Rising Kingdom: Broken Idols - 1 Samuel 5-6

Idolatry is still the greatest temptation that we all face today. There is this subtle desire to take the idea of God and reshape Him into our image and redefine worship in a self-serving, self-seeking way. We often imagine idolatry in the ancient world as outright apostasy, but it was much more cunning than that. It was additive to faith in the one true God, almost like a back-up plan or an attachment that allowed for more personal input. The children of Israel had fallen away from true faith and saw God as nothing more than an idol they could manipulate. Their poor witness would end up leading their neighboring nations astray. In this message, we are reminded that God is a King to be served, not an idol to be manipulated. We discuss the temptation of serving idols and examine our own understanding of faith. Are we here for ourselves, or are we here to worship, serve, and honor God? Is our main motivator in worship our own gain and glory, or is it God's? The answer to these questions will reveal whether God is just another idol to us or if He is truly our King.