Exodus 20:1-7
Eric Henderson, Senior Associate Pastor, erich@churchbcc.org
God established a covenant with Israel, that they would be a nation of priests; worshippers and worship leaders. And we are all wired for worship; designed to place our eyes on, hope in, and affections toward God. But just like Israel, we wander. The first three commandments are given then as a means by which we keep our whole selves oriented around God, and these commandments demand three things be true of our worship
- Our worship is a continual response to covenant
- We worship the giver, not the gifts
- Our worship brings honor and justice!
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
- Eric comments that we all have idols in our lives. Human nature is like an “idol factory.” They can be identified by the things that get our worship (i.e. our attention, devotion, time, and money). What are some of the things in your life that may have taken the shape of an idol?
- Eric states that, “our worship is a continual response to God’s covenant.” What attributes of this covenant (e.g. infinite grace, unending pursuit, complete faithfulness, total provision etc.), God’s covenant with you, might serve as a timely reminder to be brought back to intimacy with the Lord?
- If it is true that we become what we contemplate, what are you becoming these days?
- As you examine your life today, how have you become in Augustine’s words incurvatus in se (focused inward)? And what “lesser tress” are you settling for as a result in place of the “full forest” that God is inviting you to?
- Eric quotes one theologian in saying “Ideologies are marked by taking a part of the truth and making it the whole; by taking a good thing and making it the ultimate.” Consider the ideologies that you prescribe to. What perspectives might you and your ideologies be missing?
- As an example of worshipping the gifts rather than the Giver, Eric describes the many contemporary pastors who have been exposed for atrocious acts of sexual abuse, financial scandal, and other acts of misconduct. Have you been hurt by any of these instances in particular? What effects of worshiping the gifts rather than the Giver might be seen in these painful situations?
- Lent is a season that is intended to help expose our drift from God, however slow, minor, or extreme it may be. Where are you finding that you are adrift in your faith journey? Take a moment to name it, share it, and ask for prayer that this may be a [re]turning point for you