Category Archives: Idolatry

The Oak Tree’s Fall

Posted on April 21, 2025 by russellmckinney

In the center of a town stood a giant oak tree that had been planted there many decades earlier to mark the founding of the town. The tree was massive and had proven that it could withstand any storm. Through … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Anger, Backsliding, Christ's Death, Conviction, Covetousness, Desires, Disobedience, Drugs, Forgiveness, Gambling, God's Judgment, Guilt, Idolatry, Jealousy, Lust, Lying, Pride, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sex, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Following God’s Instructions to the Letter

Posted on December 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

The story of Israel’s conquest of the promised land of Canaan is messy, convoluted, and plays out over many decades. Its record covers the entire book of Joshua, spills over into the book of Judges, and is filled with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Disobedience, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Obedience, Rebellion, Sanctification, Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fine Line Between Hard Work & Idolatry

Posted on December 5, 2024 by russellmckinney

Tonya and I once attended an academic awards ceremony for our son, Royce. He was finishing up his sophomore year of high school and receiving what the school called an “Academic Letter” for having a grade point average of 4.0 … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Business, Choices, Commitment, Desires, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Personal, Priorities, Prosperity, Service, Sports, Talents, The Sermon On The Mount, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Fiddle

Posted on October 31, 2024 by russellmckinney

Bob Jones Sr., who founded Bob Jones University (a Christian university in Greenville, S.C.), used to tell the story of a student from North Carolina named Dorothy. Dorothy came from a family that wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Brokenness, Desires, Discipleship, Disobedience, Dying To Self, God's Name, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Joy, Music, Obedience, Priorities, Sanctification, Service, Submission, Talents | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Worst Form of Earthly Judgment

Posted on August 12, 2024 by russellmckinney

Quick, name the worst judgment that God ever inflicted upon someone. If you answered, “Sending that person to hell,” give yourself a gold star. After all, there simply cannot be anything worse than eternal judgment. But eternal judgment involves God … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Death, Decisions, Depravity, Desires, Disobedience, Faithfulness, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Homosexuality, Human Life, Idolatry, Lesbianism, Lust, Obedience, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sex, Sin, The Heart, The Sin Unto Death, The Unpardonable Sin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

When Your Life Becomes an Object Lesson

Posted on August 7, 2024 by russellmckinney

One of the hardest roles God ever calls one of His servants to play is that of a walking/talking object lesson. Since you’ve probably never heard a sermon on this topic, I’ll use a prime example from the Bible as … Continue reading →

Posted in Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Marriage, Ministry, Prophecy, Reconciliation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Greatest Commandment

Posted on June 12, 2024 by russellmckinney

A group of men went deer hunting. After setting up camp, they separated into pairs to do their hunting. Bob and Joe paired up to hunt together, and Joe killed a huge 10-point buck. Bob then volunteered to help him … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Commitment, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Humor, Idolatry, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Sanctification, Service, The Heart, Worship | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Idolatry

Posted on May 8, 2024 by russellmckinney

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21, N.K.J.V.) The Old Testament’s history of Israel is dominated by the Jews committing the sin of idolatry. Even though the first two commandments of Israel’s law prohibited idolatry, the Jews … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Balance, Commitment, Confession, Discipleship, Idolatry, Priorities, Repentance, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Origins of the Easter Holiday (post #3)

Posted on March 29, 2024 by russellmckinney

The name “Easter” is a derivation of the name “Ishtar,” “Astarte,” and “Eostre.” Each of these was a localized, cultural name for Semiramis, ancient Babylon’s so-called “queen of heaven.” In the Babylonian religion now known as “the Babylonian cult,” each … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholicism, Easter, Easter Traditions, Idolatry, Series: "The Origins of the Easter Holiday" | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Origins of the Easter Holiday (post #2)

Posted on March 27, 2024 by russellmckinney

In my previous post, I began a short series on the origins of the Easter Holiday. That post explained the historical significance of the names “Semiramis” (the queen of heaven) and “Tammuz” as well as the idolatrous religion that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Catholicism, Confession, Easter, Easter Traditions, Idolatry, Series: "The Origins of the Easter Holiday" | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments