Naming The Gods: Keeping Free From Idols Artwork

Life on the West Side

Everyone I know longs for genuine happiness, lasting peace, real beauty, ultimate purpose, and honest, sincere and overwhelming love. I want you to know that Jesus came so that you can experience rich, abundant life and overwhelming love! Join me, Nathan Guy, preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, as I share my passion for Jesus Christ in weekly teachings, conduct exciting interviews with other ministers, authors and church leaders, and discuss things learned along the way. Each episode will offer a recent sermon or interview with inspiring guests intended to encourage you in your faith formation as disciples of Jesus Christ. In addition, I will link to further resources such as a discussion guide, points to ponder, and recommended resources. You can watch these sermons and find more resources at nathanguy.com, follow me @nathanpguy and subscribe to my weekly e-mail at nathanguy.substack.com.

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Life on the West Side

Naming The Gods: Keeping Free From Idols

July 23, 2023 • Nathan Guy • Season 2 • Episode 94

In AD 150, a letter to Diognetus claims that Christians deny the Greek gods, live in poverty, remain faithful in marriage, and welcome persecution. They respond to abuse with love. This is the church before the watching world. Or is it?

The sermon today is titled "Naming The Gods." It is the first installment in our series "The Church Before The Watching World." The Scripture reading is from Romans 2:21-22 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 23, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under SERVE: Announcing the Kingdom.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

For Christians as atheists, see Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993), pp. 556-61.
Epistle to Diognetus (New Advent).
For the stories of Nero, see Suetonius, Life of Nero.
Christopher J. H. Wright, Here Are Your Gods: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times (Downers Grove: IVP, 2020).
Christopher J. H. Wright, “Confronting Idols.” Sermon delivered at the third Lausanne congress on world evangelization, Cape Town, 2010. (My concluding lines either summarize or are inspired by the incredible crescendo of his speech, found between the 15 minute mark and the 20 minute mark).

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