Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Week 18: Chapter 17 — Thankfulness Revisited / Idols of the Heart
Read Chapter 17 of Respectable Sins. Key Scripture: Colossians 3:5; Ezekiel 14:3; Matthew 6:24.
Previewing Week 18 of Respectable Sins
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 21-week guide when you’re ready.
Bridges turns to the deep interior of the soul to address not just behaviors but the idol-structures — the competing loves — that drive so many of the sins already addressed.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Bridges draws on the language of 'idols of the heart' — the idea that we can make functional gods out of good things (comfort, approval, success, family) by loving or depending on them more than on God. Does this framework help you understand your own sin patterns? Which idols are most operative in your life?
2.Colossians 3:5 explicitly equates greed with idolatry. Why does the Bible make this connection? What does greed reveal about what a person is trusting in for ultimate security or satisfaction?
3.Ezekiel 14:3 describes people who have 'set up idols in their hearts.' What does it mean for an idol to be in the heart rather than in a temple — invisible, interior, entirely self-justifying? How do you identify something that functions as a heart idol for you?
a.What are you most afraid of losing? What does your answer reveal about what you are trusting in?
b.What desires, if thwarted, produce disproportionate anger, anxiety, or despair in you?