Sermons
Inside Sojourn
God Of The Mall Shopping Spree
This week we’ve been looking at five images of a small god — five ways in which we reduce God to a “type.” So far we’ve checked out
Today’s little piece of evil and delusion is “Personal Shopper God.”
In my sermon this past Sunday I talked about four things God has done for us through Jesus Christ, the “image of the invisible God.”
- He’s rescued us (Colossians 1:13)
- He’s transferred us (v. 13)
- He’s redeemed us (Colossians 1:14)
- He’s forgiven us (v. 14)
So … big stuff. Bigger than giving you a new iPhone.
But the error of Personal Shopper God starts when we’re kids: we memorize Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
and we think, “Cool. My heart wants a Reeses Pieces blizzard. And a PS3. And Pez.”
That’s like Dr. Evil from Austin Powers, wanting to hold the world hostage for $1 million.
When we truly delight ourselves in the One who has saved and redeemed us through His shed blood, He transforms our hearts and gives us an eye for the big picture. Jesus isn’t Shopping Mall God, stooping so low as to give you enough candy to rot your teeth, or an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle so you’ll shoot your eye out.
Jesus is bigger than your world. Jesus is bigger than your church. Jesus is bigger than your salvation. He doesn’t satisfy the petty lusts of our eyes and gluttony of our tongues. He satisfies the true cry of our hearts for mercy, for justice, for love, for community, for a relationship with our Creator and prime real estate before the throne of God.
About Daniel Montgomery
The sermon on Sunday, has changed my time in prayer, all day long, every day, to remember how BIG that God really is. I have been praying in even more faith and trusting Him even more than I had been,with issues, and circumstances, and people in my life.
And not for more money to shop with and definitely not to be my “tech support”(if you really knew me you’d understand), but enjoy as much as possible how much I can count on Him to just make things ok, like a good daddy would for a little girl. What is really good for me, not to just get my way, or what I want, or how I think things should be! The Holy Spirit is still making application everyday (to me) from your faithful preaching of God’s word last Sunday. You just served up the truth, and we ate like starving children, who are hungry and thristy for real food and water! The truly nurishing food from the Bread of Life, and thirst quenching water of life, from the River of Living Water!
Thanks again Daniel, for being the preacher, pastor and Shepherd this local flock needs.