Who Do You Serve?

10/18/2026

Sermon Info

• Speaker / Pastor: Rev. Douglas Dill

Scripture References

• Joshua 24 – Joshua reviews God’s faithfulness from Abraham through the conquest and calls Israel to choose the Lord and discard foreign gods.

• Matthew 4:8-10 – The temptation scene: Satan offers worldly power; Jesus replies, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”

Central Message

• God’s faithfulness and covenant love call us to choose wholehearted loyalty to the Lord; baptism and the sacraments continually renew that covenant and free us from idols.

Key Points

• 1. The reading from Joshua is a historical reminder of God’s actions for Israel (call of Abraham, deliverance from Egypt, provision in the wilderness, conquest of the land).

• 2. God establishes a covenant with laws (two tablets): one governing our relationship with God and the other governing our life together.

• 3. Joshua calls the people to reject foreign gods and to decide whom they will serve — a deliberate, ongoing choice.

• 4. The Matthew passage shows temptation: worldly splendor offered in exchange for worship; Jesus refuses and points to exclusive loyalty to God.

• 5. Baptism is central: it cleanses, marks, and claims us; it unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection and is repeatedly effective (past, present, future) because of the perfect tense of Christ’s death.

• 6. The sacraments (baptism, communion) and confession are means to remember and renew the covenant and to be pursued and restored by God’s grace.

• 7. Practical idols named: money, people, job, possessions, comfort, routine — things that can become false gods.

Notable Quotes

• > “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”

• > “Every time you wash your hands, remember your baptism.”

• > “Jesus is like a biscuit who will sop up your sins like gravy on a plate.”

• > “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God.”

Application

• Write down and name your sins (symbolic exercise the speaker led) as a step toward confession and repentance.

• Regularly remember your baptism in daily life (ritual reminders such as washing hands, posture in worship).

• Participate in confession, communion, and baptismal remembrance to renew the covenant with God.

• Intentionally identify and discard personal “foreign gods” (money, status, comfort, relationships, routine) and choose to serve the Lord.

• When tempted by easy gains or prestige, echo Jesus’ refusal and reaffirm exclusive worship of God.

Reflection Questions

• 1. Who do you serve — the Lord or something else? Who do you want to serve?

• 2. What specific possessions, habits, or relationships function as “foreign gods” in your life?

• 3. How will you use baptism and the sacraments to remember and renew your covenant with God?

• 4. When tempted by worldly offers, what practical steps help you turn back to God?