{"id":9518,"date":"2021-02-07T16:24:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-07T21:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/?p=9518"},"modified":"2021-02-07T16:24:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-07T21:24:10","slug":"religioninvestigated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/2021\/02\/religioninvestigated\/","title":{"rendered":"Religion Investigated"},"content":{"rendered":"

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge
\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Series: Life Matters<\/strong><\/h1>\n

TITLE:\u00a0 Religion Investigated
\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Scripture: Eccl. 5: 1-7<\/strong><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we obey God, we\u2019re not doing it for God\u2026we\u2019re doing it for ourselves because God takes pleasure when we\u2019re happy\u2026When you come to church, when you worship Him, you\u2019re not doing it for God really, you\u2019re doing it for yourself.\u201d\u00a0 (Quote by Victoria Osteen)<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cMan\u2019s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.\u201d Westminster Shorter Catechism<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is possible to go to church and hear little about God and much about you.\u201d One religious leader<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NO HEART, NO MEANING<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Worship has become a whole lot about me-(my desires, my likes, my preferences<\/strong><\/span>) and a lot less about God.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe essence of sin is that man seeks his own in everything, even in God.\u201d Luther<\/p>\n

Three religious rituals Solomon exposes:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Approaching God<\/strong><\/span>) (v.1)\u00a0 \u201cAs you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.\u201d<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Prayer<\/strong><\/span>) (Vv.2-3)\u00a0\u00a0 See also Mt. 6:7-8<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Commitment<\/strong><\/span>) (Vv.4-6)<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

II.\u00a0\u00a0 RIGHT HEART, CONFIDENT APPROACH \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cTalk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.\u201d (V.7 in NLT)<\/p>\n

See story in Luke 18: 9-14<\/p>\n

When we come to God we must approach Him with (reverence and awe<\/strong><\/span>). He is not some hack we can use or blow off. He is not our homeboy or our co-pilot. He is the (captain<\/strong><\/span>). He is the One worthy of our (worship and adoration<\/strong><\/span>). He is worthy of our (respect<\/strong><\/span>).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Theme: Life on the Edge \/ Series: Life Matters<\/p>\n

Title: The Hole- Eccl 5:8-6:12<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2021 THEME: Life on the Edge Series: Life Matters TITLE:\u00a0 Religion Investigated Scripture: Eccl. 5: 1-7   \u201cWhen we obey God, we\u2019re not doing it for God\u2026we\u2019re doing it for ourselves because God takes pleasure when we\u2019re happy\u2026When you come to church, when you worship Him, you\u2019re not doing it for God really, you\u2019re doing … <\/p>\n

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