From Religion To Relationship Series

From Religion to Relationship

Series: Holy Conversations: Talking about God in Everyday Life

Brad Bailey - October 15, 2023

Note: These notes represent more than what could be fully spoken or covered due to time. In particular, the

many points about how people dismiss “religion” that are a part of the second point… were noted far more

briefly… but for the sake of how further thoughts may be helpful…I have kept all the thoughts here.

Intro

One of the more interesting dynamics in my own experience…is when someone asks what I do.

When I tell them I’m a pastor… it often leads to some interesting responses.

Some try to express appreciation… some almost apologetic… some fascinated…like they just met an

alien…and some express surprise… as if to say…“you seem so normal.”

But invariably… the immediate direction is similar to what you may experience if you tell someone you went

to church… or are a Christian…

They ask… oh what kind of church… where is your church…and this may lead to some more

questions that may reflect that they are just looking for some reference point… but can also seem

strangely secondary and separated from the spiritual life that exists in Jesus.

What I realize is that what fills my heart is a relationship with God…but most people begin with is

what we might refer to as religion.

The word “religion” isn’t inherently negative in itself. It really depends on what we associate with it. The

word “religion” in it’s most basic use may simply refer to “a system of beliefs and practices relating to

the divine.” (Encarta) …but in our current cultural use it has come to emphasize the external form of

such systems and structures.

So today we are continuing our series entitled Holy Conversations: Talking about God in everyday

life. [1]

Many people sense that there is a minefield of misconceptions and misgivings about Christianity….

so we may think we need to keep our relationship with God private… that we can’t talk have

conversations about spiritual issues.

Whether you are committed to Christ… or still exploring … we should all sense that we’ve lost

something as fundamental as anything in life…if we can’t talk about the big questions of life… about

spiritual beliefs.

The truth is that many people may be more guarded…but they are not closed.

What those who don’t yet know Christ need, is not a sales pitch, argument, or information dump.

Instead, they need caring, thoughtful conversation partners.

We are finding freedom to have conversations that can include talking about the big questions of

life… about spiritual beliefs… about God.

In this series we are challenging ourselves to see other people as Jesus does… and to find freedom

to relate not out of guilt… not out of fear…but out of love.

And today…we are going to explore

Helping conversations get beyond external religion to that of a personal relationship.

Even within the time of Jesus…it had become associated with how human life tried to reach God in vain

ways…and often became a means that simply divided people… or by which one group claimed to be

superior to another.

This challenge has always been at hand regarding Jesus.

In this series we are learning from Jesus by drawing from one extended conversation … a

conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman.

Let’s listen again to the conversation between Jesus and a woman in Samaria.

John 4:4-26

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot

of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was

from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His

disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

As we noted in our first week… this conversation arises simply because Jesus was on his way

somewhere… and he is thirsty from his travels.

Holy conversations can arise in everyday life. They arise in the basic common ground we share with

others… like thirst.

The first thing she says to Jesus…

John 4:9

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask

me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

She raises the issue of how they are separated by their religious identity.

Many people today… think in similar categorical ways. Many times when I meet someone who is of

Jewish descent… they may sense some connection… but overall… there is a categorical separation. Two

separate religions… two separate groups.

And it’s more about being born into a category… than real personal beliefs.