The Idol Factory | Pastor Pete Gillott | FCF Church

Worship is not just a part of our Sunday routine or a collection of songs we sing; it is the very fabric of our existence. Every human being is wired to worship—it's not a question of if we will worship, but what or whom we will worship. God calls us to worship Him not because He is insecure or needy, but because He knows that every other object of our worship will ultimately leave us empty and dissatisfied. When we withhold our worship from God, we inevitably turn to idols—things, people, or even ourselves—to fill that void, but these substitutes never satisfy.

True worship is an authentic love that is freely expressed. Just as genuine love in our relationships is naturally expressed through words and actions, so too is our love for God. The Bible, especially the Psalms, reveals that worship is not limited to singing but encompasses a variety of physical and emotional expressions—singing, shouting, raising hands, kneeling, and more. These are not empty rituals but heartfelt responses to the revelation of who God is and what He has done for us.

Worship is not about our preferences or comfort. It is not about giving God what we want to give, but about offering what He desires and deserves. When we try to define worship on our own terms, we risk making it about ourselves and reigniting the "idol factory" in our hearts. Instead, worship should be a response to the revelation of God found in His Word. The more we know Him, the more natural and passionate our worship becomes.

Music is a powerful tool in worship because it engages our whole being—body, soul, and spirit. God designed music to move us, to help us express the inexpressible, and to unite us in praise. Yet, like all good things, music can be corrupted and misused, becoming a vehicle for idolatry rather than adoration of the Creator.

The enemy hates worship because he was once heaven’s worship leader, created to direct praise to God but fell by seeking worship for himself. Now, God has given us the privilege and responsibility to be His worshipers, to lead all creation in giving Him the glory He alone deserves. Worship is our response to the revelation of God’s love and majesty—a response that transforms us and brings us into deeper communion with Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship is an inescapable part of human nature; everyone worships something. The real question is not whether we will worship, but what or whom we will worship. When we withhold worship from God, we inevitably turn to idols—things that can never truly satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. [12:55]
• 2. Authentic worship is always expressed. Just as love in our human relationships is naturally shown through words and actions, so our love for God must be expressed—whether through singing, raising hands, kneeling, or other biblical expressions. God is not looking for perfection in our worship, but for the sincerity of our hearts. [17:19]
• 3. God desires worship that is rooted in revelation, not compulsion. True worship flows from a growing understanding of who God is and what He has done for us, as revealed in His Word. Limited knowledge of God leads to limited worship; the more we know Him, the more our hearts are moved to adore Him. [28:24]
• 4. Worship is not about our preferences or comfort, but about giving God what He desires. When we insist on worshiping God on our own terms, we risk making worship about ourselves and reigniting the idol factory in our hearts. True worship requires humility and a willingness to offer God what He asks for, not just what is convenient for us. [24:42]
• 5. The enemy hates worship because it is the very thing he was created for and lost through pride. Satan’s fall was rooted in his desire to receive worship rather than direct it to God. Now, as God’s people, we are called to take up the mantle of worship, leading all creation in giving God the glory He alone deserves, and in doing so, we fulfill a purpose that the enemy can never reclaim. [38:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:23] - Invitation to Come and See Sunday
• [01:26] - Greeting First-Time Guests
• [02:07] - Honoring Pastoral Staff
• [03:42] - Introducing the Topic: The Idol Factory
• [05:18] - Defining Worship: Worth-ship
• [06:10] - Worship as Authentic Love Expressed
• [07:18] - Expressing Love in Relationships
• [10:15] - Why Does God Ask Us to Worship?
• [12:29] - The Idol Factory: We All Worship Something
• [14:44] - What Kind of Worship Does God Want?
• [15:34] - The Seven Hebrew Words for Praise
• [17:19] - God Cares About the Heart, Not Perfection
• [18:12] - Sacrifice of Praise: Worship When You Don’t Feel Like It
• [21:20] - Making Worship About Us vs. About God
• [24:42] - Giving God What He Wants, Not What We Want
• [28:24] - Worship as a Response to Revelation
• [32:57] - Why Music? Worship Engages Body, Soul, and Spirit
• [35:06] - Why the Devil Hates Worship
• [38:23] - Lucifer’s Role and Fall: The First Worship Leader
• [41:38] - Only God is Worthy of Worship
• [44:40] - Responding to God’s Worthiness in Worship

Bible Reading

Romans 12:1 (ESV) — > I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 1:21-25 (ESV) — > For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Psalm 63:3-4 (ESV) — > Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Observation Questions

1. According to Romans 12:1, what does Paul say is our “spiritual worship”? How does this go beyond just singing songs?
2. In Romans 1:21-25, what happens when people stop worshiping God? What do they turn to instead? [12:29]
3. The sermon described several physical and emotional expressions of worship found in the Psalms. What are some of these expressions? [15:34]
4. What reason does the sermon give for why God asks us to worship Him? [10:15]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “It’s not a question of if we will worship, but what or whom we will worship.” Why is worship described as an inescapable part of human nature? [12:55]
2. Why does God care more about the “heart of the artist” than the “perfection of the art” when it comes to worship? [17:19]
3. The sermon warns that when we define worship on our own terms, we risk making it about ourselves. What are some ways this can happen in a church setting? [24:42]
4. How does a growing understanding of who God is (revelation) lead to more authentic and passionate worship? [28:24]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that everyone is worshiping something—whatever has our heart’s affection and mind’s attention. What is something in your life that easily takes the place of God in your heart? How can you redirect your worship back to God this week? [13:53]
2. Think about the different biblical expressions of worship mentioned (singing, raising hands, kneeling, shouting, etc.). Which of these feels most natural to you, and which feels uncomfortable? Why do you think that is? [15:34]
3. The sermon shared a story about giving a gift that was really for yourself, not the other person. Are there ways you’ve been giving God “gifts” that are more about your own preferences than what He desires? What would it look like to offer God what He actually wants? [24:42]
4. When was the last time you worshiped God even when you didn’t feel like it? What helped you push through, or what held you back? [18:12]
5. The sermon says, “Worship is not a response to compulsion, but a response to revelation.” What is one new thing you’ve learned about God recently that makes you want to worship Him? [28:24]
6. Music is described as a tool that engages our whole being—body, soul, and spirit. How does music help you connect with God in worship? Are there ways you can use music more intentionally in your personal or family worship? [32:57]
7. The enemy hates worship because it’s what he lost through pride. How does knowing this change the way you approach worship, especially when you don’t feel like it or when you’re distracted? [38:23]