2. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 5:5

3. Many professing Christians readily agree with these bible passages on idolatry.
Yet, too many agreeing Christians are guilty of engaging in it today.
Many Christians may not physically bow down to images but through greed have placed “idols” before our sovereign God.

4. In tonight’s sermon dealing with idolatry…
Applying the ancient principle of idolatry to modern practices.
See how “modern day idolatry” affects God’s people today.
Ways for Christians to rid household idols of today.

5. Remember Webster’s definition of idolatry?
The worship of a physical object as a god.
Immoderate attachment or devotion to something.
It is the latter definition that is so rampant in the lives of Americans, including Christians today.

7. The god of Materialism
Never satisfied with what we have…we want more, newer, better, bigger, smaller, etc.
Our houses, storages, banks, deposit boxes have become modern day temples for the god of materialism.
At the alter of materialism: money. 1 Tim. 6:10

8. The god of Entertainment.
Music and Movie superstars: “American Idol.”
Athletics: Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, etc.
At the alter of entertainment: “media boxes” (computers, televisions, radios, mp3 players, etc.)
Too many Christians have an immoderate attachment or devotion to entertainment.

9. The gods of Sports and Recreation.
Sports: immoderate amount of time and devotion to the god of sports than to Jehovah.
Recreation: immoderate amount of time/money to the god of recreation with minimal labor in the vineyard of the Lord.

11. It is obvious by the practice of modern day idolatry in America that many Christians are affected by this practice as well.
It is this very indulgence that skews our view of greed and covetousness making it difficult for us to see these idols for what they are and how they have turned our hearts from loving God as we should.

12. A friend was once reading to a lady out of the Bible about what God said that He would do to those who were guilty of sin and who did not repent. She responded by saying, "Oh my God would never do that!"

13. A friend was once reading to a lady out of the Bible about what God said that He would do to those who were guilty of sin and who did not repent. She responded by saying, "Oh my God would never do that!" He replied, "Mam, you are right! Your god would never do that. The problem is that your god doesn't exist except in your mind. You have created a god in your own image, according to your own liking, and now you have fallen down and worshipped him instead of the God of the Bible. Your problem is that you have committed idolatry!"

14. Christians today spend less time…
With the Lord …reading His word, studying it, worshipping Him.
Serving the Lord…teaching, evangelizing, edifying
The end result for many is a Sunday/Wednesday attendance mentality of “faithfulness”

16. Breaking down the idols by...
Use the TV for edification, teaching, and admonition.
Use the iPod for songs of praise, listening to the Bible and sermons.
Use the internet for edification, encouragement to others, teaching/spreading the gospel.
Or, literally destroy/remove them from our presence! Matt. 5:29-30

18. It is clear that idolatry exists among the people of God today, the question is will we admit such and turn away from our modern day idols?
As in the days of Joshua will must also “Choose you this day who you will serve.”