1. The Religion of Samaria I. A Religion of Fear. A.Descriptions of their fearful attitude. 1. “So they feared the Lord...” (2 Kings 17:32). 2. “They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods...” (2 Kings 17:33). 3. “So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images...” (2 Kings 17:41). 4. But they had the wrong kind of fear— “...they do not fear the Lord...” (2 Kings 17:34). 123123

2. The Religion of Samaria I. A Religion of Fear. B.There is a proper type of godly fear. 1. The gospel teaches this (Matt. 10:28; Acts 10:34-35; Phil. 2:12). 2. This was taught in the Old Testament (Prov. 1:7; 14:26-27; Ecc. 8:12-13; 12:13-14). 3. This “fear of the Lord” or what the Hebrew writer calls “godly fear” (Heb. 5:7; 11:7; 12:28). 123123

3. The Religion of Samaria I. A Religion of Fear. C.The people of Samaria had the wrong kind of fear. 1.They wouldn’t have thought of God, had it not been for the lions (2 Kings 17:25-26). 2.When they did think of Him, it was only to seek His help. D. With the proper kind of fear we will draw near to God (1 John 4:16-18). 123123

4. The Religion of Samaria II. A Religion of Form. A. Their heart was not in their service to the Lord. 1. They continued to serve their “carved images” (2 Kings 17:33-34). 2. Their service possessed form, but not substance. 123123

5. The Religion of Samaria II. A Religion of Form. B. This is common today. 1.There is a need for proper form in religion. 2.But to go through the form without the proper spirit and attitude is hypocritical (Matt. 15:7-8). C. How can Christians be guilty of this (Prov. 15:13)? 123123

6. The Religion of Samaria II. A Religion of Form. D. Proper worship will follow the example of David. 1. “I will praise You with my whole heart...” (Ps. 138:1). 2. “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being" (Ps. 146:1-2). 3. “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful” (Ps. 147:1). 123123

7. The Religion of Samaria III. A Religion of Compromise. A.The people of Samaria tried to compromise truth. 1.They wanted to have God and their idols (2 Kings 17:41). 2.They gave God lip service, but they gave the “gods” their true service. 123123

8. The Religion of Samaria III. A Religion of Compromise. B.Christians can do the same thing. 1.When they seek to serve God, while also serving the world. 2.Jesus says this is impossible (Matt. 6:24). 3.When we try to serve both, the world always wins. 123123

9. The Religion of Samaria III. A Religion of Compromise. C.God cannot tolerate this type of compromise. 1.He requires total commitment to Him, no matter the price (Deut. 6:5, 14-15; Luke 14:26, 33). 2.To compromise with the world is to commit spiritual adultery (James 4:4). 3.Christians must “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). 123123

10. The Religion of Samaria Let Elijah challenge us to reject the religion of compromise (1 Kings 18:21). Let Paul challenge us to reject simply a form of religion of form without the substance (Rom. 2:28- 29). Let John challenge us to reject a religion characterized by an improper type of fear (1 John 3:18- 19).