August 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:8-11 - My Kingdom Come: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Kingdom Building Idolatry

Sunday we discussed the third and final temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:8-11 emphasizing how easy it is for us to build our kingdoms through the means of idolatry. I believe that if you can understand idolatry, you can overcome temptation. When we crucify our idols, we can be freed from sin. But first, we need the cross.

⁸  Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “ All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ¹¹ Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.







Audio
Notes


July 1, 2012 | Mark 1:1-15 - Make War: The Great Cosmic War & the Warrior Whose Already Won It 
July 8, 2012 | 1 John 2:15-17 - Gone Fishing: The Bait & Hook Strategy of Temptation  
July 15, 2012 | Luke 3:18-4:22 - Who's Your Daddy?: Our Christian Identity and the Nature of Temptation
July 22, 2012 | Matthew 4:1-4 - Hungry? Why Wait?: Learning to Feast When on a 40 Day Fast
August 8, 2012 | Matthew 4:5-7 - Don't Jump: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Self-Vindication
August 15, 2012 | Matthew 4:8-11 - My Kingdom Come: Why the Gospel is Greater Than Kingdom Building Idolatry


For more:
GBC - Using God's Gifts As Weapons: Dr. Moore on the 3rd Temptation
GBC - "Tempted and Tried": A Review
GBC - Trip Lee "War" (lyrics)
GBC - Brad Stine on Fishing and Fishermen
GBC - "Make War!": Piper's Call To Fight Sin
Sermon - December 20., 2009 - Worship the King:  The Folly of Misplaced Allegiance 
Sermon - November 22, 2009 - Self-Control in the Face of Temptation
GBC - Still Surviving The Storm

Christianity And . . .: The Subtle Formula of Idolatry

The best book I read last year was without a doubt Tullian Tchividjian's wonderful book "Jesus + Nothing = Everything." In one very helpful section, quoted at left below, Tchividjian reminds us of CS Lewis' book Screwtape Letters where Lewis, through the mouth of Screwtape, shows us how subtle idolatry can be even for the Christian.  Please read the following in full.

So if we aren’t naturally prone to look to the finished work of Jesus for us as it’s presented in the gospel for the ‘everything’ – where are we looking?
 
Typically, it’s not that Christians seek to blatantly replace the gospel. What we try to do is simply add to it. . . .
 
Maybe you recall how this ‘addition’ concept is brought out in C. S. Lewis’s famous work The Screwtape Letters.  As the high-ranking demon Screwtape trains his protege Wormwood in satanic strategies against Christians, he discusses how (in Screwtape’s words) ‘to keep them in the state of mind I call “Christianity And.”’ Screwtape gives a few examples (reflecting some fads from Lewis’s time . . .): ‘Christianity and the New Psychology, Christianity and the New Order, Christianity and Faith Healing,’ and even ‘Christianity and Vegetarianism.’ These were all various manifestations of the urgent, Devil-fostered temptation believers face to add something else to our faith in Jesus and the gospel – all b/c of those deficiencies we sense in our own experience.
 
Today, Screwtape’s list would doubtless look different.  The currently tempting formulas might include ‘Christian and coolness,’ ‘Christianity and self-affirmation,’ ‘Christianity and self-improvement,’ ‘Christianity and personal progress,’ or ‘Christianity and spiritual formation.’ There’s a host of causes that might crop up: ‘Christianity and environmentalism,’ ‘Christianity and home schooling,’ ‘Christianity and social justice,’ ‘Christianity and diversity and tolerance,’ not to mention abundant ‘Christianity and political action’ variations –liberal conservative, libertarian, hope-and-change, take-back-America, whatever.
 
Besides those, there are plenty of extras that have timeless appeal for any and all generations: ‘Christianity and popularity,’ ‘Christianity and success,’ ‘Christianity and power,’ ‘Christianity and social status,’ ‘Christianity and reform,’ even ‘Christianity and tradition.’
 
The list could go on and on.  It will include whatever we’re clinging to, whatever we won’t let go of b/c we’re using it to fill the void only God can fill.
 
Screwtape is telling the demon Wormwood that if he wants to distract Christians, if he wants to debilitate them, if he wants to keep them off course, powerless, and ineffective, simply make sure they never come to a place of believing that ‘mere Christianity’ is enough.  Make them feel god about affixing something further to the faith. It could be the latest fad; though perhaps far more likely it’s a more personal fixation or obsession that grips us b/c of our endless, aching search to fill our inner hollowness.
 
Christianity an . . . For many of us, it may be Jesus and our achievements, Jesus and our strengths, Jesus and our reputation, Jesus and our relationships, Jesus and our family’s prosperity, Jesus and our ambitions and goals and dreams, Jesus and our personal preferences and tastes and style, Jesus and our spiritual growth, Jesus and our hobbies and recreational pursuits and entertainment habits – and, especially, Jesus and our personal set of life rules.
 
Whatever it is our heart is drawn to – a cultural trend, a cause, a diversion, a personal ‘passion,’ a relationship, a pursuit, a venture, a comfortable routine – and however subtly it pulls us in, the cold, hard truth is that almost immediately it becomes an idol, and our heart grabs hold.  As Martin Luther once said, ‘Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God’ – your functional savior.   -38-40


From "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian


For more:
Reviews - "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian
Reviews - Top 11 Reads of 2011  

The Internet is My Religion: Honest Idolatry on Display

This is what I mean when I say that every sin is our attempt to restore Eden and all of us are worshipers of some god.  At least Jim Gilliam is willing to admit that he is worshiping something.

Watch live streaming video from pdf2011 at livestream.com

Church, we are failing miserably!


For more:
January 30, 2011 | Matthew 8:1-9:8 - Chasing a Tail Named Idolatrous: Our Enslaved Idolatry and How Jesus Sets Us Free  
March 6, 2011 | Matthew 9:18-10:5a - Be Ye Restored: The Gospel of Jesus & the Gift of Restoration - Audio  
January 2, 2011 | Matthew 8:1-17 - "Be Cleansed":  The Great Healer & His Great Gospel 

Final Week of Jesus: Mr. Potato Head God - John 12:12-19

This was our first week of Sunday night services. Rather than post the .pdf's here, I simply want to link to it. Also, you can download my notes from Sunday morning and below are the books I used and recommend during my study of John 12:12-19. I hope they help.

Here is the audio from Sunday morning:





Books

Barnett, Paul. Is the New Testament Reliable?: A Look at the Historical Evidence. Downders Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986.


Blomberg, Craig L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997.

Bock, Darrell L. Jesus According To Scripture: Restoring the Portrait From the Gospels. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.

Bruce, F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1972.

Bruce, F.F. The Gospel & Epistles of John: Introduction, Exposition, and Notes. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1983.

Burge, Gary. The Life Application Study Bible: John. Gen. ed. Terry Muck. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Calvin, John. John 12-21 vol. 2. Calvin’s Commentaries vol. XVIII. trans. Rev. William Pringle. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2003.

Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1953.

Hull, William E. Luke-John. The Broadman Bible Commentary , vol. 9. Gen. ed. Clifton J. Allen. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970.


Kempis, Thomas A. Imitation of Christ. Nelson’s Royal Classics. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Lewis, Clive Staples. Mere Christianity. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1980.


MacArthur, John. God in the Manger: The Miraculous Birth of Christ. Nashville, TN: W. Publishing Group, 2001.


Miller, Calvin. The Book of Jesus: A treasury of the Greatest Stories and Writings About Christ. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Stein, Robert H. Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Swindoll, Charles. Jesus, Our Lord. Bible Study Guide. Fullerton, CA: Insight For Living, 1987.


Tenny, Merrill C. New Testament Times. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,1965.


Thomas, Robert L. And Stanley N. Gundry. The NIV Harmony of the Gospels: With
Explanations and Essays. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1988.


Software


Clarke, Adam. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. software, E-Sword.


Gill, John. Luke. software, E-Sword.


Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible. software, E-Sword.


Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, & David Brown. A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible. software, E-Sword.