Embracing Transformation: Living Out the Ten Commandments
Summary
As we step into 2024, it's a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to what God has in store for us. Celebrating the baptism of 101 individuals last year is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the courage of those who publicly declared their commitment to Jesus. This year, we embark on a new journey through the book of Exodus, focusing on the Ten Commandments. Many of us may think we know these commandments well, but there's a deeper understanding to be uncovered. They are not merely rules to follow but an invitation to live in peace with God and others.
The story of God meeting His people at Mount Sinai is a powerful reminder of His holiness and our need for an advocate. Just as Moses served as an advocate for the Israelites, we too need someone to bridge the gap between us and God. Jesus is that ultimate advocate, who not only intercedes for us but also invites us into a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is not about religion but about truly knowing and experiencing God's love and grace.
As we consider the holiness of God, we are reminded of our own shortcomings. Yet, God does not leave us in our inadequacy. He calls us to draw near, to be transformed by His presence, and to become advocates for others. This year, we are challenged to engage in 5,000 gospel conversations, sharing the love of Christ with those around us. It's a call to make Christ personal, both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Celebrating Transformation: The baptism of 101 individuals last year is a celebration of personal transformation and public declaration of faith. Each baptism represents a unique story of someone choosing to follow Jesus, reminding us of the power of community and the importance of supporting one another in our spiritual journeys. [21:07]
2. Understanding the Ten Commandments: The Ten Commandments are not just a set of rules but an invitation to live in harmony with God and others. They challenge us to look beyond mere compliance and seek a deeper relationship with God, understanding His heart and intentions for our lives. [22:55]
3. God's Holiness and Our Need for an Advocate: God's holiness is both awe-inspiring and intimidating, revealing our own inadequacies. Yet, through Jesus, we have an advocate who bridges the gap, inviting us into a relationship where we can experience God's love and grace despite our imperfections. [39:29]
4. Making Christ Personal: Our faith journey is deeply personal, and we are called to make Christ personal for others. By sharing our stories and engaging in gospel conversations, we become advocates, helping others experience the transformative power of Jesus in their own lives. [41:49]
5. A Call to Action: This year, we are challenged to engage in 5,000 gospel conversations, sharing the love of Christ with those around us. It's a collective effort that requires each of us to step out in faith, trusting that God will use our conversations to draw others closer to Him. [42:51]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[21:07] - Celebrating Baptisms
[22:55] - Understanding the Ten Commandments
[23:59] - Meeting God at Sinai
[25:26] - Encounter with Morgan Freeman
[26:55] - God Reveals Himself
[29:08] - Moses' Encounter with God
[30:50] - The Holiness of God
[32:17] - Our Inadequacy Before God
[33:05] - God's Protective Darkness
[33:59] - The Glory of God
[35:43] - Fear and Distance from God
[36:49] - The Need for an Advocate
[38:16] - Moses as an Advocate
[39:29] - Jesus, Our Ultimate Advocate
[41:49] - Making Christ Personal
[42:51] - A Call to Gospel Conversations
[44:30] - Engaging in Spiritual Conversations
[45:19] - The Easter Egg in Exodus
[46:50] - Jesus, Our Savior and Advocate
[48:07] - Making a Personal Commitment
[49:38] - Prayer and Reflection
[50:47] - Invitation to Trust Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 19:16-21
- Exodus 20:18-21
- Isaiah 6:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the reaction of the Israelites when they witnessed the thunder, lightning, and smoke on Mount Sinai? How did they respond to God's presence? [26:55]
2. How did Moses serve as an advocate for the Israelites when they were afraid to approach God? What actions did he take? [39:29]
3. In the sermon, what was the significance of the "third day" mentioned in Exodus 19:16, and how does it relate to the resurrection of Jesus? [45:19]
4. How does the sermon describe the Ten Commandments beyond just a set of rules? What deeper meaning is suggested? [22:55]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's holiness and our human inadequacy? How does this understanding affect our relationship with God? [30:50]
2. How does the concept of needing an advocate, as illustrated by Moses and Jesus, change the way we view our relationship with God? [38:16]
3. The sermon challenges the congregation to engage in 5,000 gospel conversations. What might be the impact of such a collective effort on the community and the individuals involved? [42:51]
4. How does the sermon interpret the Ten Commandments as an invitation to live in peace with God and others? What implications does this have for our daily lives? [22:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate in the presence of God's holiness. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to draw nearer to God despite those feelings? [32:17]
2. Who has been an advocate for you in your spiritual journey, and how did they make Christ personal for you? How can you be an advocate for someone else this year? [40:23]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of making Christ personal for others. Identify one person in your life who you can engage in a gospel conversation with this week. What approach will you take? [41:49]
4. Consider the challenge of engaging in 5,000 gospel conversations as a church. What specific actions can you take to contribute to this goal, and how can you encourage others to join in? [42:51]
5. The sermon suggests that the Ten Commandments are an invitation to live in harmony with God and others. What is one commandment you can focus on this week to deepen your relationship with God and those around you? [22:55]
6. How can the story of Moses approaching God in the darkness inspire you to face your own fears and uncertainties in your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to trust in God's character and goodness? [39:29]
7. Reflect on the idea that relationships are a bridge for the gospel. How can you strengthen your relationships to better share your faith with others? What practical steps can you take this month? [48:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Celebrating Personal Transformation
The baptism of 101 individuals last year is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith. Each baptism represents a unique story of someone choosing to follow Jesus, highlighting the courage it takes to publicly declare one's faith. This celebration is not just about the individuals but also about the community that supports and nurtures each person's spiritual journey. It reminds us of the importance of community in our faith walk and the role we play in encouraging and uplifting one another. [21:07]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who has recently taken a step of faith. How can you support and encourage them in their journey today?
Day 2: The Deeper Invitation of the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are often seen as a set of rules to follow, but they are much more than that. They are an invitation to live in harmony with God and others, challenging us to look beyond mere compliance. By seeking a deeper understanding of these commandments, we can uncover God's heart and intentions for our lives. This deeper understanding calls us to a relationship with God that is rooted in love and grace, rather than obligation. [22:55]
"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 10:12, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on one of the Ten Commandments that you find challenging. How can you seek a deeper understanding of its purpose in your life today?
Day 3: Jesus, Our Ultimate Advocate
God's holiness is awe-inspiring and can reveal our own inadequacies. Yet, through Jesus, we have an advocate who bridges the gap between us and God. Jesus invites us into a personal relationship where we can experience God's love and grace despite our imperfections. This relationship is not about religion but about truly knowing and experiencing God's presence in our lives. [39:29]
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you invite Jesus to be your advocate in this area today?
Day 4: Making Christ Personal
Our faith journey is deeply personal, and we are called to make Christ personal for others. By sharing our stories and engaging in gospel conversations, we become advocates, helping others experience the transformative power of Jesus in their own lives. This personal connection with Christ is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with those around us. [41:49]
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may not know Christ personally. How can you share your story with them in a way that is genuine and respectful?
Day 5: A Call to Gospel Conversations
This year, we are challenged to engage in 5,000 gospel conversations, sharing the love of Christ with those around us. This is a collective effort that requires each of us to step out in faith, trusting that God will use our conversations to draw others closer to Him. It's a call to action that invites us to be intentional about sharing our faith and making Christ known in our communities. [42:51]
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person you can have a gospel conversation with this week. What steps can you take to initiate this conversation in a loving and authentic way?
Quotes
1. "Well, good morning, everybody. Happy New Year. It is awesome to see you here in church with us today. I know that God wants to teach us something important from his word, and I'm excited to see where he's going to take us in 2024. You know, 2023 is an awesome year, and I find sometimes that when the year flips, I'm always thinking about the next year and not really about the last year. But I just wanted to celebrate something real quick before we turn the page on 2023." [00:20:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And listen, numbers are just numbers. But every one of those people are a story of someone that went public with their faith in Jesus. And that's what we're really celebrating, the fact that people are like, I've trusted Jesus. I've committed my life to Jesus. And I don't care who knows. That is incredible. And so I'm so glad at what God did last year. I just wanted to celebrate that. The other thing I want to celebrate just kind of randomly is that, you know, sometimes it pays off to make fun of Christmas songs." [00:21:24] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "But why would we take all this time to talk about them? And the reason why is I believe that a lot of us don't really know the Ten Commandments. We know some of them, and we know part of them. But we don't really understand. We don't really understand what's going on. And I believe that we may have been understanding the Ten Commandments wrong. See, a lot of us think about the Ten Commandments, and we think they're a list of rules to get into heaven." [00:22:45] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What God is doing in the Ten Commandments is he's writing to the people about what it looks like to be at peace. To be at peace with God and with others. I wonder if there's something deeper going on, that perhaps this isn't an ultimatum, but rather an invitation to enter into more. And so we're going to unpack that as we study the Scriptures together. Now, just kind of an aside, just setting the stage before we read the passage today together." [00:23:21] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "There's a burning mountain. You know, God is bigger and greater than we could imagine. A lot of times our songs, we sing like, hey God, would you just open the heavens and come down? God, we want to see you. Listen, let me tell you, what the Bible just put down, it's like no laughing matter, right? When God shows up, he's like bang, and everybody freaks out." [00:29:52] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God is holy and we are not. You see, God's not simply just some cosmic friend or guide. God is different than us. He is holy. He has never sinned. And he is set apart. That's what the word holy means in the Bible. It means that he's set apart. He's different. And he's worthy of worship. You see, we worship God for what he did, that he sent Jesus, that he gave himself for us." [00:31:21] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And what the people of Israel realize in this moment is that they can't do it by themselves, but what they need is they need an advocate. And that's the third thing I want you to hear today, is that we need an advocate, every single one of us. because we can't do it on our own. We can't get close to God on our own. We need somebody to do that for us. We need somebody to advocate for us, somebody to go before the judge of the universe and say, listen, you've got to give them an opportunity to advocate for us." [00:38:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And I want you to see what happens next. Let's see, the last verse that we're going to study today, verse 21, it says, And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was. I have an image in my mind of Moses walking up the mountain by himself. Everybody else is watching in fear. And he alone is willing to go through the darkness to where God is. And I've always wondered, like, why?" [00:39:02] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And Jesus is a better version of Moses, a better advocate with the Father, because he's not coming in as a mere human. He's coming as God himself, saying, I am bringing these people from slavery to being sons and daughters. And unlike Moses, who walks into the cloud, Jesus walks out of the darkness to walk among us so that he can be not simply our friend, but he can be our Savior and Lord and our advocate with the Father, which Hebrews says is where he's standing right now." [00:46:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "That we have an advocate. That even though we're not holy, he is. Even though we don't measure up, he does. Even though we run away, he runs after us. So we can be a person who fully is known by God and is an advocate of that same love and affection that God has given us to others." [00:47:40] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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