The Ten Commandments tells us to honor our parents. How do we do this and what is the result? There are two points to today's sermon.

1) The Obligation- the command to honor one’s parents is a command to give them weight, importance, significance in the way you view and treat them. This looks like different things at different ages but it looks like something. This command is foundation and extends to other sorts of authority.

2) The Outcome- the promise with this to the Israelites was that they would remain long in the land promised to them in the covenant. While we are not under the old covenant there is a sense in which blessing comes as we follow God’s design. Ultimately though, we fall short. There is only one perfect Son and we look to him and his righteousness.

Since keeping the Sabbath is one of the ten commandments, do we need to keep the Sabbath as Christians today?

1)The Sabbath in Exodus- in Exodus the Sabbath was a command to rest from work (and in order to love your servants- have them rest) and to worship. It was a sign that Israel was created by and redeemed by God.

2)The Sabbath in Christ- the Sabbath is a shadow- Christ is the substance. It pointed to him- to the need for rest in him. It pointed to the fact that he would bring us into the rest of our salvation- both now and fully in eternity. This in turn frees us and enables to use this command as wisdom- to take the principle that we need rest and that it should be a part of the rhythm of our lives.

Here we look at the 2nd commandment:

1) Name- a name means something when it comes to human beings- how much more when we talk about God. It stands for his glory and perfection. It represents him.

2) Vain- there is potential to treat God’s weighty name like its light- like its meaningless- not worth much- not useless.

3) Take- we think of words- and these are certainly included- but it also spreads over the rest of our lives. The word speaks of bearing the name and highlights that the Israelites were to represent God.

4) Guilt- to take God’s name in vain is a big deal because God is a big deal.

Three points for today:

1)The Content of the Command: do not make an image- this was the common practice- make an image of your god. The problem was that this would distort Yahweh. No image they created could reflect him rightly.

2) The Reason for the Command: God is a jealous God- he cares about being represented and reflected rightly. He cares about receiving the worship he deserves from his people. He will punish those who distort him and disobey him.

3) The Application of the Command: for us this command is maintained and we are called to have a right view of God- we are called to avoid distorted understandings of God that fit our own preferences.

Today's sermon begins a series on the Ten Commandments

1) The Law and the Christian- how should the Christian relate to/read/apply the law?

2) One God Worship- the first commandment- God’s command for us to worship no other gods before him.

We have access to the God of the universe. Why do we take this for granted? The two points for today are:

1) The Privilege of Being God’s People: God has redeemed Israel and chosen them to be his treasured possession, kingdom of priests, holy nation. In essence God saved them so they could draw near to him and represent him. This is a call also a certain kind of living and heart- one of holiness. One that Israel failed at- one that Christ fulfilled and that in Christ we get to be a part of.

2) The Danger of Being In God’s Presence: Drawing near to God is a privilege but it also presents a problem- how can sinful people be safe in the presence of an infinitely holy God. This is why there are so many warnings and instructions- and still they can only come so close. This is only resolved in Jesus who cleanses us and takes on God’s wrath for us so that we can now draw near to God safely.

In today's sermon Moses meets with his father in law and receives advice from him.

1) Jethro’s Worship: Jethro was probably a pagan polytheistic priest. And yet, as he hears what Yahweh has done in delivering Israel from Egypt, he comes to worship and seek Yahweh as his God. Main application here is how powerful it is to simply tell people about what God has done- in the history of redemption and in our own lives.

2) Jethro’s Wisdom: Jethro gives Moses practical wisdom and real help in the task he was facing in governing and judging the people. It begins a pattern of shared leadership and delegation we see at other places in the OT and clearly in the NT Church.

How much should we depend on God? How much should we depend on ourselves? Here are the three main points?

1) You Have an Enemy- there may be human enemies of a sort but ultimately we do not fight against flesh and blood but against Satan and the forces of darkness. We need to be aware of his existence and the danger we face.

2) You Can’t Win On Your Own- the Israelites were to fight and not sit by passively but they were also to depend on Yahweh- this is the point of the raised staff- utter dependence. And that’s us too- we cannot win- we cannot finish without God’s help.

3) You Have Someone Who Fights for You- God is committed to and passionate about his people- so, he gives victory and declares that he will bring his judgment on the Amalekites.

God calls us to reach out to people in the world, especially the lowly and oppressed.

Many scriptures talk about

1) Put off the old self

2) Put on the new self