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Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
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Losing Your Religion — Embracing Grace
Religion is all about what you think you have done for God. Grace is all about what God has done for you. God’s grace will cause you to lose your religion.
The Bright Morning Star – Steve Orr
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright Morning Star." (Revelation 22:16)
For me, the Bright Morning Star is a fantastic metaphor for the coming of a new day. Who brings this new day to our hearts? Jesus. When Jesus says He is the Bright Morning Star, he says…
I am your new day! With me, you get a new start. Yes, it's the dawning of a new day of creation, for morning has broken like the first morning. Behold, I make all things new! I am your daily shining light who ...
What ‘Christ Died For Us’ Meant to the Fathers – Brad Jersak
The following summary represents what we find in the classics of early Christian thought as they recalled the 'faith once delivered,' and sought to articulate the meaning of the Incarnation in light of the revelation that Christ was both fully human and fully divine.
For primary readings on this, see for example:
Athanasius, On the Incarnation
Gregory of Nazianzus, Letters in Critique of Apollonarius
Cyril of Alexandria, On the Unity of Christ
When the apostles say Christ suffered and died for us, once for all (Rom 6:10; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 3:18), ...
What is the Gospel? – Part 1 by Greg Albrecht
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, "The righteous will live by faith."—Romans 1:16-17
Paul 1) categorically states that he is not ashamed of the gospel, 2) defines the gospel as the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, and 3) asserts that the gospel inherently includes a righteousness from God—a ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 20, 2025 - Quote for the Day:
“It is not easy to accept God’s grace. Accepting Jesus Christ is itself a repudiation of our world and its religion. Accepting God’s grace is humbling, and leads to deep repentance as we realize, on the one hand, our inadequacy, and on the other, God’s perfect love.”
Originally published in:
Bad News Religion
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Do You Really Want What You Deserve?
The good news is that because of God’s grace we do not get what we deserve.
The End of Religion
Jesus came to put an end to the oppressive demands of religion. Jesus didn’t and doesn’t care about all of the futile religious attempts to "get right with God" because in him God made it right.
That One Thing – Kerri Lynn
(Taken from Matthew 19:16-22)
I sit in Jesus’s shadow, hugging my knees to my chest as I watch him, feeling defensive, feeling like maybe I don’t know this cool-eyed person as much as I thought I did. I came to this story to rub shoulders with the crowd but I can’t do that today – instead my eyes are stuck to him. These stories always ask me a question with two parts.
What do I know of myself? What do I know of him?
Some days the answer is immediate, but other days, like today, I’m not sure the answer will come at all. The sun reinforces my ...
Why “Without the Religion?” -Greg Albrecht
Christianity Without the Religion -
An Interview With Greg Albrecht:
Q. In 2006 you launched an ambitious, and somewhat unorthodox way to worship – without entering into specific building. Its services are on the Internet, and you say it’s Christianity Without the Religion. Is there a need for the service(s) you are providing?
A. George Barna is a leading authority on what is happening within North American Christianity. One of his recent books, Revolution, reports that in the early 21st century church attendance has fallen throughout North America, and ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 17, 2025 - Quote for the Day:
“God’s grace and legalistic religion are not two equally inadequate spiritual extremes. Grace is the answer for legalism. There are times and places when grace is abused, when it is misunderstood and when it becomes an excuse for ‘do-as-you-please-ism’ – but abuses of God’s grace do not define or nullify it. Misunderstandings of God’s grace do not mean it is permissive. God’s grace is anything but. Legalism, on the other hand, is a virus that can destroy hope, joy and new life in ...
Why Ask? Why pray for gifts God has already given? Brad Jersak
“Forgive us our trespasses…”
“Lord, have mercy.”
“Come, Holy Spirit.”
The prayers of God’s people are replete with requests for that which God has already graciously and abundantly provided. So why bother? Is praying for the gifts God has already given an act of unbelief, a confusion of theology or an offense to God? Some seem to think so and in a sense, may be right. But both the question and answer are important and far more nuanced than an either/or knee-jerk reaction. What are the perils and what is the point of asking for what we’ve ...
Be Content – Trust In God
Jesus tells us that the faith he imparts to us will help us overcome any and all obstacles we may encounter. Pastor Greg talks about some of the obstacles we can overcome with the faith God gives us, by his grace.
How Grace Works – by Greg Albrecht
Billy was just finishing some art work, so he was the last first-grader to leave the classroom for recess. Just as he stood up and got ready to run out to the playground, he looked down and was horrified to see a puddle between his feet.
He could not remember when it happened nor could he imagine how it could have happened. His mind was already racing on fast forward – he visualized his humiliation when the boys and the girls came in from recess and made fun of him for wetting his pants. This was going to be the worst day of his life!
Billy was petrified by ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 15, 2025 - Quote for the Day:
“I do not believe eternal destiny is ‘locked in’ at death. Nothing in Scripture would lead us to assume this, but of course much dogma within Christendom depends upon it. Many believe that their attempts to proclaim the gospel and ‘save’ people are the primary if not the only way God uses to channel his grace and to illuminate the minds of those whose hearts and minds are darkened. I say to that – if eternal destiny depends on religion, then God is not God!”
Originally published in:
C...
Making All Things New
The focus of today’s sermon is that Christian life is always something new. Authentic Christianity often differs widely from the status quo of our culture. Authentic Christianity is also the precise opposite of religious traditions, prompting many in Christendom to protest, in a vain attempt to safeguard their traditions saying, "but, we’ve never done it that way before."
The True Riches
In today’s message, Pastor Greg shows how Isaiah is using money to draw attention to God’s amazing riches for us. Isaiah's message encourages us to buy into the heavenly economy of God's amazing grace.
CWR Video – Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines
In this CWR Video, Ed discusses these two terms and how they can be used in religious settings.
https://vimeo.com/1018069160
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Gratitude – by Ed Dunn
Special Partner Letter from May 2025:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4)
We say Grace (give thanks) before meals, and I say Grace before the concert or play, before I open a book, before sketching, painting and swimming, before walking, dancing and playing. I say Grace before I dip the pen in ink. – G.K. Chesterton
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful, and the readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness. – Oxford Dictionary
When you arise in the morning, ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 13, 2025 - Quote for the Day:
“A Pentecostal Christian was once invited by his friend to attend a staid Presbyterian church, where the services resembled a quiet library. The Pentecostal man was used to exuberant services of his church, which resembled an enthusiastic crowd at a basketball game. When the Presbyterian pastor made a particularly inspiring point in his sermon, the Pentecostal man yelled out ‘Praise the Lord.’
This passion troubled the solemn Presbyterian congregants. When the high-spirited visitor continued to voice his ...
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