Traditions Of Men

Traditions of Men

October 28, 2012 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We must not allow our traditions to supersede God’s commandments or replace loving God.

Focus Passage: Mark 7:1-13

Supplemental Passage: And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40 NASB)

Introduction: A very poor holy man lived in a remote part of China. Every day before his time of meditation in order to show his devotion, he put a dish of butter up on the window sill as an offering, since food was so scarce. One day his cat came in and ate the butter. To remedy this, he began tying the cat to the bedpost each day before the quiet time. This man was so revered for his piety that others joined him as disciples and worshipped as he did. Generations later, long after the holy man was dead, his followers placed an offering of butter on the window sill during their time of prayer and meditation. Furthermore, each one bought a cat and tied it to the bedpost.

I. Substitute for Knowing God’s Word

a. “Neglecting the commandment of God” (vs 8)

b. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11 NASB)

II. Substitute for Serving God

a. “Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (vs 7)

b. “experts at setting aside the commandment of God”

c. "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)

d. Church attendance, Giving/Tithing

III. Substitute for Loving God

a. “But their heart is far away from me.” (vs 6)

b. We praise the Lord on Sunday morning, but what about Thursday afternoon? Or Friday night?

Invitation: Only being a Christian on Sunday morning doesn’t make you a Christian at all. In fact, you better look deep in your own heart, to see if you really have a relationship with Jesus. If you don’t, all the traditions in the world won’t help you.