Idolatry... Identity... Conversion.

"... you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thess 1:9-10)

We have been transferred from darkness to the kingdom of light. (Colossians)

The Gospel is not "you do" but "Jesus did."

Idols are the gods of the illegitimate rebellion. Other people's idols are easier to spot than our own. Not all idols are carved stones of primitive people. "Put to death then... Which is idolatry." we exchange the truth of God for and worship something created rather than the Creator.

Be careful that the attendance of the church doesn't become the idolatry of your heart. You will sacrifice yourself on the altar of your idolatry. Stop chasing after the idolatry of ministry success. When idolatry drives us, idolatry dominates us. Get over your man crush on Mark Driscoll and pastor the church God has given you.

Unjustified fears and worries. You can't have fear of the future and faith in God at the same time. Too many are afraid of the churches God has called them to lead.

Can you as a minister say, "I'm not afraid of telling the truth. I'm not afraid of making the hard decisions."

Acts 17.30 the worship of idols is "ignorance"

Conferences like these can encourage idolatry. It can become ministry pornography. An unrealistic picture of the ministry you're never gonna have that distracts you from the real, wonderful thing that He's given you.

Worship of God. It redirects our loyalties and reorders our priorities. I would say that idolatry is worship of anything other than God.

We are like East TN during the Civil War. They seceded from TN when TN seceded from the Union. We are the rebellion against the rebellion. Turned to God from idols. We are rebelling against the rebellion.

Too many have been received vaccinations in lukewarm Gospel presentations, churches that has insulated them against the real thing.

It's easier to look like a godly pastor rather than to be a godly pastor.

Conversion causes us to be rebel with a new hope.

If everyone in the world is bowing toward idols and we're not, then we stand out. When He returns, do you want to be forced to your knees or on your knees?

1 John 5.21, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

Recognize your own propensity to idolatry.

Jeff Noble - "Notes from the Trail"

Notes from Refuel 2011: Ed Stetzer

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