Isaiah 44:9-20 - The danger of idolatry.

Then

Creation’s creation

Idols are a second order creation, not even as high as us.

Faulty testimony (Acts 19:35-36

Worshipped (Isaiah 44:17

Endorsed lifestyle (I Corinthians 10:7

Idol worship endorsed the lifestyle the Israelites wanted to live.

Sacrificed goods (Isaiah 46:6

Sacrificed children (II Kings 10:3

Sought for deliverance (Isaiah 44:17

All gods the same (II Kings 18:33-35

Now

Work of our hands (I timothy 6:17

False advertisement (I Timothy 6:9

Distracted worship (Matthew 6:24

Self-justifying lifestyle (II timothy 4:3-4

Indebtedness (Romans 13:8

Lifestyle abortions

Trusting riches (Matthew 16:9

Failed riches (Matthew 24:45

I Peter 1:22-23

Romans 12:12

We figure, “God already knows all of this.”

Matthew 6:8 - This is true. God is omniscient.

God tells us to.

It’s not about the giving of information, but about the giving of our heart. Prayer is a sincere expression of our love and need for Him. Matthew 6:6-8

We get tired of praying for the same old thing.

Ephesians 6:18-20 - Better awareness of what we can pray for and what we really need can help us pray sincerely.

Philippians 1:3-5 - Like Paul, we have many people to be thankful for.

Things we can include in our prayers:

Adoration (praise) - Matthew 6:9

Confession - Luke 18:13

Thanks - Colossians 4:2

Supplication (petition) - I Timothy 2:1-2

Luke 18:1-8 - Don’t lose heart. Keep praying!

Matthew 12:38-41 - The story of Jonah is quoted as a true story - not an allegory.

II Kings 14:25 - The only other mention of Jonah in the Old Testament outside the book of Jonah.

God says that souls are the top priority. Jonah 1:2

Luke 9:59-62

The story of Jonah (Jonah 1:3-3:10

Jonah 1:3 - The location of Tarshish is no longer known.

Jonah 3:2 - Ninevah is believed to have been located at modern-day Mosul, Iraq.

The power of God’s word (Jonah 3:4-5

Luke 16:22-25

Adultery

I Corinthians 6:9 - the many dangers of adultery

Proverbs 5:15-18 - how to avoid adultery

Viewing the Bible as just a book of good ideas

Acts 17:30-32

Luke 16:18 - God’s teaching on marriage and divorce

I Thessalonians 2:13

Teaching our kids to put God on the backburner

Matthew 6:19-24 - You cannot serve God and wealth.

Children learn from both explicit instruction and from example.

I Peter 3:1

Never “getting around to it”

Luke 9:57-62 - Put God first!

II Corinthians 5:10 - We must all answer to God for what we’ve done, not what we intended to do.