D.T.R. Define The Relationship. Fan or Follower?
Lots of people identify as Christians about one-third of the world, in fact. But calling ourselves Christians and actually following Jesus can be two different things. Without even realizing it, we can slip into a faith that’s more about appearances than about a life-changing relationship with Christ.
This series will challenge you to confront how you may be practicing a compromised version of Christianity: one in which comfort, convenience, or cultural norms overshadow true faith, obedience, and transformation.
Each week, we’ll tackle a different way this can show up in our lives and explore what it looks like to move from shallow faith to a deeper, more committed relationship with Jesus.
Lukewarm Christian(FAN) - having a half-hearted faith; wearing the label of Christianity without truly following Jesus.
Part 3: A Faith That Puts God Second
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
Idolatry:
1. The Bible’s definition: Putting anything before God
“Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
1 John 5:21
2. God’s response: Jealousy
“You shall not worship any other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14
“You shall not worship [idols] nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...” Exodus 20:5
“The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.”
2 Corinthians 11:2
“Those who turn to idols will have much pain…” Psalm 16:4 NCV
3. My actions: Identify and replace it
Identify it:
● Does it lead me closer to God or distract me from God?
● Do I rely on it more than God for my comfort, my identity or my worth?
● If God asked me to give it up, would I do it without hesitation?
Replace it:
“My prayers [are] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe… [I pray that you] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:18-19
“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
* All scriptures are from the NAS (New American Standard Bible) unless otherwise noted