RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 25-MODERN – DAY IDOLATRY

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Jesus said to him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”Matthew 22:37.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 20:3-5

INTRODUCTION

An Idol is anything that replaces the One, True God in our lives. It can be anything that appeals to our own heart more than God does, and anything that takes significant amount of our time leaving us with little or no time to spend with Him. While the scripture condemns idolatry in strong terms Jeremiah 25:6; Exodus 20:5,many christians engage in idol worshipping today without knowing it.

OUTLINE

1.FORMS OF MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY

2. CONSEQUENCES OF MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY

1.FORMS OF MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY

Unlike the past, where idol-worship is bowing down to statues and objects typical of pagans in many cultures, modern day idol-worship is expressed through various insatiable pursuits and cravings of man, driven by his sinful nature. These shift all attention to man, leaving God out of the equation Isaiah 42:8. It is also expressed by portraying and painting God contrary to sound and total biblical precepts but revealing Him to suit personal values and ideologies 2 Timothy 4:3.
Quite often, modern day idolatry takes the form of:
1.Self -worship expressed through aggressive pursuit and realisation of goals and dreams in which God is excluded.
2.Materialism- a great or excessive regard for worldly possessions 1 Corinthians 7:31; Colossians 3:5.
3.Pride and Ego – which often takes the form of obsession with careers, business, or job to increase social status Ecclesiastes 2:21-23; Proverbs 8:13.
4.Idolising fellow humans- honouring renowned individuals above God e.g. music stars/actors, footballers, ministers of God, politicians, spouse, etc.
5.Naturalism and the power of science- this cling to the illusion that man is the lord of his word due to scientific and technological breakthroughs 2 Peter 3:10-13.
6.Self-indulgence -through alcohol drugs, excessive watching of TV, excessive and abnormal use of the social media, clubbing , gambling among other things 1 Corinthians 10:31.

2. CONSEQUENCES OF MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY

1. Deviation from the laws and teachings of the Lord 2 Timothy 3:1-4,4:3-4.
2. Loss of zeal for the things of God 2 Timothy 4:10.
3. Generational departure from the one true God Hosea 4:17.
4. Eternal separation from God 1 Samuel 2:29-36.
5. Incurring of divine curse Daniel 4:30-33.

CONCLUSION

“Self -worship“ is the basis of all modern idolatry. It is a lifelong battle in christian life that must be resisted Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:3-4.