The Harsh Demands of Our Modern Idol

“We may not actually burn incense to Artemis, but when money and career are raised to cosmic proportions, we perform a kind of child sacrifice, neglecting family and community to achieve a higher place in business and gain more wealth and prestige.”

-Tim Keller in Counterfeit Gods

We are DECEIVED…

Subtle psychological deception through social comparison

2008 Pew Research Center study revealed that: 25% of Americans call themselves “Lower or

Lower Middle Class” 72% of Americans call themselves “Middle or

Upper Middle Class” 2% of Americans call themselves “Upper

Class”

Isaiah 44:14-17

14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."

Isaiah 44:14-17

14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."

The tree was not the problem.

Isaiah 44:14-17

14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."

The tree was necessary for cooking food,

warmth, & necessities.

Isaiah 44:14-17

14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."

The deception (insanity) came when the guy

was making use of the excess.

Jesus’ repeated warningsLuke 12:15  "Watch out! Be on your guard

against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Not just accumulating more money, but living with excessive anxiety about it!!!

Our use of money is symptomatic of the infection that lies within us…

Acts 4:32-37

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Evidence of being infected by the Spirit

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Boldness in word AND deed are essential marks of transformational churches and believers. Fearfulness leads to being obsessed with

providing a personal financial cushion to cover our own emergencies and/or provide for our own pleasures and comforts…

Fearfulness leads to an inability to trust others with “our” resources…

How do we get this?

God’s grace to us in Christ cultivates radical generosity!!!

2 Cor. 8:1,9 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. . . . 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

What does this look like?

We give sacrificially & consistently to advance God’s priorities.

Sacrificially = giving until I feel it in my standard of living

God’s priorities:Your local church (1 Timothy 5 & others)Missions (Philippians 1, 4 & others)The Poor (James 4:13-5:6; Biblical View of Poverty teaching from 3/15/09)

Consistently = planned & primary (1 Cor. 16:2)

2010 (thru Sept.)

New Hope Church

Overview Overviewof the of the

NumbersNumbers

Sunday Morning AttendanceSunday Morning Attendance

Central Gathering (after kids dismissed)

KidsLIFE (plus volunteers)

Sunday Morning AttendanceSunday Morning AttendanceTOTAL in Central Gathering + KidsLIFETOTAL in Central Gathering + KidsLIFE

Monthly Income (2010 vs 2009)Monthly Income (2010 vs 2009)

Monthly Surplus/Deficit Monthly Surplus/Deficit (Income – Expenses)(Income – Expenses)

2010 vs 20092010 vs 2009

$1,486

Year-to-Date STATS: 2010Year-to-Date STATS: 2010(through September 2010)(through September 2010)

ACTUAL INCOME: $160,723 (1% UNDER Budget)

ACTUAL EXPENSES: $147,362 (13% UNDER Budget)

NET SURPLUS for the Year so far: +$13,374

NOW VS. SAME TIME LAST NOW VS. SAME TIME LAST YRYRINCOME thru Sept. last yr: $159,266 INCOME thru Sept. THIS yr: $160,723

Total INCOME 2009: $222,342Total Budgeted Income 2010: $216,000

Historically, ~27% of the year’s income comes in the 4th quarter.

SO, We are on track to meet and slightly exceed our Budgeted Income for 2010.

NOW VS. SAME TIME LAST NOW VS. SAME TIME LAST YRYRHowever, we are NOT (numerically) growing in financial giving as a church body. So, though we have a desire to add more expenses (staff, ministries, etc) for 2011, we probably can’t recommend budgeting for much if any more income in 2011 than we did in 2010.

A Chance to Respond…

Additional giving beyond what you already give To bolster & expand current ministry

Equipping new leaders via core leadership training track Supporting current leaders (staff raises) Outreach to unreached youth in Manhattan Outreach to college campus via Christian Challenge Outreach to crisis pregnancy & counseling via Life

Choice Missions domestically & internationally through

partnership with SBC To enter new ministry fields (orphanage in Haiti,

orphan ministry, others???)

A Chance to Respond…

Additional giving beyond what you already give To bolster & expand current ministry

Equipping new leaders via core leadership training track

Supporting current leaders (staff raises) Outreach to unreached youth in Manhattan Outreach to college campus via Christian Challenge Outreach to crisis pregnancy & care via Life Choice Missions domestically & internationally through

partnership with SBC To enter new ministry fields (orphanage in Haiti,

orphan ministry, others???)

Turn in pledges by

November 1st

Acts 4:32-37

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.