"Another Round of Religion and Legalism"

Presented on November 9, 2025

Main text: Luke 11:37-54

Preached by Pastor Rich Chasse

Summary

In this sermon, the pastor examines Jesus' confrontation with religious leaders at a dinner party in Luke 11:37-54. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers who focus on external religious appearances while harboring greed and wickedness internally. The pastor warns against both religion and legalism, describing them as 'two sides of the same coin' that poison our relationship with God. He challenges the congregation to examine their own hearts for religious tendencies, emphasizing that God cares more about internal character than external religious performance. The message calls believers to be known for love and relationships rather than rules and religiosity, while maintaining biblical standards without imposing personal preferences on others.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather together today to study Your Word, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to what You want to teach us. Help us to be honest with ourselves as we examine our own lives and tendencies toward religion and legalism. Lord, we don't want to just point fingers at others, but we want to use Your Word as a mirror to see ourselves clearly. Give us humble hearts that are willing to repent and change where needed. We pray that You would speak to each of us individually and show us how to live authentically for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What's one household rule or tradition from your childhood that seemed really important at the time but now seems a bit silly or unnecessary?

Key Verses

Luke 11:37-44

Luke 11:45-52

Luke 11:53-54

Romans 14:2-3

Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to confront the religious leaders so directly at their own dinner party? What does this teach us about addressing hypocrisy?
2. The pastor mentioned that religion focuses on external appearances while leaving the inside unchanged. Can you think of ways this might happen in modern church life?
3. How can we tell the difference between biblical mandates and personal preferences in our Christian walk? Why is this distinction important?
4. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for loving 'the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplace.' What are some modern equivalents of seeking recognition for our religiosity?
5. The pastor shared his discomfort with being called 'pious.' How do you want to be known by others - as religious or as loving? What's the difference?
6. Romans 14 teaches us not to judge others over disputable matters like clothing choices. What are some areas where Christians today might judge each other over personal preferences rather than biblical principles?
7. The religious leaders were accused of loading people with burdens they wouldn't carry themselves. How can church leaders and mature Christians avoid this trap?
8. Jesus said the Pharisees were like 'unmarked graves' that made others unclean. How can religious hypocrisy negatively affect those around us, especially new believers?

Life Application

This week, examine your own heart for areas of religious pride or legalism. Choose one area where you might be judging others based on personal preferences rather than biblical mandates, and practice showing grace and acceptance instead. Also, focus on one internal heart issue (like patience, kindness, or generosity) rather than just external religious activities.

Key Takeaways

• Religion leaves us externally clean but internally unchanged - God cares more about our heart condition than our outward religious performance
• We must distinguish between biblical mandates and personal preferences, avoiding the trap of imposing our standards on others
• Legalism tends to focus on rules and recognition rather than relationships and love
• True Christianity should make us known for love and character rather than religiosity and rule-following
• When confronted with convicting truth, we should repent rather than resist or make excuses

Ending Prayer

Lord, thank You for this challenging message about the dangers of religion and legalism. Help us to be people who are genuinely transformed from the inside out, not just putting on a religious show for others. Convict us when we start to think our way of doing Christianity is the only right way, and help us to show grace to others who may have different preferences in disputable matters. May we be known for our love, not our rules. Guard our hearts against pride and hypocrisy, and help us to focus on our relationship with You rather than religious activities. Transform us to be more like Jesus, who loved people well and confronted religious pride with truth. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.

___________________

"To Miss the Greatest Opportunity Ever"

Presented on November 2, 2025

Main text: Luke 11:29-36

Preached by Pastor Rich Chasse

Summary

In this sermon from Luke 11:29-36, the pastor addresses Jesus' sharp words to a generation seeking more signs despite witnessing His miracles and teachings. Jesus compares them unfavorably to the Queen of Sheba who traveled far to hear Solomon's wisdom, and to the Ninevites who repented at Jonah's preaching, declaring that 'something greater than Solomon' and 'something greater than Jonah' stands before them. The message emphasizes that people often have sufficient evidence but refuse to believe because they love darkness rather than light. The pastor then applies this principle to three contemporary issues: climate change, gender identity, and the false religion of Islam, arguing that the world's propaganda deceives people who reject God's truth. He calls believers to live as light in a dark world, being transformed by Scripture rather than conformed to worldly thinking.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather together today to study Your Word, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to teach us. Help us to set aside our preconceived notions and worldly thinking, and instead be receptive to Your truth. Lord, we pray that You would speak to each person here according to their specific needs, and that we would leave this time changed by Your Word. Give us wisdom and discernment as we discuss these important matters together. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What's one piece of technology or invention that you initially thought was unnecessary or wouldn't catch on, but now you use regularly?

Key Verses

Luke 11:29-32

Luke 11:33-36

John 3:19

Romans 12:2

Ephesians 5:8-9

Questions

1. Why do you think the people kept asking Jesus for more signs even after witnessing His many miracles?
2. What does Jesus mean when He says 'something greater than Solomon is here' and 'something greater than Jonah is here'?
3. How does the example of the Queen of Sheba challenge us in our approach to seeking God's wisdom?
4. What does it mean that 'people love darkness rather than light because their works were evil' (John 3:19)?
5. How can we tell the difference between someone genuinely seeking more information about faith versus someone making excuses?
6. What are some examples of 'world propaganda' that Christians today might be susceptible to believing?
7. How does Romans 12:2 ('do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind') apply to our daily lives?
8. What does it mean practically to 'live as children of light' in our current culture?

Life Application

This week, identify one area where you may have been influenced by worldly thinking rather than biblical truth. Spend time in God's Word studying what Scripture says about this topic, and ask God to transform your mind in this area. Also, look for an opportunity to be a 'light' to someone in your life who may be walking in spiritual darkness.

Key Takeaways

• People often reject the gospel not because they lack evidence, but because they don't want to believe and change their lives
• Jesus is greater than any Old Testament figure - He is God in flesh deserving of our complete trust and obedience
• The world system spreads propaganda that deceives even believers, making it crucial to have our minds renewed by Scripture
• As believers, we are called to be light in a dark world, living according to our new identity in Christ
• We must be discerning about worldly ideologies and measure everything against the truth of God's Word

Ending Prayer

Lord, thank You for being the light that shines in our darkness. We confess that we have sometimes been deceived by the world's thinking and have not always lived as the light You've called us to be. Help us to be people who seek You with all our hearts and respond obediently to the truth You've revealed in Your Word. Give us courage to stand for biblical truth in a world that often opposes it, and help us to do so with love and grace. Transform our minds daily through Your Word, and use us to shine Your light to those around us who desperately need to know You. We pray this in Your precious name, Amen.