Jesus and the Ten Commandments: Week 10 Exodus 20:16
Introduction
Before we begin
Table Communities are community gatherings for the purpose of:
- Building meaningful relationships through intentional time together
- Engaging in mutual discipleship through directing one another towards Christ with truth shared in love
- Multiplying grace through love, prayer and gifts of the spirit
The notes will guide you through praying together, reading scripture and engaging in intentional relational time together. There are also notes and practices for this month's habit of grace. We know that most groups will not have time to discuss this during their time together, but they are available if time allows and are available for those seeking to intentionally engage with God's grace during the week. If that desire is within you, please read the notes on your own time or go through the habit of grace practices with a spiritual friend or your spouse, so as to build one another up in truth and love.
Kick off with prayer
You can use the kick off prayer below (if you are not comfortable praying aloud), and give time for others to pray into the night together.
Example prayer, if needed:
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:
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Discussion
- Why do you think God cares so deeply about truth in our words—especially in how we speak about others?
- When have you experienced or witnessed someone’s reputation harmed because of gossip, assumption, or false witness? What impact did it have?
- People you know typically only speak to you in a manner, they believe you are okay with. Do people openly speak ill of others in front of you at work or within social circles?
- Jesus expands this command with (v37) Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. What is the value of clear honest speech, and how does it shape our relationships with one another?
- In what circumstances are you tempted to conceal or avoid telling the truth?
- How can we build a community where people feel safe from gossip and slander and are instead built up in truth?
- Is there anything the Holy Spirit is prompting in you now?
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. Is God highlighting anything to you personally? Share and get others to pray for you?
Habit of Grace
The Word [Scripture]
Sabbath is a day set aside to cease from your work, rest from your burdens, celebrate life and delight in God’s unhurried presence. It is God’s good gift of repetitive and regular rest given for your flourishing.
At Kingscross, we practice Sabbath as a countercultural act of resistance to the endless productivity of the world. It reminds us that:
- We are not slaves, but sons and daughters (Deut. 5:15).
- Our worth is not in our work, but in God’s love.
- Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, offering us true rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28–12:8).
Sabbath is about ceasing from what is perceived as necessary to live and embracing what gives life. We stop, rest, delight, and worship—declaring trust in God’s provision and joy in His presence.
View Habit: Sabbath
Practice
- Week 1 – Hearing God in Scripture
- Focus: Scripture is not just content to master, but a voice to hear.
- Practice: Begin each day with 10–15 minutes in Scripture (e.g. Psalms, Gospels). Use the lectio divina method:
- Read (slowly)
- Reflect (what is God saying?)
- Respond (pray it back to God)
- Rest (be still in His presence)
- Challenge: Choose a consistent time and place to meet with God in His Word. Share your plan with someone in your community.
Pray
Pray for an illumination of the Holy Spirit into the distractedness and anxiety within your heart and the power to resist. That Kingscross may be place where we gather and find rest, beacuse of the rest we have in Christ.
This is an example prayer, but please practice praying into your specific discussion and circumstances
Heavenly Father,
You have spoken, and Your Word is life. It is living and active—sharper than a sword, sweeter than honey, and more precious than gold. Yet we confess how easily we neglect it, how quickly we are distracted, and how often we chase lesser voices.
Holy Spirit, we ask for Your power and presence. Help us abide—truly dwell—in the Word of God. Not as a duty, but as a delight. Not just to learn, but to listen. Draw us deeper into intimacy with the Father through every word You have spoken. Open our eyes to see Christ on every page and awaken our hearts to the beauty of Your truth.
We pray for protection, Lord. Guard our minds from the noise of the world. Shield our hearts from apathy. Silence the voices that would pull us away. Let Your Word be the loudest voice in our lives—calming our fears, shaping our desires, and anchoring our identity.
Spirit of God, breathe on us. Empower us not only to read, but to be changed. May Your Word become a lamp to our feet, a fire in our bones, and the joy of our souls.
We long to know You. Speak, Lord into the depths of our hearts
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.