Home Group Study. Sermon Date: 27 April 2018

Text: Exodus 20:1-3

Opening Discussion: Have you ever had a friend or family member object to the existence of God? How did that conversation go?

Observation

What does God’s word say?

As you observe what God’s word says, answer the following questions from the text(s):

•  Key words and phrases help us to better understand the verses. Below is a list of key words. Mark each one in a distinctive way in your Bible (either with a symbol, highlighting, or some form of boxing, circling, or underlining). Mark each of these key phrases each time they are used in Genesis 1. Key Words: And God said.
•  What does Exodus 20:1-3 reveal about the character and purposes of God? Do you think He is qualified to give mankind commands and instructions? Why?
•  What does this text reveal about human nature? Do we need this command? Why?

 Read: Hosea 13:1-6

Over and over again Hosea denounces Ephraim for their infatuated idolatry. All through their history, like a hideous disease, idolatry disfigured their national life, but yet in varying degrees. With their faith went their strength. The lesson is for all time. “God matches His gifts to man’s believing.” They who tremble, acknowledge their guilt before Him, are made strong. They who go after idolatry are heavily punished or swept away. Idolatry has changed its symbols, but it has not changed its nature. What are our own temptations to idolatry at the beginning of the 21^st century?

Meaning

What does God’s word mean?

 Read: Exodus 20:1-3

The name Yahweh, is the name God used to reveal Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. This title refers to God as the self-existent One. Literally it means, “I am who I am.” Albert Mohler calls this “First person intimacy and first person authority.”

The word “your” is the second person singular pronoun. God is powerful and He is also personal. He has revealed Himself to each one personally so that everyone can know Him relationally.

We see this personal relationship reinforced throughout the commandments. In Ex.20 verse 5: “…for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” In verse 7: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…” In verse 10: “…but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God…” And in verse 12: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

• What advice would you give to someone who wanted to know for sure if they were saved or not? What scriptures would you use?

Application

How must I change?

• Is there a Truth to be believed?

In this modern age, what gods do people worship? How could other gods come before the true God?                                         

• Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

How might people profess to worship God and yet have other gods?

• Is there a Behavior to be changed?

What would it mean to love the world? Consider 1 John2:15-16 and then reply. Why would friends of the world be enemies of God? Read James 4:4.

Closing Prayer:  

• Praise God, that Jesus has kept the Law perfectly, and our redemption is secured not in our keeping the Law, but in His gracious offer of salvation.
• Pray that we would not be guilty of elevating someone or something above Him. That we would not betray our Saviour and be traitors to our Lord and King.
• As Paul admonished young Timothy, pray that God would teach us how to use the law lawfully, especially in our evangelism. “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully...” 1 Timothy 1:8

Time permitting click on this link: Part 2 of 4 Hell’s Best Kept Secret.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMuykvhLfnc&t=8s