Losing Your Religion
Summer at The Bayou - Part 2
July 6, 2025
WW1: Bombs, death, awakening. Head, Heart, Hands.
“If life is this fragile … What's truly solid? What’s worth living and dying for?” - C.S. Lewis
Tolkien, not a myth to be dismissed, but a master narrative.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen — not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” - C.S. Lewis
Another seeker came to Jesus in the night. Griff calls him: Nick at Night.
“1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’” John 3:1-2 (NIV)
Respected, religious, intelligent, but something is missing.
Head: Knowing about Jesus isn’t the same as knowing Him.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 (NIV)
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:4 (NIV)
“5Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 7You must be born again.” John 3:5-7 (NIV)
Routines, tradition, borrowed faith. “Being born in a garage doesn’t make you a car — just like being born in a church doesn’t make you a Christian.” - Billy Graham
Wear a cross, verses…action doesn’t align with faith = contradiction.
“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Nicodemus was confused: “How can this be?” (John 3:9)
Jesus makes it unmistakably clear when He says …
“16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Insight, Invitation, Religion, Relationship. Everything Shifts.
Because what Jesus says to Nicodemus, He says to you.
Tension: Not rebellion, but imitation. That’s Not Surrender, but Deception.
“21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
Heavy Question: Have you truly surrendered to Jesus — or settled for a version of Him that fits your lifestyle?
Well Done, or I never knew you. What will you hear?
Hands and Feet. Faith isn’t real until it moves you or costs you something.
“38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. … 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.” John 19:38-39 (NIV)
75 lbs = $250,000 in today’s economy. It wasn’t casual, convenient, but brave.
Faith moves: From your head, to your heart, to your hands and feet. Knowing, Believing, and Action.
Another heavy one: What has your faith cost you?
Deeper Question: “What story best explains the world as I understand it?”
Mic Drop: Because faith isn’t about having every answer. It’s about trusting the One who does.
How to Surrender: Admit, Believe, and Confess. Then keep repenting and walking daily.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
God will Invade: “God will invade. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. It will be so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. Then, it will be too late to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.”
If you want a more interactive experience on mobile and to save the outline to your files, download our app via the App Store or Google Play.