Title: Faith on Autopilot – Going Through the Motions Without Heart
Text: Matt. 15:8-9 ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
“When routine replaces relationship”
Introduction: “When faith switches to autopilot, we’re left with a moving faith that isn’t really going anywhere.”
— Dallas Willard
There’s comfort in routine. Singing the same hymns, praying the same prayers, sitting in the same pew each Sunday—it all feels safe. But these familiar patterns can lull us into a dangerous place: performing religion instead of pursuing Jesus.
Meaning in Context
1. Jesus is quoting Isaiah 29:13.- He is addressing the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who were meticulous about religious traditions but neglected true devotion to God.
2. Lip service vs. heart devotion.- The verse warns against outward expressions of faith—words, rituals, traditions—when the heart is not aligned with love for God. It’s possible to “look religious” on the outside while being spiritually distant on the inside.
3. God desires sincerity.- Worship is not about perfect words or rituals, but about a heart that loves, trusts, and submits to God. True faith engages both lips and heart.
Application Today
• It challenges us to examine our own faith: Am I just saying prayers, singing songs, or attending church out of routine? Or am I truly engaging with God in love and surrender?
• God is more concerned with our inward devotion than outward appearances (see 1 Samuel 16:7). But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
Key Takeaway
Matthew 15:8 is a reminder that genuine worship flows from the heart, not just from the lips.
I. The Danger of Empty Rituals
The Coffee Maker - A man had a fancy coffee maker that could grind beans, heat water, and brew a perfect cup every morning. But one day, it just kept running the motions—grinding, dripping, steaming—but no coffee ever came out. The machine looked busy, sounded busy, and seemed like it was doing its job, but it wasn’t producing anything of value.
Sometimes our faith can become like that coffee maker. We go through the motions—singing the songs, saying the prayers, showing up at church—but if our hearts are not engaged, if trust in God is missing, nothing of spiritual value is produced. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 15:8: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
True faith is not just activity—it’s relationship, dependence, and trust in the living God.
Jesus called out the religious leaders of His day for precisely this. They honored God with their lips, “but their hearts were far from me” (Matthew 15:8–9). When our faith becomes a checklist—Bible reading by 7, small group on Tuesday, worship on Sunday—it can quickly devolve into religious autopilot.
• Morning devotion? Check.
• Email newsletter? Read.
• Volunteer shift? On the roster.
Yet inside, our hearts may feel dry, our prayers hollow, and our worship mechanical.
II. Routine vs. Relationship
Routine without relationship is like a phone that’s powered on but never connected to Wi-Fi—everything appears ready, but nothing actually happens. Spiritual disciplines are good and God-glorifying—but they are means to an end, not ends in themselves. The goal isn’t perfect performance; it’s deep communion.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8
A. Signs You’re on Autopilot
• You can recite Scripture but feel no joy in it.
• You know what to pray but feel no urgency to pray.
• You serve out of duty, not delight.
• You compare your attendance record, not your devotion.
• You feel more accountable to your to-do list than to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
B. Awakening the Heart- How do we shift from mechanic to worshiper?
1. Pause and Repent...It has to be Intentional
Admit when you’ve been “going through the motions.” Ask God to forgive and refocus your heart.
2. Practice Presence
In prayer and worship, resist rushing on to the next thing. Sit quietly, listen, and invite Jesus into the moment.
3. Cultivate Gratitude
Start each spiritual practice by naming one thing you’re thankful for. Gratitude opens the heart to genuine encounter.
4. Step out in obedience.
Faith grows stronger when exercised (James 2:17). Taking small steps of obedience, even when it feels risky, rekindles confidence in God’s power. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
5. Remember God’s past faithfulness.
Recalling how God has worked before—through answered prayers, provision, or comfort—encourages faith for today (Psalm 77:11–12).
III. Relationship Trumps Ritual
Jesus didn’t die to create a religion—He came to establish a relationship. He invites us into Abba-Father intimacy (Romans 8:15), not into a spiritual performance.
Meaning of Abba-Father intimacy?
• Abba is an Aramaic word that means “Father” but carries a deeper sense—something closer to “Daddy” or “Papa.”
• It was a tender, familial term, used by children when addressing their fathers in love and trust.
This intimacy means:
1. Childlike Dependence – approaching God not as a distant ruler, but as a loving Father who cares deeply for us.
2. Security in His Love – knowing we are His adopted children, safe and secure in His family.
3. Open Access – we can speak to Him freely, honestly, and personally, without fear or pretense.
4. Deep Trust – like Jesus in Gethsemane, we can bring our struggles and surrender to God, trusting His will is best.
5. Identity Rooted in Sonship – intimacy with Abba Father reminds us we belong to Him, and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39).
In short, Abba Father intimacy is the closeness of being God’s child—loved, secure, and able to pour out our hearts to Him without barrier.
When routine dulls the heart, remember His invitation:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28
Rest isn’t found in ticking boxes; it’s found in leaning into the arms of our Savior.
A pastor once told the story of being on a turbulent flight. People around him were gripping the armrests, white-knuckled, as the plane shook. But a little girl a few rows up simply laid her head against her father’s chest and fell asleep. She wasn’t worried because she trusted the one holding her.
That’s what it means to rest in the arms of Jesus. Life may shake, the winds may blow, but when you know who holds you, you can find peace. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Real rest isn’t found in the absence of storms—it’s found in the presence of the Savior.
Close: Faith on Auto-Pilot
A commercial airline pilot once explained that after takeoff, most of the flight is run on auto-pilot. The computers keep the plane on course while the pilot makes only occasional adjustments. Everything looks fine from the outside—the plane is flying, passengers are relaxed, and the journey seems secure.
But he added something interesting: if the plane stays on auto-pilot too long without correction, it can gradually drift off course. The passengers may not notice at first, but the further it goes, the greater the danger of missing the destination altogether.
That is how our faith can become if we live on spiritual auto-pilot—just going through the motions of prayer, worship, or service without engaging our hearts. Outwardly, it may look like we’re on the right course, but inside, we may be drifting away from God. Jesus warned against this kind of empty religion when He said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
Faith must be more than routine; it must be relationship. Like a pilot who stays attentive to every instrument, we need to remain awake and responsive to God’s Spirit, not relying on habit alone.
Lord Jesus,
Ignite in us a fresh passion for You. Forgive us when our hearts grow cold or when we simply go through the motions. Fill us with Your Spirit so that our faith is alive, joyful, and bold. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to walk daily in the power of Your presence. May our passion for You shine brightly for others to see. In Your holy name, Amen.
