Chuck Smith emphasizes the danger of false concepts of worship, illustrating how people often create idols that reflect their own desires and intellect rather than worshiping the true God. He warns that these idols, whether material possessions or personal ambitions, are ultimately vain and lead to spiritual degradation. Smith highlights that a person becomes like their god, and if that god is false, so too will be the worshiper. He encourages believers to submit their lives to Jesus Christ, reminding them that true worship transforms and elevates them to become more like Him. The sermon serves as a call to examine what we truly worship and to ensure it aligns with the living God.

"THE DANGER OF FALSE CONCEPTS" Intro: "Everyone should believe in something." it doesn't matter what you believe, just so you are sincere. The children of Israel worshipped the golden calf and burned incense to it. Young men today worship a steel mustang & burn gas." I. "THE IDOLS OF THE HEATHEN ARE VAIN." A. Every man has a god. 1. That man who says "I do not believe in God." a. Worshipping the god of his own intellect. 2. A man's god is that master principle that governs his life. That controlling force or idea. a. Thus a man can say "I believe in God and in Jesus Christ" yet worship other gods. 1. "Thou shall have no other gods before me." B. An idol is an object of worship. 1. You may believe in God, but what is it you worship. a. Boat, car, home - new church? business? C. The idols are vain. 1. They cannot speak, see, hear, thus help you. II. OBSERVATIONS OF THIS PSALM A. When a man makes a god he makes it like himself, thus he in reality is worshipping himself. 1. So is the man who lives for his own pleasure 2. When in high school I saw a car for sale. 3. So is the man who seeks power. B. When a man makes it less than himself. 1. "They have mouths, but they cannot speak." C. A man becomes like his god. Vs 18. 1. It does matter what you believe, who you worship. a. If your god is false, you have become false. b. If your god is phony, you have become a phony. c. If your god can't see, you have become blind. d. If your god can't hear, you have become deaf. e. Dumb gods - dumb followers 2. To worship idols is degrading, and deteriorating III. I JOHN 3:2. A. When God remakes a man, He makes him more than he was. 1. I was a sinner, hopelessly bound & blind, deaf & dumb. 2. He forgave me, He set me free, & opened my eyes & ears & loosed my tongue to praise Him. 3. "I was once a child of hell but now beloved I am a son of God." B. A man becomes like his God. "We shall be like Him." 1. The Spirit of God is working in our lives to conform us into the image of Christ." 2. "Until we come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 3. But, we with open face beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed. 4. How does it operate? a. John's final warning in 1st epistle-"beware of idols." b. Submit your life daily and fully to be mastered by Jesus Christ. c. Worship God & obey His word. Who is your God? With older people you don't need to ask, just observe.