An Overview of the Commandments Memory Verse: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 Teaching Time There are 10 commandments. They are: 1) Have no other GODS 6) Do not commit ADULTERY 2) Do not misuse the Lord s NAME 7) Do not STEAL 3) Honor the SABBATH 8) Do not give false TESTIMONY 4) Honor your FATHER & MOTHER 9) Do not COVET your neighbor s stuff 5) Do not MURDER 10) Do not COVET your neighbor s people You can find the Commandments in two places in the Bible: EXODUS 20 and DEUTERONOMY 5. God gave these to MOSES while he was on Mount Sinai. Some Christians divide them differently and split Commandment 1 and combine Commandants 9 & 10. They can be broken into 2 sections: Commandments 1-3 are all about your relationship with GOD. Commandments 4-10 are all about your relationship with OTHERS. Jesus sums all the commandments into two commands: Mark 12:28-34 All the commandments can be summed up into one word: LOVE Three uses, or purposes, of the Law (see Catechism Q# 77): CURB MIRROR GUIDE To keep order in the world Shows us our sin Teaches us, as Christians, how to lead a God-pleasing life As Lutherans, we focus on having a balance of Law and GOSPEL. Gospel means: GOOD NEWS. Main Point: The ultimate purpose of the commandments is to bring us to JESUS.
Reflection Time 1. God created these commandments to guide the relationship He has with His people. What does it mean for you to have a relationship with God? 2. The hardest commandment for me to follow is 3. When I break a commandment, I feel: 4. The easiest commandment for me to follow is 5. Read Psalm 119:97-104. What are some reasons the writer loves God s law?
Group Breakout Get to Know Ya Go around the group and have each person share: 1) Their name 2) Where they go to school 3) The weirdest law they have ever heard of or one that makes no sense to them Share these actual laws with the group after everyone has gone around: In California, no vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour. In Texas, it is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. In New York, it is against the law to throw a ball at someone s head for fun. In Rhode Island, no one may bite off another s leg. Experiential Activity Have the group play the The Rules Game. Go around the circle and take turns making up rules. Once someone makes up a rule it must be followed for the remainder of the game. For example, someone might say during their turn, If you use a word that begins with the letter T you must stand up and take a bow. Or, If you touch your face at any time, you must get up and run around the table. Or, Every time you break a rule, everyone must point at you and laugh. Play the game until everyone has had two turns. Application 1) Was it hard to play this game? Why? 2) What would our world be like if people just made up pointless laws? Would you like to live in a world like that? Why or why not? 3) What would our world be like if we didn t have any laws? Would you like to live in a world like that? Why or why not? 4) Why do you think God gives us His commandments and His Law? 5) Is there one of God s laws that you don t understand and think is unfair? 6) Why are God s Word and commands so important for us to follow? Discuss this question as a group, using the verses below as a guide for your discussion. 2 Tim 3:15 Makes us wise, especially for salvation 2 Tim 3:16 Teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains Eph 6:10-13 Helps us fight off the devil Psalm 119:9 Helps to keep us pure Psalm 119:105 Shows us the path (God s will) Rom 3:20 Shows us we are all sinners and need Jesus 7) Close in prayer as a group, encouraging everyone to pray aloud.
Family Time Family Time is meant to be an opportunity to get the family talking about spiritual things. Multiple studies show that parents and grandparents are the #1 faith role models in a child s life. We know life is busy, but we want to give you opportunities to grow together. A great time to do this is in the car, while eating a meal, or simply anytime you can enjoy together. 1. Ask your parent(s) what kind of rules they had to follow as they were growing up. Memory Verse: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with 2. What are some of the rules at your house that you dislike the most? Why? all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 ESV 3. Ask your parent(s) the reason they have rules for you at home. 4. Read out loud Deuteronomy 6:4-9. How does Moses (the writer) say that we are to learn God s commands? (v. 7-9) (Continued on back)
5. What are some practical ways you can put God s commands upon your hearts at your house? 6. Ask your parent(s) if they know the three purposes of the law. If not, explain it to them. 7. Write the three purposes of the law here: 1) C 2) M 3) G For Further Study (an optional section for families that want to go deeper) The Ten Commandments should literally be translated The Ten Words. Words is a technical term for covenant, rules, or boundaries. These words helped the people live out their relationship with God and others. As a family, read Exodus 19 to see how Moses received the Ten Words. What is your impression of God after reading this chapter? Would you have liked to be Moses? What question would you ask God about the Commandments that he gave them? Catechism Study: Review questions 13-18 on p55-56 of the Small Catechism. Your Name: (please print your name so we can read it) Parent Signature: