It's Time To Lose Your Religion

“It’s Time to Lose Your Religion”

Scripture Reference: John 3:1-10

Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on July 18, 2021

Delivered by John Daniel Johnson

www.mountzionfamily.com

Introduction

Question—

Aren’t you glad Jesus loves sinners?

Illustration

The preacher’s Sunday sermon was on the Sin of Unforgivness. Toward the end of the service, He asked his congregation, “how many of you have forgiven their enemies”? Only a few raised their hands. The preacher sad, “We’re not leaving to until we all learn that unforgiveness is a sin and we need to forgive each other. The preacher kept right on preaching past noon.

He stopped again and ask, “how many of you are ready to forgive your enemies?” About 80% of the church raised their hands. He preacher replied, “that’s not everyone.” So he kept on preaching about the sin of not forgiving our enemies. Ten minutes till one, he stopped service again and asked, “how many of you now are ready to forgive your enemies?” Every hand in the whole sanctuary was raised…except one.

It was the hand of a dear, elderly 95-year old woman. The preacher addressed her directly. He said, “Ms. Flossie, are you really not willing to forgive your enemies?”

She replied, “I don’t have any enemies; therefore I have not need to forgive them.” The preacher called Ms. Flossie up the front of the church. Once she arrived up front, the preacher asked, “What is your secret to not have any enemies.” She replied, “You’ve got to outlive them all.”

Illustration

Billy had to drive to a business trip in Tennessee and got accidently took a wrong turn and ended up way up in the mountains. He saw a little boy playing in his front yard with his puppy, and he stopped to ask him for directions. The man asked, “Sonny, do you know where the nearest town is at?” The kid said, “No sir, I don’t.” Then the man said, “Well do you know where the nearest store is at?” The little boy said, “No.” And the man said, “Well where does this road goes?” The little boy said, “I don’t know.” Somewhat frustrated but with chuckle the man said “Well, you don’t know much of anything do you?” The little boy smiled back and said, “Well, I know I ain’t lost.”

Application

This week we’re talk about a man who was lost. He was religious. He was a leader in the synagogue. If he were alive today, he’d have been in the choir. He would have been the most dedicated member. His wife would have been active throughout the entire church. He was the one who was always called on to pray for the congregation because of the beauty of his words. He would have been the one that would have been considered by the congregation as the man who as the most faithful. However, when he met Jesus, he realized that that all his religious acts were not enough to gain him entrance into Heaven. If there is one thing this man can teach us today is that it is “Time to Lose Your Religion.”

Quick Outline

1. The Man

2. The Moon

3. The Mixup

4. The Messiah

5. The Message

Scripture

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

(John 3:1-10)

Sermon Outline

The Man

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. These were very religious people. In fact, the Pharisees were part of the hottest church in town. Anybody who wanted to be seen as pure and righteous wanted to be part of their synagogue. In fact, they were so dedicated to being pure and righteous, that they were often called the “pious” ones!