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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It seems that communion is one of these rituals that has fallen short in churches. Many may take drink the cup and eat the bread without any actual understanding of what it means.
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It reminds me of growing up in a Catholic family, people would go to church to light a candle for those who have died and pray to them, praying to Mary. Certain things that are done in a religion that are not necessarily pointing to a relationship with Christ.
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They worship the creation more then the creator.
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Any rituals and articles that are bowed before or prayed in place of the living God become idols. Religious rituals or articles keep us from a growing relationship with God.
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Praying to an object or a deity rather than to Christ himself who is a true person and in the cave the many tings in there are but a symbol of ones connection and faith in Christ himself.
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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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Jesus proclaimed himself the Son of God, Jesus set himself against the monetizing of belief in God and chased the sellers from the temple, and God taught against a lot of the tenants people of the day were required to believe.
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He angered the religious leaders by telling the truth about who he was and who they were. He talked to common people, including sinners and said he was the way, the truth and the life.
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Jesus did so many things that angered religious leaders. He performed miracles and proclaimed himself as God.
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With healings, miracles, most of all by claiming to be God.
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Jesus angered the religious leaders of His days by defying their religion. He treated them of hypocrits, people who were not able to do what they taught to others, people who were putting heavy burden on others, people without mercy.
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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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Religion is organized and has laws and rules to follow it. Many religions don’t let you have a personal relationship with Jesus.
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Often times people can get caught up in good deeds or rules. This causes them to focus more on how much they mess up rather than how God has given us mercy.
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Religion can cause unnecessary separation and clouds the belief in Christ in the trappings of complicated religions and traditions. The result of this is that people can become so focused on adhering to the practices of the religion itself that they lose sight of their pure and simple faith in Christ.
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I can’t remember the results that Vernon Grounds suggests. Unnecessary burdens in religion include circumsician, certain offerings/tithes, avoidance of certain foods, etc. These result is people give up on church and religion because they think it’s too hard and that they will never be good enough or they become works based and try to earn and maintain right standing with their religion by doing whatever the religion demands.
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Religion can cause separation based on beliefs and people to believe false truths. I think when if we follow a religion we are destined to fail. I was taught going to CCD as a child that no matter what I did, I was not good enough and would go to hell. While it is true we are not good enough, we weren’t taught that redemption and forgiveness is possible with Jesus as our Savior.
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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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What is unique about a relationship with Christ when compared to other religious movements and experiences of the first century is that it is personal. Christ is a personal God and we do not get access to heaven through works. Our religion is based on faith and not works.
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Our relationship with Christ is simple in that if we believe in him we are saved. We are not required to adhere to religions in an effort to fulfil earthly requirements of tradition or tithe to earn our way into Heaven.
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Religious movments and experiences in the first century church seem very similar to religious movements now. People breaking off into different groups based on their interpretatoin of certain scriptures in the Bible or other holy books. Have a relationship with Christ frees people to know God for themselsves, outside of the traditons of men.
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When we have a relationship with Christ, we are able to know Him and we do not have to prove ourselves by completing certain acts or rituals.
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Love,not hatred, rules and regulation.