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Labor Not In Vain
September 25, 2016
Rev Bill Snyder
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Philippians 3:7-8, Matthew 13:44

Sermon References

From You

1 Thessalonians 1:8
For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. (NKJV)

Turn From - Turn To

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

They turned to Christ and found Him so satisfying that they dropped their idols.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold.

Idolatry Defined

"Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God - your functional savior." Martin Luther

Idolatry is simply trying to build our identity on something besides God.

Whatever it is in your life that, if you lost it, would make you want to quit living. Or, to put it positively, what are you really living for? What are you functionally depending on to make life worth living? Ultimately, if it's anything or anyone other than Jesus, then it's become an idol.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain

Or be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.