Darrin Patrick at WiBo

NOTES FROM PATRICK:
* Romans 1:18-25
* How people change and how to turn from idols in our life.
* Sin is when we exchange the object of our worship. We stop worshiping God and start worshiping creation instead of creator.
* You were made to be captivated by something greater than yourself.
* 1 John 5:21 (summation of 1 John)- Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
* The way to serve other people, to love God? Stop serving idols.
* What is an idol? Anything other than God that I put in the place of God.
* An idol is something you look to for meaning. It can even be your ministry.
* Sin happens because we treasure our idols more than we treasure God.
* If we break commandments 3-10, it is because we have broken commandments 1 and 2.
* “An idol is anything in my life that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone.” “Lord I trust you, but I have to have _____.” “When I get this…then I’ll be happy.”
* Most of the time, we’re clueless about our idols, but we can see others.
* You usually only see your idols when they’re threatened or disturbed.
* Who am I if I’m not a pastor? It doesn’t matter!
* Invite the Holy Spirit to expose the things you’re trusting in other than God.
* How to discern idols in our heart: What do you worry about the most? What if I failed or lost it, it would cause me to fell like I didn’t want to live? What do I rely on when things get difficult? What do I do to feel better? What do I think most easily about? Where does my mind go when it’s free? What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about? What makes me feel the most self worth? What do I want to be known for? What prayer unanswered would make me seriously think about turning away from God? What do I really want or expect out of life? What is my hope for the future? What truths from the Bible do I continually resist? What are the clear patterns of disobedience in my life?
* Idols tend to hide deep in our hearts. It is root sin. It is our motivations.
* Our motivations are the root sin. People can have different motivations for doing what they do.
* Four motivations in people (Alfred Adler): power, comfort, approval, or control
*Repentance is seeing your sin, owning your sin, turning from sin. It shows us the Root of our sin. You find that I am a bigger sinner than I thought.
* Faith is that Jesus lived for me, died for me, God sees me in Jesus, and Jesus lives in me. You find that He is a bigger Savior than I thought.
* God forgive us for inviting people to a gospel that we are not really living.