The Sixth Commandment is strikingly simple, “you (shall) not murder.” While a simple statement it covers a lot of ground. Notice it doesn’t say, “you shall not kill,” because that would include any ending of life, even animal life, which God has given us for food. The commandment excludes capital punishment for crimes against God’s kingdom, or for crimes against God’s people. God prescribes this punishment for these crimes. It does speak against ending our own and other’s lives we deem unvaluable. The emphasis is premeditated murder, but it also speaks against irresponsible behavior that puts others’ lives in jeopardy (reckless driving, danger at work, etc.).

Jesus takes us deeper by denouncing the anger and envy that fills our hearts, leading us to “murder” in our hearts. Even calling or thinking someone is an “idiot” violates God’s Law (Matthew 5:21-26). So he calls us to actively pursue reconciliation with each other. Jesus is more than anti-murder; he is decidedly pro-life. He came that we might “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Join us Sunday as we consider the call to life.

Sunday, we move into the second table of the law. The first of these six commandments is, “Honor your father and your mother, that you days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” The Westminster Divines understand the commandment to frame relationships in representative terms, saying, “The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals.” (Larger Catechism {LC}, 126) God communicates the responsibilities of our relationships in terms of “father and mother” as the fundamental unit of society and to communicate the “care” that should imbody our relationships. (LC, 125)

It directs how we respond to those with authority, how those in authority treat their wards, and how equals honor each other. Notice that the commandment uses the word “honor” instead of “obey” because God requires us to respond to each other out of a greater motivation than avoiding conflict. We’re called to respond in a way that recognizes God’s organizational structure. On God’s organizational chart, he has established appropriate structures of stewardship, each with various responsibilities. Failing in our stewardship, defies God’s rule. So, join us Sunday as we consider this critical commandment.

Sunday, we’ll consider together the Fourth Commandment, where God’s people are charged to remember and keep the Sabbath. One of the first things to notice is that Israel is told to “remember” the Sabbath. This was not the first time they heard of the sacredness of this day. Even as they were exiting Egypt, they were told not to collect manna on the seventh day because it was holy. Moses connects the Sabbath with the Creation narrative where God rested on the seventh day.

Another immediate thing to recognize is the egalitarian enforcement of rest: “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner (foreigner) who is within your gates.” The sabbath was not for men, nor was it for only Jewish people, but for the entire population, even working animals are given rest.

The “dual engines” of the commandment, as Kevin DeYoung says, “are worship and rest.” (DeYoung, The Ten Commandments, pg. 67) That hasn’t changed, but the New Testament practice has clearly changed. We gather on Sunday, called the Lord’s Day, and we no longer have similar restrictions, as Paul says, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of…Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come.”(Colossians 2:16-17).

Join us Sunday as we consider the goodness of God in giving us rest!

The Third Commandment tells us we aren’t to use God’s name in our speech in a meaningless way. Certainly, this applies to phrases like “OMG,” but this is the lowest expectation of the commandment. The commandment tells us not to attach God’s name to something worthless like an idol. That’s probably a no brainer, but even as Moses is atop Mt. Sinai, the people make themselves a golden calf and call it “God,” affixing his name to something worthless. Moses destroys and devalues the image, grinding it to powder that he made them eat, and later expel. The idol they worshipped became refuse. Quite a statement.

The commandment also directs us to treat everything related to God with respect. This would especially relate to how we treat his image-bearers. When we make fun of someone for their looks, or criticize people for their vulnerabilities, we diminish their Creator. How we treat others says a lot about our respect for God. This also applies to sacred things in worship. Malachi records God’s complaint against his people who disdain worship, first by offering less than their best and second by disdaining the whole process. When the people make their sacrifices, they think to themselves, “What use is this?” Well, God connects their disdain for his worship with disrespect for him.

In addition, the commandment directs not to use God’s name as a control mechanism. Statements like, “God told me,” are sometimes used to manipulate others. I’ve heard television preachers say, “God told me to buy my new $30 million dollar jet,” or “God told me to tell you to send a $1000 gift.” When Israel’s prophets did this, God introduced them to the Babylonian sword. Whenever we “speak for God” we had better be sure that God has spoken.

Join us Sunday, as we worship God and explore this commandment.

Sunday, we will consider the Second Commandment which focuses on the worship of God. This is a continuation of the first commandment where we respond to God’s self-giving devotion by our own self-giving commitment to him alone. In this commandment, God certainly warns against polytheistic idolatry. God’s people shouldn’t have other gods, and certainly shouldn’t carve images of other gods to worship or serve. This commandment also warns against carving or making images that represent the living God. Israel violates this commandment almost immediately in Exodus 32.

Moses has lingered long on Mount Sinai and the people grow discontent. They donate their golden earrings to make a golden calf and they gather to worship it as “Jehovah.” (Ex. 32:5) While that might seem unthinkable, we’re probably more like Israel than we realize. This commandment sets the paradigm of worshipping God in a manner that is acceptable to him, rather than one preferred by us. The catechism refers to violating this as “corrupting the worship of God.” (Larger Catechism, Q/A 109)

As we respond to God, we need to hear what he is saying about himself (inform), consider where we fall short (convince), and allow him to lead us to Christ (humble). Join us for worship Sunday as we consider the Second Commandment!

This week is Sanctity of Life Sunday. We are joined by Pastor Chris Johnson of Lifeline Children’s Services. Pastor Chris writes,  “The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that God is the giver and sustainer of life. Because God created male and female in His image, we recognize that each life created by God has value and meaning. This recognition compels us to stand for and protect all human life, from conception to natural death. As Christ followers, we must answer the Biblical call to be a voice for the oppressed and to serve those who are in difficult situations. This Sunday we will explore these themes and discuss how each of us must find his or her role in sharing gospel hope with the vulnerable, as a testimony to God’s grace at work in our own lives and as a witness to the world around us.” Join us Sunday!

Sunday, we will begin considering the ten commandments in Exodus 20. The scene is of Moses ascending the mountain with the priests calling God’s people to the foot of the mountain to hear from God. As they get closer and Moses climbs higher, the music gets louder and louder until God speaks to his people. When God speaks, the people are terrified at his thunderous voice but comforted by his tender words. God says, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2,3.

In this first of the commandments, God calls his people to respond to his giving of himself to them. He is their God because he made them his own, committing himself to them before they even knew him. Their deliverance from Egypt, going from seventy people to close to two million, witnessing the destruction of Pharaoh, all communicate God’s faithfulness to them.

In the commandment, God calls his people to respond to his “giving” with their “giving.” They are “to have and to hold” him as their God. This requires faithful worship and service to God alone and forbids all affections that would compete with exclusive love for God. As we’ll see, we fall terribly short in our response to God’s self-giving, but in Christ, we see the righteous requirement of the law fulfilled. We’ll worship him for that. Join us Sunday!

Sunday, we’ll continue with our theme of God’s Abounding Grace by studying the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 (the Law of God). At first glance, we might think that God’s Law offers no grace, only condemnation. Why study the instrument of our condemnation? We might also argue that because we’ve been justified by faith, we don’t need to consider the Ten Commandments since we’re under grace. We could also argue with the Apostle Paul (Romans 7) that the Law is not a tool that we need or can use to merit right standing with God. Because of our flesh, Paul says the Law is powerless, like holding a power tool with no electricity. Finally, because we’ve been justified and Christ has assumed the Law’s curse, it cannot condemn us. Its threats are empty and meaningless for the believer. So why study the Law of God?

The Scripture has a different perspective on the Law of God. The Apostle Paul says, “The Law is good,” 1 Timothy 1:8. The psalmist speaks of the beauty of the Law, saying, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day,” Psalm 119:97. He speaks of the benefits of studying the Law, saying, “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me,” Psalm 119:98. The Apostle Paul asks the question, “Is the Law sin?” His answer is emphatic, “By no means.” (Romans 7:7) He concludes, “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12) 

So, if the Law is holy and good, it is an expression of the goodness of God and studying it should minister that goodness to us. The Westminster Larger Catechism gives us some guidance concerning the grace of God in the Law. It says that the Law informs us, teaching us about God’s character. The Law convinces us of our sinfulness and inability to obey; it drives us to humility before God, moving us to greater dependency on Christ. This will be our basic outline each week as we consider the Law of God. Join us Sunday as we follow the Law to Christ!

This Sunday we are thrilled to have Dr. Sam Nshimyumukiza ministering to us. He’ll focus our attention on Ephesians 4:22-5:2 where the Apostle Paul teaches us what it means to live in the new life we’ve been given by Christ through his Spirit. The apostle begins the letter by emphasizing the gospel story and then explains how the gospel changes our story.

In the section we’ll consider together, the apostle explains what living in the new life of Christ looks like: liars tell the truth; angry people seek reconciliation; greedy people become generous; and verbally abusive people build others up. As we live in the new humanity we’ve been given in Christ, we take on his holy character. Like putting on new clothes, we put on our new character, the character of Jesus. Join us Sunday as we begin this new year with a focus on Christ!

In 1779, John Newton wrote the hymn, Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder. In that song, he writes, “Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior’s name. He has hushed the law’s loud thunder, he has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame. He has washed us with his blood; He has brought us nigh to God.” Newton captures an essential truth of the gospel, Jesus has fulfilled the law’s requirements. His active obedience is the basis for God to justify the ungodly.

Luke, probably recording Mary’s testimony as an eyewitness of these events, recounts Jesus being circumcised the eighth day, according to the law. In addition, his parents sacrificed two birds in obedience to the law of redemption for the firstborn of every family. Luke says, “When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee.” This is critical for the ministry of our Lord, who is sent to the meet all the requirements of the Law to redeem his people.

Jesus’ obedience becomes the basis for our justification by faith. What this means is that our obedience is not sufficient for our salvation. Our obedience cannot satisfy the law’s requirements and we cannot boast in our merit. This is difficult for many, as Simeon says, “This child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel.” The necessity of faith in Christ, resting in his obedience not our own, is something highly religious and proud people stumble over.

Christmas is a story of God’s fulfillment of the law so that we could be justified. Join us Sunday as we worship Jesus for silencing the law’s loud thunder.