Yesterday I began a series on idolatry called “Scarecrow in a Melon Patch.” The title is a bit elusive but it comes from Jeremiah 10:5. Jeremiah describes idols like a “scarecrow in a melon patch” because they can’t ultimately give us the security we want them to.

One of the things I most wanted to do was help people move from simply knowing what idolatry is to knowing what idols are actually in our lives. For the people in the Bible, it was easy. They could visibly see what they were bowing down to. Our idols are in our hearts, and we’re usually blind to them.

So to help, I went through a list of fifteen questions that’s a combination of questions from both Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll. I promised I would make these available so our people could process through them throughout the week, but I think these would be good for you to go through even if you’re not a part of Elevation.

Obviously the answer to any one of these questions doesn’t automatically qualify it as an idol. But if you begin to see a trend of similar answers, you’re on to something.

1. What am I most afraid of?
2. What are the primary things I spend my money on outside of necessities?
3. What do I long for most passionately?
4. Where do I run for comfort?
5. What do I complain about most?
6. What makes me happiest?
7. How do I explain myself to other people?
8. What has caused me to be angry with God?
9. What do I brag about?
10. What do I want to have more than anything else?
11. What do I sacrifice the most for in my life?
12. If I could change one thing about my life, what would it be?
13. Whose approval am I seeking?
14. What do I want to control/master?
15. What comfort do I treasure most?

In the sermon I gave some practical applications for how to diminish an idol. If you weren’t there to hear them,  you can check them out every hour on the hour at the Elevation Experience.

Last weekend at Elevation I strongly urged our people to invite people who are close to them but far from God to church this coming weekend. We believe very strongly in the power of a simple invite to church. We’ve seen thousands of people place their faith in Christ through our weekend worship experiences. And the reason most of those people came was because someone invited them.

So I wanted to issue one final challenge to our Elevators: don’t come alone this weekend. God has been setting the stage for an incredible finish to the Invitation. And all you have to do is say a simple sentence that could have a profound impact: Will you come to church with me this weekend?

We’ve made all the preparations. Now you just have to come and bring as many people as you can. God wants His house to be full. And He’s asked us to invite people in to fill it.

Below I’ve included a tool to help you. Take a moment and send an e-vite. Or send 20. We have ten worship experiences spread out over three locations. Find one they can go to, and accommodate to their schedule if you have to.

To show you the kind of impact you have the potential to make, I’ve also included a very compelling testimony detailing how Kat Crawford, one of our volunteers, received a simple invitation to church that changed her life forever.

We’re partners in the Gospel. You give your invitation. I’ll give mine. And we’ll see hundreds of people be filled with life in Christ.

Click here to send an evite.

Yesterday I wrapped up a four-week series on Romans 8 called “Christ Alone.” Going into the weekend I had three different sermons prepared. When you’re covering the greatest chapter in the Bible in just four weeks, it can be hard to know where to land.

I ended up focusing on the phrase, “more than conquerors” and what it means to be a super conqueror. A more than a conqueror through Christ, rather than just a mere conqueror.

More than anything, I wanted to communicate the truth that if you’re more than conqueror, you achieve the victory in the opposition. Not just over it. You’re victorious in the midst of your circumstances, struggles, and opposition. Not necessarily when you escape them.

I know that sounds good, but I think the reason many Christians never graduate to being a super conqueror is their fear of the danger and opposition that lies in the middle of a battle. There’s a tendency in us to think we’re safer when we face no opposition. Or when we’re in no danger. And therefore we run from them at all costs. Fear, rather than faith, becomes our controlling mechanism.

But this misses the point that God provides security and protection in direct proportion to the danger we’re in and the opposition we’re facing. In God’s economy, it’s when we’re facing our greatest opposition and danger that we’re also the safest. Not from them. But in them.

In the Bible, the greatest instances of God’s protection directly coincide with the greatest moments of danger and opposition for God’s people.

God parts the Red Sea. Because the Egyptian army is about to annihilate the Israelites.
God shuts the mouths of lions. Because Daniel is thrown into a lions den.

I think many of us want a front row seat to God’s miracles without a front row seat to the danger and opposition that coincides with the need for the miracle in the first place. But this isn’t how it works. The people who get to experience the power of God are those who are actually in need of seeing that power manifested on their behalf. And it’s for this very reason that these people have less to fear than those in seemingly safer circumstances.

The Israelites didn’t have to fear the Egyptians because God was fighting for them.
Daniel didn’t have to fear the lions because God was with him.
You don’t have to fear whatever you’re facing because the same God is with you and fighting for you.

The greater the danger you’re in, the greater security God will provide. The greater the opposition against us, the greater the opportunity for God to fight for us. And allow us to be super conquerors through Him.

(If you weren’t there to hear it, we’ll have the whole sermon up later today.)

Guest Blogger: Wade Joye, Worship Pastor

Pastor Steven recently led our staff and select volunteers to read through the Bible in 90 days through an intense and challenging initiative called B90x. This process was so powerful for our leadership as we prioritized the Word of God in a new way in our lives. As a result, Pastor Steven wanted to take our entire church through a similar journey.

Beginning the weekend of January 9 and 10, we will launch a 5 week sermon series called New Thru 30. During this series, Pastor Steven will challenge our church to read through the entire New Testament in 30 days. Everyone in the church will get a reading plan and devotional guide as we take this journey together. Pastor’s sermons during these 5 weekends will also be focused on what we are reading at the time. I can’t think of any better way for us to kick off the New Year as a church!

And here is the really cool part. We want you to do this series with us. We are going to make the entire series available to you at newthru30.com so any church can participate alongside of us. At the site, you will be able to download Pastor Steven’s sermons, the reading plan, series graphics, trailers and all other programming materials.

Ultimately, we want to be a resource for you as you challenge your church to seek God in a new and audacious way. We hope you join us in this national campaign as we read the New Testament together and start the New Year off right.