When religion leaves you feeling empty, Jesus offers something real, personal, and life-giving.
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Welcome to Crosscreek Community Church’s Podcast channel! Located in the Pacific Northwest, Crosscreek Community Church offers a welcoming online church community for those on a journey to discover their meaning in life, explore their doubts, ask questions, and discover more about God, Jesus, Christianity, the Bible, and more.
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Main Ideas:
Many of us have been taught to treat faith like a vending machine.
Religion, as most of us have experienced it, is empty and lifeless.
Religion divides us into who is in and who is out.
Jesus breaks down the cultural, racial, and religious walls we use to keep each other away.
Religion creates shame. Jesus replaces it with dignity.
Jesus doesn’t run from our mess… he offers to clean it.
Religion tells us that if we just find the right formula, we’ll finally reach God.
Jesus replaces religion with himself.
We can’t reach God through religion because he has already reached us through Jesus.
Religion says earn it. Jesus says enjoy it.
Religion says perform. Jesus says come home.
Invitation:
Each morning this week…
Remind yourself: I am seen, loved, and enjoyed.
Ask yourself: Who around me needs to be seen, loved, and enjoyed?
Discussion Questions:
What part of the message or story stood out to you the most? Why do you think that is?
In what ways have you been influenced by religion that told you who was “in” and who was “out”?
Read John 4:21-24. What do you think it means to worship “in spirit and in truth”? What might that look like in your everyday life?
What is one specific step you want to take this week to stop performing and start simply enjoying Jesus?
How can your group pray with you this week?
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📜 |TRANSCRIPT →
https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/media/2025-08-03.pdf
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