EPISODE 0150 | The Ten-2: You must not have any other god but me. The First Commandment and the Soul of A Nation.
THESE NOTES ACCOMPANY EPISODE 0150
What happens to a nation—and to the soul of its people—when we abandon the very first commandment? In this episode, Pastor Stephen and Pastor Nathan unpack the foundational call to worship God alone. They explore how idolatry still dominates culture today—not with golden calves, but with money, control, pleasure, and self. From ancient Israel to modern America, the command “You shall have no other gods before Me” remains as urgent as ever. This isn’t just a personal call—it’s the starting point for societal stability, national flourishing, and spiritual renewal.
Main Topics Covered:
✔️ The purpose of the Ten Commandments in ordering our relationship with God and others
✔️ How modern idols like money, control, and pleasure compete with our worship
✔️ The personal and societal consequences of placing other “gods” before the one true God
✔️ Why worship and obedience are inseparable
✔️ How America's founding principles were built on this first commandment
Key Scriptures:
📖 Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
📖 Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve both God and money.”
📖 Romans 1:18–20 – All people are without excuse in knowing God
📖 Philippians 3:19 – “Their god is their appetite…”
📖 2 Timothy 3:4 – “Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Key Takeaways:
🔹 The first commandment establishes the priority of God in our personal lives and national identity
🔹 Worship is not just emotional—it's obedience, giving, and living with God at the center
🔹 Idolatry is alive today in more subtle but just as dangerous forms
🔹 Our founders understood the necessity of anchoring liberty to moral and religious truth
🔹 National decline begins with personal compromise; revival begins when individuals say “no other gods”
🎧 Listen now and discover why getting the first commandment right is the key to everything else.
Resources
The Better Planner™ is a personal planner designed by Pastor Stephen to help you map out all the different aspects of success and personal growth on your way to better.
The foundation of the Better Planner™ is the practice of defining and reaching your personal vision. The other principles for growth all integrate with and flow out of this essential step. As you develop and record the insights you receive from God and His design for your life, the Better Planner™ will lead you through a step-by-step process to become better.
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