The Gift of the Law
Notes
Transcript
Scripture:
Scripture:
Then God gave the people all these instructions:
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
“You must not have any other god but me.
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
“You must not commit adultery.
“You must not steal.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
Preaching and Living
Preaching and Living
Anyone can preach a sermon. It’s not hard. You need a beginning, a point you are making, and the most important part - the end. Good sermons flow together like one message. That’s the easy part. The hard part is living it out.
Preaching a sermon is almost exactly like living a life. You need a beginning, a purpose, and the most important part - the end. Good lives flow together like one message. That’s the easy part. The hard part is actually living that life out.
Talk, that does not become action is cheap and sometimes gets downright deceptive. When we use our spiritual words to talk about things like love ambiguously, but cannot live out the concrete examples of it, we are only being foolish. And we are only fooling ourselves.
That is why God gave Moses and the Hebrew people the covenant of the Law. God gave them concrete ways to live.
Thesis: God's Law leads us into deeper relationship with Him.
Thesis: God's Law leads us into deeper relationship with Him.
Knowing the Law Forwards
Knowing the Law Forwards
God gave this law to the Hebrew people who did not know Him.
They did not know how to live on their own.
It was the foundation of a relationship with God.
Following these commandments would help them fulfill their purpose of being God’s people.
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
God rescued them from the Egyptians, he gave them the purpose of being the people to bring the world into relationship with Him, and then He told them how to do it.
No Other God but God
No Idols
Do not misuse God’s name
Remember the Sabbath
Honor Your Father and Mother
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not lie
Do not covet
10 Different Sermons or A Law in 2 Parts
10 Different Sermons or A Law in 2 Parts
Staying in right relationship with God
Staying in right relationship with one another
...and Backwards
...and Backwards
Sometimes we can be quite lazy as Christians, wanting everything boiled down and simplified. Why don’t we get rid of all the rules except one, maybe two… Love God and Love each other. After all, isn’t that what Jesus gave us.
But Jesus was not teaching that to people who did not know God. He taught that to those who knew the Ten Commandments by heart. His two commandments helped them focus on the big picture so they did not miss the forest for the trees. If you are breaking some of the Ten Commandments then you are breaking the two that Jesus gave us. They all work together.
Do not covet
Do not lie
Do not steal
Do not commit adultery
Do not murder
Honor your Father and Mother
Remember the Sabbath
Do not misuse God’s name
No idols
No other gods
Living the Law
Living the Law
Covenant of mercy - Noah
Promise of Life beyond Death - Abraham
Gift of the Law
Showing us how to live out our purpose
Will you seek God and others to help you live that life that God has for you or will you make excuses?