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    Converge Bible Studies: Idolatry
    Converge Bible Studies: Idolatry
    Converge Bible Studies: Idolatry
    Ebook59 pages42 minutes

    Converge Bible Studies: Idolatry

    By Curtis Zackery

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    About this ebook

    Idols are fairly easy to recognize in Old Testament stories about false gods, golden calves, statues, and Asherah poles. And they’re not hard to spot in the lives of other people. But what about our own idols? Is it even possible for 21st-Century Christians to worship gods that aren’t real? How do we know if we’re doing it? In Idolatry, Curtis Zackery takes a look at an ancient sin that still ensnares God’s people today.

    Converge Bible Studies is a series of topical Bible studies based on the Common English Bible. Each title in the series consists of four studies on a common topic or theme. Converge can be used by small groups, classes, or individuals. Primary Scripture passages are included for ease of study, as are questions designed to encourage both personal reflection and group conversation. The topics and Scriptures in Converge come together to transform readers’ relationships with others, themselves, and God.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbingdon Press
    Release dateJun 17, 2014
    ISBN9781426795596
    Converge Bible Studies: Idolatry
    Author

    Curtis Zackery

    Curtis Zackery combines a passion for communication with a desire to see lives changed for Jesus Christ. His energetic stage presence, charismatic persona, and ability to connect with people of all ages, races, and backgrounds make him a sought-after event and conference speaker. He and his wife, Monique, are serving a church plant in Richmond, California.

    Read more from Curtis Zackery

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      Book preview

      Converge Bible Studies - Curtis Zackery

      INTRODUCTION

      When ministry became an idol in my life, I knew that something was terribly wrong. In the midst of doing a lot of Christian things, I felt extremely empty and alone. I felt as though the Lord was asking me the question, If I were to take your role and ‘position’ away from you, would you still worship me with the same fervor and intensity? My honest answer was no. I had grown extremely attached to the how and grown further away from the who. It’s a scary thing to realize that you’ve been extremely active in and around the things of God but that your affections for God have become small. I gave more to ministry than I did to Jesus.

      It was extremely humbling for me to see that my work for God had actually become a barrier to intimacy with God. This led me to begin to take inventory of my life to determine the other areas that had been receiving an improper amount of affection and attention. The list was surprising—and long. I was shocked to realize how big a part of my life idolatry had become. I simply didn’t want to believe that it was true. I thought to myself, How could a guy who believes that God is God have another ‘idol’ that’s an object of worship?

      The problem is that we have preconceived notions about idolatry and what it looks like in our lives. We‘ve identified specific things that aren’t good for us and therefore must be avoided. We’ve also done the same for things, people, and ideas that are OK to engage in. For the most part, we’ve set up self-imposed boundaries that protect us and provide justification for things that we want to remain in our life conversation.

      This reminds me of a story in Scripture that describes an interaction between a lawyer and Jesus. When the lawyer stands up in Luke 10:25-29 and asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life, Jesus responds with this question:

      What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?

      [The lawyer] responded, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

      Jesus said to him, You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.

      When the lawyer hears this, his response is disheartening:

      But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus. . . . (ESV)

      His response sounds a lot like mine.

      So often, the immediate response to the discovery of truth and a challenge to our character is to justify why an idol’s presence is OK in our lives. I know that I can fill in the blank with numerous things that I have said to Jesus just like the lawyer did in order to explain away such areas in my life. Rather than to justify, I need to ask the honest question, How can I submit to what God requires of me?

      I began to think about my life as a kingdom, with a large throne in the palace at the center of it—my heart. As with any kingdom, the one who is seated on the throne is the one who will determine the course of life for its subjects. The one seated on the throne will receive the affections and allegiance of its followers.

      When I made an honest assessment, I realized that there were various things that had been seated on the throne of my life

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