Sermons

True Religion

Intro:

a) When it comes to our relationship with God, It’s important that we be on the same page.

b) Our life starts to deviate when we start to define the relationship with God.

c) Every religion can be boiled down to some form of a relationship.

d) The difference between our Religion and the rest, is that we have a REAL relationship.

My religion is whatever or whomever I worship and serve the most.

1 Samuel 15:9

9 Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

15:12-23

12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

14 Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

16 “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

17 Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel 18 and then sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’ 19 So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

20 “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,

to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has rejected you as king.

Where did Saul go wrong?

1) Worship is NOT empty Ritual, nor is it the right words devoid of right living.

a) Worship IS the HEART of the relationship.

b) When we elevate ourselves, we forget who established us.

c) When we fear man more than God, we forget who has the power.

2) Serving God is NOT halfway obedience nor halfway sacrifice.

a) Serving IS the HANDS & FEET of the relationship.

b) When we hold back from God, we forget who owns everything.

c) When we rebel against God, we forget who makes the rules.

Conclusion:

a) The story of the prodigal son tells us that God never turns away a truly repentant son or daughter.

b) Romans 12 tells us that it’s God’s mercy that motivates us to serve. Because he rescued you, rescue others.

c) This is our worship, this is our service, this is OUR RELIGION.