Paul had preached the Gospel at Thessalonica, but the unbelieving Jews had run him out of town. So, he went to Berea and preached. But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that the word of God was preached at Berea, they went there and stirred up the people against Paul. There will always be someone who does not want the Gospel preached to the lost. Of course, the main one in this category is Satan. II Corinthians 4:4 says he blinds “the minds of them which believe not” lest the light of the Gospel should shine unto them. Fearing for Paul’s life, those around him set him from Berea to Athens. Apparently, they thought Athens would be a safe place for Paul. Maybe they knew about the reputation of the Greeks and those of Athens that they “. . . spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (vs. 21). Vs. 16 tells us that while Paul waited in Athens “ . . . his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” “Stirred” has the thought of being sharpened. Figuratively it speaks of being exasperated. When Paul saw that the people in Athens worshipped many false gods and even had an altar to one they called “THE UNKNOWN God” (vs. 23) he boldly declared the God of Heaven to them. In vs. 21 Paul told the people, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.” “Superstitious” here refers to being “religious.” In fact, it speaks of being “more religious than others.” Athens was overrun with (false) gods and religion, but the people there had never heard of Jehovah God or Jesus Christ, Emanuel, God with us! This just shows us that being “religious” does not necessarily refer to someone’s having a relationship with the true and living God. “Religion” is Satan’s biggest business to keep people from coming to Jesus as Savior. Our world, and our nation are overrun with religion and idols today. It may be some sports star, or some singer, or (Lord help us) some actor. We even have a television show called “American Idol.” I believe that some of the TV preachers have tried to make themselves idols to those they have lured into following them. And throughout the world there are innumerable adherents of false religions that worship statues and man made idols, hoping to appease “the gods” or their god so they might have an easier life and end up in their version of paradise. What is an idol? I have seen and heard several definitions of what an idol is. Webster’s dictionary says it is “a representation or symbol of a deity used as an object of worship: a false god.” One writer said simply that an idol is the work of our own hands. (I think he left a lot out.) But the best definition of an idol that I have ever heard is “anything we love more, fear more, cherish more, or serve more than God.” Webster indicated that one who serves an idol does so with “passionate devotion.” We read as a part of our text God’s prohibition of idols among His people. In fact the first two of the ten commandments state that prohibition in dealing with the worship of God. Exodus 20:3: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:4: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image . . . ” But even with that prohibition it seems that God’s people have had a problem with idols. In Genesis 35:2 Jacob had to say to his household, “Put away the strange gods that are among you . . . ” In Joshua 24:23 Joshua had to say to the Israelites, “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you . . .” In Isaiah 31:7 the prophet assured Israel that God would defend and deliver then and said, “For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.” And in Ezekiel 14:6 God told Ezekiel to “. . . say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” What is the problem with idols? First, because there is only one God, and He alone deserves our worship. To worship anyone or anything else is simply a following a lie. What does Psalm 96:8-9 say? “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. (9) O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” We have to battle against erecting idols today - sometimes in our own lives, and sometimes in our church life. I want to share with you this morning 6 idols that, if we are not careful, will destroy our individual lives and damage the life of this church.

I. LETHARGY.

II. THE “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” ATTITUDE.

III. COMPROMISE.

IV. RELYING UPON PROGRAMS FOR CHURCH GROWTH.

V. BELIEVERS WITH BIG EGOS.

VI. EMOTIONALISM.