Welcome to the Vineyard! We’re thrilled to have you with us, whether you’re joining in person or online. This week, we continue our series “Kingdom Foreshadowed,” diving deep into the Ten Commandments, or as we prefer to call them, the Ten Words. These words are not just rules but a love document that guides us in our relationship with God and others.
The Greatest Commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor
In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarizes the essence of the Ten Commandments:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
These two commandments encapsulate the entire law and the prophets, emphasizing that our faith is fundamentally about relationships—first with God and then with others.
The Ten Words: A Foundation for Community
The Ten Commandments were given to a people already rescued and delivered by God. They are not a set of rules to earn salvation but a guide for living as God’s family. These words are about relationship, not rule-following. They teach us how to love God and others, reflecting the transformation that occurs when we trust and follow Him.
The Second Commandment: Truth
Exodus 20:4-5 instructs us not to make any images or idols. This commandment is about truth and avoiding the worship of gods of our imagination. In our culture, it’s easy to create a version of God that fits our preferences, but this is not who God is. Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-20). We must look to Jesus to understand who God truly is.
The Third Commandment: Commitment
Exodus 20:7 warns against misusing the name of the Lord. This commandment is about commitment and avoiding hypocrisy. Taking God’s name means living in a way that honors Him, reflecting our relationship with Him. It’s not just about avoiding using God’s name in vain but about living a life that truly represents Him.
Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life
In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” As followers of Christ, we believe that truth is not an abstract concept but a person—Jesus. Our culture may say that truth is relative, but as Christians, we know that truth is found in Jesus. This relationship with Him transforms our lives and guides us in living out the Ten Words.
Peter’s Restoration: A Lesson in Commitment
In John 21:15-19, Jesus restores Peter after his denial. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, using different Greek words for love (agape and phileo). This exchange highlights the importance of loving Jesus supremely and being committed to following Him. It’s a reminder that our relationship with God is about transformation and wholehearted devotion.
Life Application
Challenge for the Week
Reflect on your relationship with God. Are you loving Him all in? Are you committed to living out His truth in your life? This week, challenge yourself to deepen your relationship with God by spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking to love others as He loves you.
Questions to Ponder
- How can you better love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- In what ways can you show love to your neighbors this week?
- Are there areas in your life where you have created a version of God that fits your preferences? How can you align your understanding of God with who He truly is as revealed in Jesus?
- How can you live in a way that honors God’s name and reflects your commitment to Him?
By focusing on these questions and applying the principles of the Ten Words, we can grow in our relationship with God and others, living out the love and truth that Jesus exemplifies.
Thank you for joining us this week. Let’s continue to pray for our neighbors, love God all in, and live out His truth in our daily lives. Have a blessed week!
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
