God warned Israel, "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it" (Ex. 20:25). To pollute something is to make it ordinary. God insists that any approach crafted by human ingenuity will produce a worship system just like all the pagan systems in the world. In other words, it will be common or profane - just like everyone else's paganism.

God is concerned that Christians live consistent with their profession even in the seemingly small and insignificant areas of life.

Conversion is essential, but it is a beginning, not an end. The believer in Jesus Christ is not simply rescued from the penalty of his sin; he is redeemed to love God and his neighbor so that others might come to know him.

God chooses people not for what He can do for them, but for the good they can do for others.

Prosperity is often the enemy of spiritual development.

All believers can increase their commitment to God by reflecting on His faithfulness and by considering the forms such commitment should assume in their experience.

God is always near His people, but their sinful behavior may cause His presence to be grievous.