AMERICAN IDOL Exodus 20:4-6 Pew Bible p. 74

It is right to worship the One true God. Truth to Take with You It is right to worship the One true God. It is wrong to cling to our idols.

Exodus 20:4-5a NIV You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them…

Exodus 20:4-5a KJV Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them…

Essence of the 2nd Commandment Prohibits the manufacture of a tangible and visible image as an object for worship Outlaws every sort of idolatry in any form whatsoever

Those who make them [idols] will be like them… Psalm 115:8a Those who make them [idols] will be like them…

Romans 1:22-24 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:22-24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

Ancient Idolatry Was… Polytheistic—many gods Humanistic—person centered Occultic—associated with demons

1 Corinthians 10:14,19-20 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry… What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

1 Corinthians 10:14,19-20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.

The Allure of Idolatry Easy Convenient “Guaranteed” Self-centered Self-gratifying Self-indulgent Pleasing to the senses Popular

Exodus 20:5b-6 …for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Galatians 5:19-20 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry… and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

It is right to worship the One true God, Truth to Take with You It is right to worship the One true God, and Him only. It is wrong to cling to our idols.

Guard your hearts from idols. Challenge Guard your hearts from idols.