When God Hates Religion

Upsetting Equilibrium

The preacher begins by getting the congregation off balance by introducing the problem/challenge/question that is at the heart of the text without giving it away. Something important in our lives/hearts is not as it should be.

Analyzing Discrepancy

The person who attends church,

Not wanting to come to your sin leads to lack of knowledge

Lack of knowledge leads to destruction

Religion is the bandade

Problem: The sin of man causes the wrath of God.

Solution A: Religion will appease God. Religion is like the windshield wipers.

Gospel-Solution: Go to God.

Cluing Resolution

Once the congregation has seen that all our logical and reasonable human answers to the text’s malady are hopeless, suddenly the gospel breaks in. Since the gospel is something neither eye has seen or ear has feard or mind has conceived (1 Corinthians 2), it tends to break in with a counterintuitive force. There is a Eureka moment.

Experiencing Gospel

This flows right out of the Aha! (which is really only the brief moment of sudden realization that God has another answer in Christ!). The gospel is now proclaimed to answer the malady of the text.

Anticipating Consequences

The original problem/challenge/question is now seen through the eyes of the gospel in a whole new light. If it is a text of appropriation the gospel is celebrated here in the presence of the people. If it is a text of application the implication for life are traced out.