Menu
Email Us
GCC Email
Call Us Now!
(317) 786-6476
GIVING

IDOLS OF THE HEART: POWER

All Sermons

IDOLS OF THE HEART: POWER

Audio Download

Listen to Sermon

SUNDAY LESSON, 9/27/26
 
IDOLS OF THE HEART: POWER
3 John
 
In concluding the sermon series, IDOLS OF THE HEART, I will be talking about the idol of POWER.   
 
The “Idol of Power” is an internal heart condition where a person relies on worldly success, position and achievement rather than trusting in God.   It is a core human motivation that many seek as a means to give them ultimate worth, security, or identity through control, influence and dominance over others.  We see this idol raise its ugly head in political offices, businesses, homes and even in churches.
The apostle John in his third letter, writes about a man in a local church named Diotrephes who had dethroned God and placed POWER on the throne of his heart.   John described him as one “who loves to be first” (v. 9).   We don’t know what position this man has in that congregation–whether an elder or preacher or whomever, but he has taken control of that church.   In his pursuit of power, Diotrophes answers to no one but himself—not even to John who was appointed an apostle by Jesus Himself.
Come join us Sunday as we study what the apostle John says about Diotrephes’ pursuit of power and the disruption it had caused in a local church.
JOHN 3
The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.