Message from Richard:
Leadership Notes
At some point we’re going to spend some time during worship examining the difference between religion and the gospel. This will be based on what author/pastor Timothy Keller expounds upon in his work, Grace Changes Everything.
Here’s a sampling of what he’s talking about:
Þ Religion: I obey, therefore I’m accepted.
Þ The Gospel: I’m accepted, therefore I obey.
Þ Religion: I obey in order to get things from God.
Þ The Gospel: I obey to get to God, to delight and resemble Him.
Þ Religion: My prayer life consists largely of petition and only heats up when I am in time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of my environment.
Þ The Gospel: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with God.
Þ Religion: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and fell superior to “the other.”
Þ The Gospel: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for his enemies and who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace, so I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. It is only by grace that I am what I am. I have no inner need to win arguments.
And there’s more. We’re going to post the full list of differences around the church. I hope this sample makes sense to you. The last thing we want is to be religious. Religion tends to be institution-centered, while the gospel is Christ-centered. Are we at peace in Christ?
Be of Good Cheer,
Richard