THE END OF RELIGION | WEEK 1
"JESUS OVER RELIGION"
Pastor Rory
Have you ever tried something that was supposed to make life easier… but ended up making everything harder?
Self-checkout at the grocery store is a perfect example. You go in thinking, “I’ll be in and out.” But then it starts—
“Unexpected item in bagging area.”
Scan. Error. Wait. Reset. Repeat.
Meanwhile, the people in the regular line are already walking out with their groceries.
What was designed to simplify the process actually made it more complicated.
If we’re honest, that’s how religion can feel.
You wanted God.
But what you got was a system—rules, rituals, expectations, hoops to jump through.
And somewhere along the way, relationship got replaced with performance.
When Religion Replaces Relationship
From the beginning, God never intended for people to relate to Him through empty rituals.
In fact, in the Old Testament, God said He was tired of sacrifices and ceremonies that had no heart behind them.
Religion had become a system where:
- Behavior mattered more than the heart
- Rules mattered more than relationship
- Access to God felt limited and controlled
And that’s exactly what Jesus came to confront.
The resurrection of Jesus wasn’t just a miracle to celebrate — it marked the end of an era.
Not the end of God.
The end of religion as a system of earning your way to Him.
1. Religion Closes Doors
In Acts of the Apostles 6–7, we meet Stephen—a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, doing miracles and pointing people to Jesus.
And what happens? Religious leaders feel threatened.
Not because Stephen was wrong…
but because he was bypassing their system.
He was showing people they could go straight to Jesus.
So they lied about him.
Attacked his reputation.
And eventually killed him.
That’s what religion does when it feels threatened—it protects the system, even at the cost of people.
Jesus said it clearly in Gospel of Matthew 23:13:
Religious leaders were shutting the door of the kingdom in people’s faces.
And it still happens today—just in quieter ways:
- Judgment instead of grace
- Shame instead of restoration
- Exclusion instead of invitation
Religion says: “Clean yourself up, then come.”
Jesus says: “Come, and I’ll change your life.”
2. Grace Crosses Lines
Stephen takes it all the way back to Abraham.
Before there was a temple.
Before there were rituals.
Before there was a system.
God showed up… in Mesopotamia.
Not in a holy place.
Not in a sacred building.
Not after Abraham got everything right.
God came to him.
That was radical then—and it still is now.
Most religions are built around sacred spaces:
- Temples
- Shrines
- Holy locations
But the gospel flipped that idea completely.
Because of Jesus, there is no place you have to go to find God.
He comes to you.
He meets people:
- In broken places
- In messy situations
- In moments of doubt and searching
The empty tomb is the only “sacred site” in Christianity—and it’s empty for a reason.
Jesus isn’t located somewhere.
He’s alive and moving toward people.
Grace crosses every line religion tries to draw.
3. God Calls You Out
God didn’t just meet Abraham where he was.
He called him out of it.
“Leave your country… and go to the land I will show you.”
No map.
No timeline.
No guarantees.
Just a direction—and a promise.
That’s the difference between belief and faith.
Religion keeps you stuck:
- Stuck in old patterns
- Stuck in safe systems
- Stuck in what feels predictable
But God calls you forward.
Faith always involves movement.
At some point, you have to leave what’s comfortable to step into what God is calling you to.
And if you never take that step, you may believe in God… but never actually follow Him.
It Is Finished
When Jesus hung on the cross, His final words were simple:
“It is finished.”
Not “almost done.”
Not “you finish the rest.”
Finished.
In that moment:
- The system was broken
- The barrier was removed
- The distance was gone
The temple curtain tore from top to bottom—symbolizing that access to God was no longer restricted.
No more hoops.
No more earning.
No more trying to be “good enough.”
Religion says: “Work your way to God.”
Jesus says: “I’ve already made a way.”
Now What?
This isn’t just theology. It’s an invitation.
Because if Jesus really rose from the dead—then He’s not just worth believing in.
He’s worth following.
So the real question is:
Where are you?
- Already in a real relationship with Jesus?
- Ready to begin or begin again?
- Still exploring and asking questions?
- Not interested—but open to being prayed for?
Wherever you are, this much is clear:
Jesus didn’t come to start a religion.
He came to bring you into relationship.
And that door is already open.
