The scariest monsters are those that come from within!

JR. Forasteros - March 30, 2014

The God of Entertainment

American Gods

Unlike the other idols we've explored in this series, Entertainment is a subtle god. When we tune into something entertaining, we often shut off our brains, relax and enjoy the leisure activities we're engaging in. It's exactly this mindlessness that allows our Leisure to shape us so unconsciously. We're called to be mindful in our entertainment choices, to use even our leisure to help us love God and love each other better.

From Series: "American Gods"

When you think of idol, you think of a little statue. But idols can be anything that distracts or distances us from God. During Lent, we're going to look at some of the most popular idols in our culture. We'll see what they are, and how they pull us away from God. We'll also discover the better way God calls us to. Join us as we discover the identities of these American gods, and turn from them to follow the one and only true God.

Sermon Manuscript     Discussion Guide

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Of all the monsters we’re looking at in this series, the Werewolf is the most ambivalent. Culturally, we like werewolves, we’re interested in them, but we don’t want to get TOO interested. They’re not as sexy as vampires. Ghosts are scary. Zombies are cool. But Werewolves? It’s almost as if we don’t quite know what to do with them.

Well, that’s not quite true. It’s that werewolves are just… more… dangerous. There’s an edge to them that other monsters don’t quite have.

Werewolves are humans who occasionally transform into wolves or wolf-like monsters. The wolf is terrifying, unpredictable and uncontrollable. Once the person transforms, once the monster comes out, there’s no telling who or what is going to be hurt. Usually the transformation is brought on by the full moon, though some more modern incarnations like the Twilight wolves and the Incredible Hulk are triggered by anger.

The Werewolf is a person who has this monster, a beast, a Wolf living inside them.

They know it’s dangerous. And most of the time, they’ve got it under control. They have ordered their lives in such a way that the Wolf can’t get out. They’ve built a cage for the monster with structure, with rules and discipline.

But inevitably, in every story, the Wolf breaks out. The monster hurts people around them, destroys their lives. So afterwards, the person tries to put things back together, apologizes for the damage the monster has done and starts rebuilding the cage, hoping to make it strong enough next time. They make new rules. Stricter schedules.

But we know they can never make the cage strong enough to hold the monster. The Wolf will always find a way out.

How do we overcome the Wolf Within? Join us Sunday as we find out!

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