“An idol is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by

God alone. Anything that… is central in my life, anything that seems to me…

essential… An idol is anything by which I live and on which I depend, anything

that… holds such a controlling position in my life that… it moves and rouses and

attracts so much of my time and attention, my energy and money.”

— D.M.Lloyd-Jones, “Idolatry” in Life in God: Studies in 1 John

“[Each person] acts as if God could not make him happy without the addition of

something else. Thus the glutton makes a god of his dainties; the ambitious man of

his honor; the incontinent man of his lust; the covetous man his wealth; and

consequently esteems them as his chiefest good, and the most noble end to which

he directs his thoughts… All men worship some golden calf, set up by education,

custom, natural inclination and the like… When a general is taken, the army runs.

[Even so] this [the main ‘idol’] is the great stream, and other sins but rivulets which

bring supply… this is the strongest chain wherein the devil holds the man, the main

fort…”

— Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God

“…that most basic question which God poses to each human heart: “Has

something or someone besides Jesus the Christ taken title to your heart’s

functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight?”

Questions… bring some of people’s idol systems to the surface. ‘To who or what

do you look for life-sustaining stability, security and acceptance? …What do you

really want and expect [out of life]? What would [really] make you happy? What

would make you an acceptable person? Where do you look for power and

success?’ These questions or similar ones tease out whether we serve God or

idols, whether we look for salvation from Christ or from false saviors. [This bears]

on the immediate motivation of my behavior, thoughts, feelings. In the Bible’s

conceptualization, the motivation question is the lordship question: who or what

“rules my behavior, the Lord or an idol?”

— David Powlison, “Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair”

Read Galatians 4:8-20

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Discuss:

1. In Verse 8. Paul refers to the Galatians pre-christian idolatry as slavery. How is idolatry akin to slavery?

2. In verse 9 and 10, he refers to their post-christian religiosity as slavery. How is religiosity akin to slavery?

3. How does Paul’s illness/ suffering advance the gospel in verse 12-14

4. In verse 16 Paul suggests that it is his truth-telling that is causing the Galatians to reject him. Why would this be?

5. When would speaking the truth today (about the nature of an idol someone worships) potentially cause them to treat you like an enemy?

6. What does verse 19 show about Paul’s heart for the Galatians? Should we feel similarly about those we know who are worshiping idols?

Apply & Pray:

1. Spend some time alone reading over the following questions:

a. What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about most?

b. What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live?

What keeps me going?

c. What do I rely on or comfort myself with when things go bad or get difficult?

d. What do I think most easily about? What does my mind go to when I am free? What

preoccupies me?

e. What unanswered prayer would make me seriously think about turning away from

God?

f. What makes me feel the most self-worth? What am I the proudest of?

g. What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?

• What Idol are you drawn to?

• How will worshiping this idol rob you of freedom?

• How does Jesus offer more fully & more graciously what you are seeking in this Idol?

2. In pairs or 3’s share what you you discovered and pray.