Episode 108

I'm Kinda Prioritized

Sunday, September 21, 202544 min

Join Pastor Greg as he begins his series titled "I'm Kinda Christian".

Watch

Listen

0:000:00

Transcript

Devotionals from This Message

Five short reflections drawn from this message — Monday through Friday.

Daily devotion

Understanding Modern Idolatry

Tuesday

"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." - 1 John 5:21

When we hear the word "idolatry," we might picture ancient people bowing before golden statues. But idolatry has evolved with us—it's simply giving anything the place in our hearts that belongs only to God.

Today's idols are often good things that we've elevated to ultimate things: a successful career that defines our worth, children who become our entire world, or relationships that we expect to fulfill our deepest needs. Even our phones, constantly commanding our attention, can become modern-day idols.

The danger in modern idolatry is its subtlety. We don't recognize we're practicing it because our idols are culturally acceptable, even praised. But God sees past our justifications to our hearts. He knows when something else has captured the devotion that belongs to Him alone.

Idolatry isn't just wrong because it breaks a rule—it's harmful because it places our hope in things that cannot ultimately satisfy. Only God can bear the weight of our deepest needs and longings.

"According to God's word, idolatry is not just bad bowing to some golden statue. It's not just bowing and worshiping Buddha or Allah or whatever other religions kind of throw out there as their gods. It's not just that idolatry is putting anything before God, anything that takes the place in my heart."

Reflect: What good things in your life might have crossed the line into becoming idols that compete with God for your heart's devotion?

Prayer: Lord, show me the subtle idols I've allowed into my heart. Help me to recognize when good gifts have taken Your rightful place. Give me wisdom to keep these things in proper perspective, and courage to dethrone anything that competes with You. Amen.

Continue listening

More messages to help you grow in your walk with Christ.

Next episode

Episode 106Sep 28, 202548 min

I Kinda Believe

Join Pastor Greg as he begins his series titled "I'm Kinda Christian".

Listen to sermon

Previous episode

Episode 107Sep 14, 202548 min

Message summary

Many Christians claim faith but don't truly prioritize God in their lives, becoming what might be called 'kind of Christian' - having enough Jesus to feel better but not enough to be transformed. The Bible calls it idolatry when anything takes God's rightful place, whether career, family, or even good things. God doesn't just want to be first - He IS first by His very nature. When we put other things before God, we create tension, disconnection, and a void in our lives. The solution isn't just removing idols but replacing them with God Himself, pursuing Him wholeheartedly and discovering how truly satisfying He is.

Prioritizing God: Are You Kind of Christian or Fully Committed?

As Christians, we all know the right answer to the question: "What should come first in your life?" God, of course. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 6 when He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." He also declared in Matthew 22 that loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind is "the first and great commandment." But knowing the right answer and living it out are two very different things.

What Does It Mean to Be "Kind of Christian"?

Many people claim to be Christians, especially in the Bible Belt, but their lives don't reflect it. They're what we might call "kind of Christian" - half-hearted in their faith, calling themselves Christians without truly following Jesus. A "kind of Christian" has: - Enough Jesus to feel better, but not enough to be changed - Enough Jesus to soothe their conscience, but not enough to make a real difference in their life

How Should Our Priorities Be Ordered?

If we're honest about how our priorities should be ordered as Christians, it would look something like this: 1. God 2. Marriage/Family 3. Career 4. Possessions/Stuff 5. Hobbies/Interests But how often does our actual life reflect this order? For many of us, the reality looks more like: 1. Career 2. Marriage 3. Family 4. Possessions/Stuff 5. Hobbies/Interests ...and then God gets squeezed in wherever we can find room - maybe on Easter Sunday or when we're in crisis.

What Does the Bible Call It When Something Takes God's Place?

The Bible has a clear term for when anything takes God's rightful place in our lives: idolatry. The very first of the Ten Commandments addresses this: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). And the New Testament reinforces this in 1 John 5:21, which says, "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." When we think of idolatry, we often picture golden calves or pagan statues. But biblical idolatry is much broader - it's putting anything before God, anything that takes His place in our hearts.

Why Does God Want to Be First in Our Lives?

It's not that God wants to be first - He IS first. This is His nature and character. God is first whether we acknowledge it or not. We don't have the power to change His position; we can only align our lives with the reality of His preeminence. God describes Himself as "jealous" - not in the human, selfish sense of jealousy (the Hebrew word "qana"), but in a divine sense (the Hebrew word "qanna"). God's jealousy is about protecting the covenant relationship He has with us. It's a righteous, holy jealousy from a God who gave everything for us and wants us to give everything back to Him.

What Happens When We Put Other Things Before God?

Psalm 16:4 warns: "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more." When we put something before God, it doesn't hurt Him - it hurts us. This misplaced priority creates: - Constant tension - Feeling overwhelmed - Disconnection from God - A void we try to fill with other things We might try to fill this void with drinking "just to cut the edge off," spending more than we make "to enjoy life," or losing our temper easily. These aren't the real problems - they're symptoms of idolatry.

Can Good Things Become Idols in Our Lives?

Even good things can become idols when they take God's place: - Your career: "I love my job. It's who I identify as." - Your children: "My kids are my life. I schedule everything around them." These aren't bad things in themselves, but when they become the center of your world instead of God, they've become idols. Even good things can be harmful when they take God's place in your heart.

How Can I Tell If Something Has Become an Idol?

Ask yourself these three questions: 1. Does it lead me closer to God or distract me from God? 2. Do I rely on this more than God for my comfort, identity, or worth? 3. If God asked me to give it up, would I do so without hesitation?

How Do We Make God First Again?

The key to removing an idol isn't just getting rid of it - it's replacing it with something better. Replace your idols with God. Pursue Him. Chase after Him. The reason God isn't first in many of our lives is simple: we don't want Him there badly enough. What we truly want, we pursue. If God isn't first in your life, it's because you haven't experienced how good He truly is. If you really knew how good God is, you would pursue Him wholeheartedly. You would want Him to be first. Once He becomes that in your life, nothing else can satisfy you.

Life Application

This week, take an honest inventory of your priorities. Where does God actually rank in your daily life? Not where you say He should be, but where your time, thoughts, and resources indicate He is. Ask yourself: 1. What occupies most of my thoughts throughout the day? 2. Where do I turn first for comfort when I'm stressed or upset? 3. What would be hardest for me to give up if God asked me to? 4. How much of my day is intentionally devoted to pursuing God? The challenge is simple but profound: Taste and see that the Lord is good. Make a deliberate choice to pursue God this week - through prayer, Scripture, worship, or service. Replace whatever has taken His place with a genuine pursuit of Him. Remember, if God isn't number one in your life, it's not because He doesn't deserve to be there - it's because you haven't yet discovered how satisfying He truly is.

Summary

In this sermon titled \"I'm Kind of Prioritized,\" the pastor addresses how Christians often claim God is first in their lives while their actions show otherwise. He illustrates how we tend to prioritize career, family, possessions, and hobbies ahead of God, which according to scripture is idolatry. The pastor emphasizes that God doesn't merely want to be first - He IS first by His very nature, and our lives need to align with this reality.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss the priorities in our lives, we ask that You would open our hearts to examine where You truly stand. Help us to be honest with ourselves and with You. Give us the courage to identify any idols we've placed before You, and the wisdom to reorder our lives according to Your perfect will. May this discussion draw us closer to You and to each other. In Jesus' name, amen.

Give online

I'm Kinda Prioritized

Transcript

Devotionals from This Message

Understanding Modern Idolatry

Continue listening

I Kinda Believe

Message summary

Prioritizing God: Are You Kind of Christian or Fully Committed?

What Does It Mean to Be "Kind of Christian"?

How Should Our Priorities Be Ordered?

What Does the Bible Call It When Something Takes God's Place?

Why Does God Want to Be First in Our Lives?

What Happens When We Put Other Things Before God?

Can Good Things Become Idols in Our Lives?

How Can I Tell If Something Has Become an Idol?

How Do We Make God First Again?

Life Application

Group Discussion Guide

Summary

Intro Prayer

Ice Breaker

Key Verses

Questions

I'm Kinda Obedient

Life Application

Key Takeaways

Ending Prayer