" These are very good questions because we should always take notice of what we're doing in the name of religion and ask ourselves the question, "am I doing this for me or to be seen doing it, or am I doing it because it's what God wants me to do?" Too many times, we find ourselves doing things out of religion or doing things religiously, and not because of our relationship with God. Here's what I'm talking about:
- We go to worship on Sundays;
- We clap when somebody tells us to clap;
- We say "Amen" when somebody tells us to say "Amen;"
- We sing because somebody encouraged us to do so;
And we primarily do them in the name of "religion."
I believe we have to ask ourselves do we do what we do in the name of religion or because of our relationship with the Lord. We should examine ourselves and see if what we're doing is "Too Much Religion, and Not Enough Relationship!"
BACKGROUND/TEXT: Our text today is found in the Book of Zechariah. This book is contained in the portion of the Bible known as the "minor prophets" and I will tell you that there's nothing minor about what this prophet had to say. The name Zechariah means "God remembers"; his father's name was Berechiah and his name means "God or Jehovah will bless"; his grandfather's name was Iddo, whowas the head of the priestly families coming back from exile ...
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