Sunday Morning Service - Thou Shalt have no other gods besides me

Sermon Summary: “Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Besides Me”

1. God Must Be First—Always

The sermon opens with Exodus 20, where God establishes the first commandment: nothing is allowed to come before Him. This command is foundational because when God is not first, every other area of life eventually becomes disordered. Even temporary distractions or misplaced priorities can function as false gods if they take precedence over God.

1. Idolatry Is Often Subtle

Modern idolatry is rarely statues or images—it is anything that competes for God’s place. Satan works primarily as a deceiver, making good or neutral things seem more important than God. Careers, relationships, possessions, comfort, and personal ambitions can quietly move ahead of God, especially during seasons of pressure or busyness.

1. Jesus Demands Supreme Loyalty

Jesus reinforces this command in the New Testament, teaching that no relationship or pursuit—even family—can outrank devotion to Him. Loving anyone or anything more than Christ disqualifies true discipleship. This does not diminish human love, but properly orders it under a supreme love for God.

1. Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Following Jesus requires intentional commitment. He warns that disciples must count the cost, understanding that faith involves sacrifice, endurance, and perseverance. Those who begin without resolve often fall away when pressure, ridicule, or difficulty arises.

1. A Disciple Is Permanently Committed

The sermon explains that a disciple is not someone who tries Christianity, but someone who has made a decisive act with permanent results. True disciples are “glued,” “fused,” and fully attached to Christ and His teachings, refusing to live a divided life or allow compromise.

1. Spiritual Danger of Becoming Sluggish

Scripture warns against becoming spiritually sluggish—not sinful rebellion, but spiritual laziness. When diligence fades, prayer weakens, Scripture becomes neglected, and God gradually loses first place. Faithfulness requires intentional effort and consistency.

1. God Rewards Undivided Hearts

Psalm 84 highlights the blessing of those whose strength is in the Lord and whose hearts are set on the journey with Him. God withholds no good thing from those who remain upright, coupled, and fully devoted. A day in God’s presence is better than anything the world offers.

1. Trusting God With the Impossible

The sermon concludes with the challenge of the “Impossibility List”—placing before God needs that only He can accomplish. This practice reinforces trust, keeps God first, and builds faith as believers watch Him answer prayers over time.

1. Final Call

Believers are urged to examine their lives, realign priorities, and recommit to placing God first in every area. When hope seems lost, God proves Himself faithful. True discipleship begins and continues with this resolve: no other gods—only Him.