A Scripture Reading from Matthew 20 New Living Translation A Scripture Reading from Matthew 20 New Living Translation

“You shall not make for yourself an image 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; 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. Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)

G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION.

W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION. G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION. W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION.

G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION. W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION. I N SO DOING, WE REPRESENT THE IMAGE OF G OD IN THIS WORLD. G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION. W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION. I N SO DOING, WE REPRESENT THE IMAGE OF G OD IN THIS WORLD.

G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION. W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION. I N SO DOING, WE REPRESENT THE IMAGE OF G OD IN THIS WORLD. I DOLS AND I MAGES CREATE TWO PROBLEMS. G OD REVEALS HIS PURPOSE IN OUR CREATION. W E ARE TO RULE OVER CREATION. I N SO DOING, WE REPRESENT THE IMAGE OF G OD IN THIS WORLD. I DOLS AND I MAGES CREATE TWO PROBLEMS.

For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good...”

..Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name. J EREMIAH 10:3-5, Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name. J EREMIAH 10:3-5, 14-16

F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY

W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR. F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR.

F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR. T HAT WHICH IS CREATED ACTUALLY HAS NO POWER. F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR. T HAT WHICH IS CREATED ACTUALLY HAS NO POWER.

F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR. T HAT WHICH IS CREATED ACTUALLY HAS NO POWER. W E PLACE OURSELVES IN THE POSITION OF SERVING THE CREATION RATHER THAN RULING IT. F IRST PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E END UP WORSHIPPING THAT WHICH IS CREATED AS OPPOSED TO THE CREATOR. T HAT WHICH IS CREATED ACTUALLY HAS NO POWER. W E PLACE OURSELVES IN THE POSITION OF SERVING THE CREATION RATHER THAN RULING IT.

S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY

W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US

S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US T HESE IMAGES MAKE JESUS MORE RELEVANT TO US S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US T HESE IMAGES MAKE JESUS MORE RELEVANT TO US

S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US T HESE IMAGES MAKE JESUS MORE RELEVANT TO US T HEY SUGGEST TO US THAT OUR AGENDA IS J ESUS ’ AGENDA S ECOND PROBLEM WITH IDOLATRY W E IMAGINE G OD IS LIKE US T HESE IMAGES MAKE JESUS MORE RELEVANT TO US T HEY SUGGEST TO US THAT OUR AGENDA IS J ESUS ’ AGENDA

“You shall not make for yourself an image 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; 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. Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

“Holy holy holy” ©Public Domain “Holy Holy” by Nathan Fellingham ©1995 Thankyou Music (Adm. by EMI Christian Publishing) “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend ©2003 EMI Christian Music Publishing “Jesus Paid it All” by E. Hall/J. Grape ©Public Domain “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Stuart Townend ©1996 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music “We Bow Down” by Twilia Paris ©2002 lyricstime.com “How Great Thou Art” by Stuart W. K. Hine ©1949, 1953 Stuart K Hine Trust (ADM. by EMI CMG) “Take to the World” by Aaron Tate ©2002 Aaron Tate All Songs CCLI License # “Holy holy holy” ©Public Domain “Holy Holy” by Nathan Fellingham ©1995 Thankyou Music (Adm. by EMI Christian Publishing) “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend ©2003 EMI Christian Music Publishing “Jesus Paid it All” by E. Hall/J. Grape ©Public Domain “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Stuart Townend ©1996 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music “We Bow Down” by Twilia Paris ©2002 lyricstime.com “How Great Thou Art” by Stuart W. K. Hine ©1949, 1953 Stuart K Hine Trust (ADM. by EMI CMG) “Take to the World” by Aaron Tate ©2002 Aaron Tate All Songs CCLI License #