Jesus and the Ten Commandments: Week 1 Exodus 20:1-21; Psalm 19

Kick of the discussion with prayer followed by this week’s reading and discussion questions

You can use the kick off prayer below (or do your own), and give time for others to pray into the night together. 

‍Example kick off prayer: Father we praise you for gathering us together. Despite whatever weighed on our hearts as we entered this house, we pray that your Spirit guides our time together and free us from anything that is not of you. We pray that by the strength of your might we may speak truth in love to one another. We pray that we are led by the gifts of your spirit, so that we may build up one another and your church as a whole. As we read your word, we pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner pleasing to you.  

‍Passage: The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” 18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Psalm 19:

1  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  2  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  3  There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.  4  Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.   In them he has set a tent for the sun,  5  which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.  6  Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.  7  The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;   the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;  8  the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;   the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;  9  the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;   the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.  10  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;   sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  11  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.  12  Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  13  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!   Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.  14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Discussion

• Psalm 19:7 says the law of the Lord is reviving to the soul. Imagine the sin you struggle with the most or a culturally common sin, would you be better off if God simply declared it no longer to be a sin? Why or why not? 
• Use the rest of the time to discuss the 10 Commandments:
  
  • What do you hope happens in the church during this series?
  • Which commandment do feel is most relevant to you, our church or a friend? [If a friend comes to mind, invite them]
  • If you had to preach on one of these commandment, which would it be and why?

In Exodus we see that God speaks. End your time together praying, inquiring God to speak through gifts of the spirit so that you may build one another up. Be bold in sharing any thoughts, pictures or words that come to mind to test if they are given by God to revive the soul.

Habit of Grace: Witness

Witness is the Spirit-empowered yet ordinary act of sharing Jesus and his Good news (Gospel) with others. It involves both our words and our works—how we live and what we say—so that others might see and hear the good news of Jesus. 

Last week we stepped out in faith to simply engage in a unique way with one of the people we have been praying for. Please share with the group how this interaction went. Did you learn something new about what they love? How does the Gospel speak into this? (maybe the group can help out) Was there an opportunity to introduce a gospel conversation? 

Practice:

• Continue praying everyday this month for the 3 people you identified last week.
• As week continue in prayer for others, let us commit to praying that we be filled with the spirit and empowered to witness.
• This week select at least 1 of the 3 people you are praying for and make an appointment to see them. This will be someone different than last week. The hope is that you are able to experience a gospel shift in your relationships with each of the 3. If is someone you see regularly such as a family member or coworker, invite them to something that is not routine and one on one, such as a coffee or dinner.
  
  • Manage expectations on yourself. You are stepping out in faith and praying that God provides the opportunity and the ability to speak. Evangelism is God's problem and your joy!
  • By now you should have made contact with all 3 of the people that you have been praying for.

Pray:

Pray with one another that we may be so rooted in our identity in Christ that our lives continuously witness to the glories of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of a Spirit filled life. If you are willing, share the people you will be praying for and pray together for salvations to come to those we know and love.

‍

Example daily prayer based on Colossians: 

Father, hallowed be you name! I thank You with all my heart for the inheritance You have given me in Christ. You have rescued me from the domain of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of Your beloved Son—in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. What a glorious gift!

Please will you open doors for the good news of Jesus to be shared through me. Allow me to be a witness to your goodness, and a eye witness to the power of your Spirit to bring others from darkness and into the light of your kingdom. Father I pray specifically for XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. That you may overwhelm them with the beauty and wonder of the Gospel, so that they too may receive redemption, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Lord I love these people. I know you love these people. Jesus died for these people. For the sake of your Son Jesus have mercy on them and forgive them, as you have forgiven me. Increase the inheritance of Christ with these 3 people whom you love! 

And Father fill me with your spirit that I may know the depths of the love of Christ and be transformed, so that I my speech may be gracious, seasoned with salt. And that I may speak clearly and know how to answer each person as though speaking your very words. As I go out open my eyes to the work you are doing, so that I do not miss out on the joys of partnering with you in bringing the glories of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

‍