Sermons on Idols:

What Is Our Ambition?

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Apr 25, 2005

No one wants to fail. But if our ambition to succeed becomes motivated by the fear of failure, ambition can become an idol in our lives and in our church.

IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT NOBODY WANTS TO DELIBERATELY FAIL AT ANYTHING. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT "FAILING" IS THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF FAILURE ITSELF. THE GREATEST NEWS ABOUT FAILURE IS THAT FAILURE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NEVER FINAL. YOU CAN LEARN GREAT LESSONS FROM FAILURE IF YOU ARE ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 14:1-6

Denomination: Free Methodist

Idolatry: Dancing With Myself

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

Also 1cor 10:14-22. How Paul’s discussion of not eating meat sacrificed to idols is very relevant for us today

Intro Story – The Chauffeur A very well respected Nobel prize-winning physicist was asked to travel the country and lecture on some of his current theories. His sponsors provided a limousine and a chauffeur. Night after night, city after city the physicist gave the exact same lecture. After all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Paradox Of Pursuing Knowledge About God And Experiencing Him

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jun 8, 2019

The danger of intellectual pursuit without an intimate experiential knowledge of God is that the heart can be come cold and brittle like a stone, making knowledge an idol.

I remember as a young Born-Again Christian, just starting my spiritual journey that I would walk in and through the presence of God effortlessly. I lived and breathed the supernatural. Signs and Wonders were everywhere! The anointing was powerful! Then I went to Bible School and was told those ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, John 16:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 2:1, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 John 4:1, Proverbs 3:5-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Death Grip

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 14, 2023

We can’t let go of our idols - our possessions, our pride, our plans - without God's help.

In May 2003, mountain climber Aron Ralston used a pocketknife to amputate his right arm. He had been pinned down by a boulder weighing nearly a thousand pounds in a canyon near Moab, Utah, for five days, and running out of water realized it was his only chance to survive. After cutting off his arm ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-27, Matthew 5:29-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Fall Of Corrupt Leadership Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 15, 2025

1 Kings 16 is a powerful record of decline—a succession of leaders who ignored God, embraced idols, and ultimately led their people into destruction.

THE FALL OF CORRUPT LEADERSHIP By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Kings 16:1-34 Supporting Texts: Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 75:6-7; Hosea 4:6; 1 Timothy 5:24-25; Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 INTRODUCTION: 1 Kings 16 chronicles a dark and turbulent season in the leadership of Israel. One by one, kings rose ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:1-34

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Breaking The Ancestral Covenant PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 28, 2025

This sermon calls us to identify and renounce generational idols, embracing wholehearted devotion to God so that His freedom and love transform our families.

Friends, every family has a box in the attic—old photos, faded letters, a quilt stitched by steady hands. Alongside those treasures come other hand-me-downs we don’t frame or display: patterns, pressures, and quiet preferences that keep tugging at our hearts. Maybe your household treasured hard ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:7-10

Topics: Ancestral Covenant, Breaking Covenant

The Bread Of Life Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of Jesus as the 'bread of life', satisfying our spiritual hunger, and urges us to turn away from false idols and teachings.

Bread and hunger are everyday occurrences for people around the world. Jesus uses these commonplace and ordinary things to explain the extraordinary Kingdom of God. He reveals to those gathered to Him that HE is in fact the bread of life. Prayer: “Lord thank you for sending the true bread, your ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-35

Topics: Bread Of Life, Kingdom Of God, Spiritual Hunger

The Joy Of Giving Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

God puts a really interesting proposition in front of us. He says, “Put me to the test” when it comes to your money. “Try it my way,” God says, “and see if my way works.”

We are doing a yearlong challenge in our church in 2020. We are challenging you to share the story of Christ’s love with friends, co-workers, and family members who don’t know Christ. When you do, we invite you to drop a ping-pong ball into the container, if you will. Our church hopes to see 5,000 ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-12, Leviticus 27:30-33, Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Matthew 23:23

Denomination: Baptist

Balancing Career And Family With Faith Series

Contributed by Greg Hanson on Apr 13, 2007

Our career and our families are two potential idols in our lives. But faith helps keep them in proper perspective and enables you to find a balance.

Last week we started our series on Canadian Idols. We explained that idols are anything in our lives that take the place of God. God alone deserves and belongs in the place of priority in our lives, and when anything or anyone pushes Him aside, that becomes an idol for us. Historically, people ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23

Denomination: Wesleyan

"Turning, Serving, Waiting"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 15, 2006

The Thessalonian believers had it right. Turn from idols to the living God, serve Him and one another, wait with great anticipation for Christ’s return.

8 “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Denomination: Orthodox

Knowing Your Enemies,the Quran And The Bible.

Contributed by Anthony Smith on Feb 10, 2005

This is a side by side comparison of the Quran and The Bible.Will a man be willing to exchange lawfulness for lawlessness, righteousness for unrighteousness, life for death and even God for false Idols?

Knowing your Enemies,The Quran and the Bible. This is a side by side comparison of the Quran and The Bible.Will a man be willing to exchange lawfulness for lawlessness, righteousness for unrighteousness, life for death and even God for false Idols? ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Defend God's Honor Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 14, 2004

What offends you most? What will you defend with the greatest passion? The answer for Paul was clear: Defend God’s honor from idols and rivals!

12/19/04 Text: Acts 17:16-34 Reading: Romans 1:18-25 Longing to See God Honored Intro: Does anyone remember the TV show “Welcome back Cotter?” It was a sitcom about a teacher who returned to work in the city high school he had graduated from. Well, one time, Cotter and John Travolta got into ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Father Heart Of God

Contributed by Kranthi Kumar Medida on Aug 31, 2007

In what way is God a Father to all human beings? There are idol worshippers, atheists, christians, etc. How does God act as a father to all of them?

M.KRANTHI KUMAR B.D. FIRST YEAR NEW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE KULHAN P.O., SAHASTRADHARA ROAD, DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL – 248001, INDIA. E-MAIL: kranthi_mks@yahoo.co.in “And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty. – 2 Corinthians 6:18 In God I find A ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

We'll Work Till Jesus Comes Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jun 11, 2012

In this last sermon from the series on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, we look at Paul's commands about not being idol, but working and obeying until Jesus comes.

Introduction: A. Let me begin with this humorous, puny piece about work. 1. All my life I’ve been looking for the perfect job 2. My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned...just couldn't concentrate. 3. After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The God Of Food Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 29, 2018

In this sermon, we discuss the way that food can become an idol for us as we allow food to do for us what only God should do.

A. A certain Texas rancher had a pair of boots made, and they turned out to be too tight. 1. The bootmaker insisted on stretching them, but the rancher wouldn’t let him. 2. The rancher explained to the bootmaker his reason for wanting the boots to be too tight: “There is little in my life that is ...read more

Scripture: John 6:26-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ