Righteous Or Religious?

*******SERMON OUTLINE*******

Righteous Or Religious?

1) Introduction...

The George Barna Research Institute

conducted a survey that revealed something

about religious life in America that may

come as a shock to you.

According to the survey:

94 percent of Americans claim to believe in God.

And out of that 94 percent,

only 45 percent said that they attend some

form of worship on a regular basis.

Regular meaning at least once a month.

Now of that 45 percent, only 4 percent said

they actually practice their faith daily.

So when 94 percent of people believe in God

but only 4 percent practice their faith what

are the other 90 percent practicing?!?

Worldly methods? Yes!

Are they trying to make it on their own

merit? Yes!

Are they practicing Sin? Yes!

The Bible tells us in Romans 14 that

anything that’s not of faith is of sin.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I believe one of the main culprits is religion.

Church, I think we all need to examine

ourselves, and ask ourselves this

question...

Are we righteous or just religious???

2) The Good Samaritan...

a) Read...

Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

Luk 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Luk 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luk 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Luk 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?

Luk 10:37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

b) Two options...

The story of the "Good Samaritan" is a

great illustration of the righteousness of

God verses the religious point of view.

There is a man lying in the road who has

been a victim of violence.

You can see such people on the streets of a

neighborhood near you.

People who’ve been a victim of violence or

in some other way are in need of help.

Homeless, bound up by addiction, religion.

They might even be friends or family.

Maybe it’s someone who just needs to hear

an encouraging word.

Or maybe it’s someone that God has put in

your path so that you might minister to

them.

Maybe they’ve never heard of Jesus.

We’ve all had the opportunity to be the

"good Samaritan".

The question is not if we see the beaten

man.

The question is are we willing to stop what

we’re doing and come to the man’s aid.

Are you willing take a minute out of your

day to minister to a stranger, a friend, a

family member.

Are you willing to show the love of God to

someone who needs it.

Are you willing to put self, religion, and

whatever else might be hindering you

aside, and change somebody’s life forever.

You never know. The life you change

might be your own.

It is in the moment that you face these

situations that you will find out whether

you are religious or righteous.

c) Religion and it’s excuses...

Take a look at the text.

There were three men traveling along the

road from Jerusalem to Jericho that day,

and each of them came upon the injured