Discussion Questions
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As you viewed the Gethsemane Grotto and the religious artifacts in the cave, what reminders did you have of religious rituals that fall short of a growing relationship with God?
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14 Replies
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It is amazing that this grotto is still there, after 2,000 years, preserved for us to give historical validity. I don’t think rituals or artifacts are wrong, as long as we remember the reason and the PERSON behind them. Jesus asked us, believers, to take communion, to remember Him and proclaim his death and resurrection until He comes again.
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Even the fact that we rely on “artifact” to assist us in relationship with God, such things considered artifacts also remind me that nothing that can be touched, nothing that can be seen, nothing material that we hold dear can approach or reveal to us the Glory of God.
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Looking at the Grotto, I was reminded of the dedication they had to prayer and worship. They did not have much and used whatever place they could meet. Not very comfortable and I imagine many of them cramped up, but they were solid in who they believed in.
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I was reminded of how people used to sacrifice for their sins. Also how people only follow God out of fear instead of love.
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Religious rituals are things we have been taught to do in observance of God. Some what like placing up Christmas lights or a deocorated tree in observance of Christmas. The reflect peoples attempts to connect with God in ways that they have been told are required or acceptable. Growing a relationship with God is focusing on Him. Loving Him and learning from him.
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In what ways did Jesus anger the religious leaders during His three years of public ministry within the walls of Jerusalem and along the shores of Galilee?
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16 Replies
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Jesus angered the religious leaders by the works He did and by justifying why He could do what He was doing. They could not prove Him wrong.
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Jesus, being God incarnate, was not tied to rules and regulations which the religious leaders were. They held no hold over Him and they didn’t like it one bit
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Jesus challenged there interpretation of scripture. Jesus healed people on the sabbath, infuriating the Pharisees because of their code against working on the sabbath. They added to the word of God making it very burdensome upon believers. Jesus miraculously healed, fed, and taught with authority in ways they had never heard. He didn’t come in the manner they expected, so they discounted him. So much more…
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Jesus called on their hypocrisy. The leaders expected everyone to follow the law and punished those who did not. However, there was no judgement when they themselves failed to follow one. They felt superior because of their knowledge, but they did not have what Jesus was talking about; grace and humility.
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Jesus angered the religious leaders during His three years of public ministry within the walls of Jerusalem and along the shores of Galilee through many things including miracles. They also did not like that he did things on Sundays plus various other things.
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Vernon Grounds asserts that religion has caused many unnecessary burdens in the past and continues to do so today. What does he suggest are the results? Can you think of other results besides these?
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17 Replies
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When we are tied to rituals or rules, even those in the Ten Commandments, we tend not to develop a faith that points to God as the alpha and omega and us as a faulty human taken by sin and brought down by chains of our own forging.
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I believe religion is the way to seek salvation through works, through judgement, and through specific rules or laws. It becomes a way of life to pursue some kind of level of perfection through self. The results is constant judgement of self and others for not reaching that perfection. A lot of disappointment ensues because there is a lot of failure.
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Because each religion has it’s own set of rituals, rules and beliefs.
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Religion is man’s way to God. Jesus is Emmanuel – God With Us – coming to bridge the sin gap between man and God. While rules are helpful and guiding, they are not always the answer. There are many man-made rules that are given to control. God gave us His commandments to keep us safe and guide us to a relational life with Him on earth while we wait for Him. Religion has caused many wars and arguments. Jesus came for the first time as the Prince of Peace so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
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Religion causes burdens on people’s time, energy, and relationships, all for nothing. Religion is empty, a set of rules people follow to earn salvation.
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What is unique about a relationship with Christ when compared to other religious movements and experiences of the first century?
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17 Replies
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What is unique about a relationship with Christ when compared to other religious movements and experiences of the first century, is that Christ was God in human form and experienced what humans feel physically and emotionally but was without sin.
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We can do nothing to save ourselves, except for believe and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. And then follow Him, in His word, His teaching, His way of serving and being. And He helps us in our path, encouraging, scolding, teaching, loving us.
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Serving Jesus is a love relationship. Not so with other religions that used punishment and fear to hold people to them.
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The one thing Jesus said we had to do to be saved is believe. So many religions speak of works and limitations upon God. They speak of an angry tyrannical God. Yet Jesus came in compassion so that he could forgive the sin of mankind. No other God came to die on behalf of his created.
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We believe in the only person who fulfilled all the promises of the Old Testament. We believe in the person who is the way to eternal life, and not on a bunch of rules to follow for that life. Christianity is the relationship between a true Savior and believers. Religions is a relationship with laws, not a person.