IDEA: Times have changed and we have changed with them, and we assume then, that God has changed. TEXT: "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's" (Exodus 20:17).

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:29-32).

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize things society laughs at, God takes seriously.

Do you think there were things once considered sinful that are not considered sinful today?

I. In Romans 1:29-32 Paul lists a number of things that come under the righteous judgment of God.

How do you think people in our society would rate these sins on a scale of 1-10, from very, very serious to not serious at all?

Given the evaluations we've done, how do you think people in our churches would respond to this? Do you think there would be things they would rate as worse than what the culture would say?

II. One of the sins listed is covetousness or greed.

Why would wanting more things come under the judgment of God?

We can see how it might get us into trouble if we max out our credit cards, but why do you think God takes it so seriously?

It easily becomes the center of our lives and really serves as an idol that takes the place of God.

If Paul were writing that list today, covetousness would still be in there. Just as the Bible is against idolatry of any sort, it's against focusing our lives on making money and gathering things.