19 May, 2011
The Original Top Ten
Today’s Story – The Original Top Ten
Many of our nations’ laws are based upon them. We learn them as children in Sunday School, but how often do you think about the Original Top Ten? Can you name all of the Ten Commandments? How about half?
Take a minute and see how many you can list.
Photo source: lucywho.com
Deuteronomy 5:1-21
1And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. 4The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 while I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said:
6 "'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7"'You shall have no other gods before me.
8"'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9You 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 fourth generation of those who hate me, 10but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11"'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.
12"'Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14but 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 or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16"'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
17 "'You shall not murder
18 "'And you shall not commit adultery.
19"'And you shall not steal.
20"'And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21"'And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.'
What does today’s God’s Story teach us about the Ten Commandments?
God was clear in what He wanted us to do and not to do. He didn’t beat around the bush – He simply gave us 10 things that all of us need to obey.
How can we connect today’s God’s Story to our lives?
How did you do on naming all 10 of the commandments? Which ones were easy to remember? What did you forget?
At some time in our life, we’ve failed God by not keeping His commandments. Perhaps there are some that you think you’d never commit, but maybe you’ve forgotten one or two of them and you now realize that you need to ask for forgiveness.
In our culture, it’s easy to go along with the crowd. People use God’s name in vain so frequently that perhaps that’s where you struggle. What about telling little white lies? Still against God’s law.
Review the commandments again and ask God to show you where you need to make changes in your life.
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
Review the commandments again and ask God to show you where, if any, you need to make changes in your life.
The next time you’re tempted to cheat or steal, gossip or go against any of the Ten Commandments, stop. If you struggle with an area, seek out a trusted accountability partner. Ask them to pray for you.
See if your friends can list the 10 Commandments. Use this time as a tool to talk about following God’s laws, things you have had to really work on and how God is helping you. No matter their response, you’ll be planting seeds for them to know God’s Word a little bit better.
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