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March 4, 2007
"God's Roadmap to Our Relationships"
"The World's Most Important Book—Part 6
Exodus 19:120:21
- The Ten Commandments were more than a set of laws for governing a nation.
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
—Exodus 19:5-8
- The Law was never given as a way of salvation.
"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law...because by observing the law no one will be justified."
—Galatians 2:15-16
- The purpose of the Law is to show us our sin and strip away our self-righteousness.
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
—Romans 3:20
- The ministry of the Law was to prepare the way for a redeemer.
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law...
—Galatians 4:4-5
Two Relationships Important to God:
1. A roadmap to my relationship with God.
"You shall have no other gods before me."
—Exodus 20:3
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
—Deuteronomy 6:4-5
"You shall not make for yourself an idol..."
—Exodus 20:4
"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."
—Isaiah 42:8
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God..."
—Exodus 20:7
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."
—Matthew 6:9
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
—Exodus 20:8
- The Sabbath was a mark of their devotion to God.
- The Sabbath was a witness to their neighbors.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
—Colossians 2:16-17
2. A roadmap to my relationships with others.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."
—Exodus 20:12
- How we treat our parents today will determine how we are treated tomorrow.
"You shall not murder."
—Exodus 20:13
"You shall not commit adultery."
—Exodus 20:14
- Adultery was considered a capital crime.
"You shall not steal."
—Exodus 20:15
Three ways to get wealth: (Ephesians 4:28)
- Work for it.
- Have it given to you.
- Steal it.
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."
—Exodus 20:16
"You shall not covet."
—Exodus 20:17
Lifework
Let all of your relationships reflect God's priorities!
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
—Matthew 22:37-40
"The Judges"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- If you had your choice, where would you rather live: the mountains, the dessert, the beach, the valley or the foothills? Why? Where do you vacation?
- One of the themes that runs through the book of the Judges is, Every man did that which was right in His own eyes. In what ways do you see that true of our society today?
Digging Deeper: Read and Reflect
- Israel's Disobedience (Judges 2:6-3:6) How do you explain the Israelites' pattern—falling away from God, getting in trouble, crying out for help? Do you ever experience ups and downs in your relationships with loved ones? With God? Why?
- Deborah Leads Israel (Judges 4:1-5:31) What lessons can we learn from Deborah's experiences? How is faith a source of courage? Explain.
- Gideon Defeats the Midianites (Judges 6:1-7:25) Was Gideon a mighty man of valor or a timid coward? Why? Does God still guide people today as he did Gideon? How do you find God's guidance?
- Samson Defeats the Philistines (Judges 13:1-16:31) How would you analyze the way Samson related to women? How do you develop and maintain healthy relationships with members of the opposite sex?
- The Story of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4:22) What character traits are evident in Ruth's life? What character traits are most evident in your life? How did God show his faithfulness to Ruth and Naomi?
Applying It To My Life
- How easy is it for you to drift away from God? What changes can be made so that you drift less?
- Review a time when you saw the hand of God bringing discipline into your life through some external means. Did you cry out for God's help? What have you found as the most effective way to cry out to God?
- We all seem to go through cycles in our life. The cycle Israel continually repeated was: Apostasy—Battering—Crying—Deliverance. Do you see this pattern at work anywhere in your life at the present time? Relationships? Relationship with God?