Gods at War: Small Group Kit

by Kyle Idleman (Illustrator)

Paper Book, 2017

Status

Available

Call number

248.4

Genres

Religion & Spirituality

Nonfiction

All Topics

Collection

GroupLife

Publication

City on the Hill Productions (2017)

Description

Gods at War illustrates a clear path away from the heartache of our 21st century idolatry back to the heart of God-enabling us to be completely committed followers of Jesus. What do Netflix, our desire for the corner office, and that perfect picture we just posted on Instagram have to do with each other? None of these things is wrong in itself. But when we begin to allow entertainment, success, or social media to control us, we miss out on the joy of God's rule in our hearts. In Gods at War, Pastor Kyle Idleman, bestselling author of Not a Fan, helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. According to Idleman, idolatry isn't an issue-it is the issue. And he reveals which false gods each of us are allowing on the throne of our lives, by asking insightful questions such as: - What do you sacrifice for? - What makes you mad? - What do you worry about? - Whose applause do you long for? We're all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success, and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire. In this updated edition, Pastor Kyle adds a new introduction as well as new content about the battle many of us face with technology-whether we are tempted to send just one more text, stay online when our bodies need rest, or find ourselves putting email before in-person relationships. How can we seek God with our whole hearts instead? Spanish and student editions also available.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member RobSumrall

"What if I told you that every sin you are struggling with, every discouragement you are dealing with, even the lack of purpose you're living with are because of idolatry?" (12)

With this statement, Kyle Idleman launches into a pointed, challenging, and needed assault on the idols in our lives.

Idleman says that an idol is "anything that becomes the purpose or driving force of your life probably points back to idolatry of some kind" (26). He groups nine idols into three "temples": the temple of pleasure - addressing the god of food, the god of sex, and the god of entertainment; the temple of power - addressing the god of success, the god of money, and the god of achievement; and the temple of love - addressing the god of romance, the god of family, the god of me. The thoroughness with which Idleman dismantles the gods of culture leaves no stone unturned. Any reader of this book is likely to be skewered at multiple points.

My only qualm with this book is the obviously Arminian thought that shines through at points. Interestingly enough, I was leading a group of highschoolers through this book; they were the ones who identified (correctly) Idleman's theological presuppositions. Their theological instincts made me proud!

This book was a good read. I highly recommend it. It will challenge and lead many people to address sin in their lives. I know it did that for me.

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LibraryThing member readingbeader

This was the Big Idea at my church. We've all read it and studied it on Sundays and in small group. The book is sort of repetitive. I agree with my husband who said we could have just watched the video series without reading the book. I learned a lot and appreciated the insights.

LibraryThing member jntjesussaves

Writing: 4.5; Theme: 5.0; Content: 5.0; Language: 5.0; Overall: 4.5

This is another great book from this Christian author. Modern Christians seem to think that idol worship is a thing of the past, but Idleman shares how this is a mistaken thought process. We have many idols that get in our way of

worshipping God the way He desires and deserves. We have many gods and many idols. We have gods of pleasure, romance, sex, money, food, entertainment, achievement, and even family. All of these other idols in our lives are a result of the idol worship of ourselves- the god of "me.". God deserves and commands our duty to honor Him and serve Him in this way. The author gives valuable principles how we can accomplish this in a much better way. Highly recommend.

***June 15, 2023***

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