Sermon Central
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7 Bad Examples: The Golden Calf Series
Contributed by Bret Hammond on Jan 10, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: Idolatry isn't about the idol itself. It's about what's happening inside us.
INTRODUCTION
A. If you spent any time working in offices over the past 10 years – motivational posters
1. The format is pretty typical. Black background – Picture nature – Word –Phrase
2. Purpose was to motivate you –give you something to reach for – push yourself for
3. Didn’t take long before parodies started popping up – favorite “Demotivators”
4. Favorite –a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean – underneath –word “Mistakes”
5. “It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning for others”
B. There are some mistakes –so huge – so colossal – become synonymous –failure
1. Say the name “Titanic” – and the imagery is instantly one of catastrophe
2. Mention the Space Shuttle Challenger – next word in your mind is “disaster”
3. And say “golden calf” – you immediately recognize disobedience – idolatry – sin
C. “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
1. One of those huge mistakes that serve as a warning to others –don’t do what they did
2. Don’t fall into the same trap – don’t worship what they worshipped
3. And I’m sure none of you have a golden calf in your home – but was that really the point?
4. TEXT: EXODUS 32:1-6
D. I want to stop there because that’s where Paul stops in 1 Cor 10:7- doesn’t reference calf
1. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
2. For Paul it’s not about the calf-what represented –what happened to the people
3. Today when we talk about idolatry – one of two directions
4. Problem they had back then – worshiped statues/idols –we’re enlightened –know better
5. Two – admit –we have idols –list –possessions/wealth –fancy cars/bass boats
6. Paul reminding us –not about the idol –it’s about us –what’s happening to us
Trans: The example that we have from the golden calf shows us that no matter what our idol is:
I. IDOLS CAN’T GIVE US A FUTURE
A. There’s a great lesson in the Proverbs – hear it quoted every now and then.
1. Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision the people perish” – perish doesn’t mean “die”
2. They cease to be a people – nothing to hold them together – nothing unifying them
3. Verse 25 – broken loose –same phrase as Proverb- “Perish”
4. There was nothing left to bond them together –bring unity/purpose – direction for them
B. When the story begins – Moses is absent –Mt. Sinai for 40 days – seen movie –receiving law
1. But the people had followed Moses out of Egypt – he led them – saw him –saw miracles
2. Now they can’t see him – not sure he’s coming back – they’re getting agitated
3. Go to Aaron – “Make us gods who shall go before us” – something we can see –faith in
4. “Go before us” – something we can follow – give us direction
C. Where there is no vision the people perish – we stop moving forward – no goal – no direction
1. Idols make us idle – they don’t lead us anywhere- if stop moving –no hope
2. That’s why it’s important we know where we’re going – what we’re focused on
3. Why we want you to catch this vision of Gather, Grow, Serve –we can’t stay where we are
4. We have to move ahead – for that we need vision
D. That’s not just for a church though – that’s for you – for your life – for your family
1. I think about Aaron here –gathered gold – “fashioned it with a graving tool” –crafted it
2. Ephesians 2:10 –“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”
3. God crafted you together – not as an idol – but as HIS workmanship – HIS image
4. Not to be idle – but to do good works – plans for you – future for you
5. Beautiful thing for us is-we come together –same God –created each of us…
6. We get to share his image – we get to move ahead with his plans.
Trans: Without God we have no future, no vision, no plan. It goes without saying that if we have no future, then:
II. IDOLS CAN’T FREE US FROM OUR PAST
A. Verse 6b – realize when it says “play” – not hopscotch, right? “indulge in revelry”
1. “Sat down to eat and drink” isn’t a potluck either – this was a drunken pagan orgy
2. Much like what they would have done back in Egypt – exactly like back in Egypt
