This message concludes our "Unobvious Idols" series, reminding us that idols are anything we prioritize over God. True fulfillment and purpose come from worshiping God alone, not from seeking validation or significance elsewhere. Worship is about giving our deepest love and devotion to God, aligning our lives with His purpose. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, allowing God to transform us and detach our hearts from idols.

Proverbs 4:23 encourages us to guard our hearts intentionally because our hearts shape our thoughts, actions, and lives. With the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can address distractions and temptations that pull us away from God. Following Jesus' example in Matthew 4, we can rely on Scripture to resist idols and stay focused on worshiping God alone. God challenges us to identify anything capturing our hearts more than him and commit to deepening our devotion this week.

In this message, we explore the subtle ways people and relationships can become idols in our lives when we expect them to fulfill needs only God can meet. By examining the dangers of placing unrealistic expectations on others, we learn how to reorient our hearts toward God, the only source of true significance and fulfillment. Discover practical steps to love people well without making them our ultimate source of identity.

Ever feel that twinge of resentment when someone else gets the promotion, the house, or the life you wish you had? It’s easy to fall into the trap of envy, but longing for what someone else has can rob us of joy.

This week’s message tackles how envy quietly seeps into our lives, breeding discontent and distracting us from the good things God has already given. But there’s hope! By shifting our focus to gratitude, celebrating others and trusting God as our true provider, we can break free from the grip of comparison.

This message tackles one of our culture's favorite unobvious obsessions: certainty. Many people crave stability, predictability—anything that makes life feel less chaotic. But when the quest for control starts crowding out trust in Jesus, it crosses a line and becomes an idol. This isn’t just about being prepared; it’s about what we let sit in the driver’s seat of our lives. Instead of living in a constant state of “what-if,” God’s word calls us to ground ourselves in the “what is” of his promises.

More Americans today than two decades ago rate their hobbies as “extremely” or “very important” to them, according to a recent Gallup Poll. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also says that Americans spend about 5 hours a day on leisure activities and hobbies.

Hobbies are not idols, but they become idols when we run to them as an escape and fail to remain in Jesus.

Food is a gift from God, but it was never meant to satisfy the deepest hunger of our souls. When life gets stressful, it’s easy to reach for food as a quick fix, seeking comfort and fulfillment. But what if your cravings are actually a sign that you're hungry for something deeper? This week we explore how food can become an idol, why it can’t deliver lasting satisfaction, and how only Jesus—the true Bread of Life—can fill the emptiness we often try to satisfy in other ways.

In today's digital age, it's easy for our phones and screens to shift from tools to idols. This sermon explores how screens become idols when their influence shapes our beliefs more than Christ. Just as the Apostle Paul warned about false teachers in 2 Timothy, today we must be mindful of how screens can lead us astray. Practical steps like setting screen boundaries, prioritizing time with God, and pruning distracting apps help ensure that Scripture, not technology, is shaping our beliefs. Be encouraged and challenged to take one step to disconnect from your screen and reconnect with God.

Busyness becomes an idol when we allow it to control our lives instead of Jesus.

Is the approval of others running your life?

Most of us have fallen into that trap at some point—letting what other people think shape our decisions, how we see ourselves, and even our sense of worth. The reality is, when we hitch our identity to the opinions of others, we're giving them power over our lives. 

However, you don’t need anyone’s permission to be who God made you to be.

When your identity is rooted in Jesus, you’re no longer swayed by the constant ups and downs of people’s opinions. God’s approval isn’t something you have to earn—it’s already yours because of Christ.

Unobvious idols are often good things that become ultimate things, taking God's place in our hearts. Followers of Jesus are not immune to these temptations. They promise fulfillment but lead us away from Him. By identifying and replacing these idols with Christ, we can guard against temptation and live in true freedom.