HTDO, Religion

ICEBREAKER:
1- I don't know how it happens, but somehow the weirdest religious leaders end up getting their services broadcast on television.  What are some weird things you've seen religious people do, say, or believe?

2- Why does being religious carry such a negative connotation in culture today?

3- Have you ever heard someone say "all religions essentially believe the same thing"?  What would your response be?

TRANSITION:
When Jesus arrives on the scene, it shows the end of religion and the beginning of something new.  The age-old question of religion would remain the same: how do we bridge the gap between God and man that was created by sin?  However, Jesus had a solution that everyone desired...except the religious people.


RELIGION says its about behaving, but JESUS says its about receiving.

4- In vs 32-39, Jesus seems very exclusive and narrow minded in his claim that no one else can get to where he is going (without a new solution to the problem).  How do you respond when people tell you that Jesus being the only way to heaven is narrow minded and exclusive?

5-  It seems that many people would rather try to earn it and be a good person instead.  Why is that? Why do people struggle with accepting the free gift of salvation from Jesus?


RELIGION asks, "Who is right?", but Jesus asks, "What happened?"

6- In vs 40-44, we see that the people were extremely divided.  Religion tends to be very divisive and pits people against each other.  How can we be known for what we stand FOR instead of what we stand AGAINST?

7- If someone asked you, "What happened?" around the story of Jesus, could you respond in a clear and concise way?  Give the group an example of a 60 second response (God sent Jesus to earth, lived a sinless life, died the death we deserved, defeated death by raising from the grave).


RELIGION exists to control people, while JESUS came to give people freedom.

8- One of the tendencies that religious people have is to degrade, mock, and shun people that don't believe the same way they do.  How do you interact with people that believe differently than you do without being arrogant and looking down your nose to them?

9- What are some examples of how religion, religious people, or churches try to control people to get them to fall in line and do what they want?  How was Jesus different in his approach?


RELIGION uses condemnation, but JESUS offers restoration.

10- Religion loves to point out your sins and rub your nose in it.  Jesus wants to take your sins away.  What's the difference?

11- One of the most common examples given by religious people is the "mountain top" example.  God is at the top of the mountain, and humanity is at the bottom.  There are many different paths to the top of the mountain, but all the paths lead to the same place and eventually everyone will get there.

Do you have a response to that common theory?  (It sounds really good and actually pretty logical.  But Jesus isn't simply a path UP the mountain.  Jesus is the story of how God came DOWN the mountain to rescue us.)