THE TEN COMMANDMENTS1. “YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.”

Family Study Guides

November/December2016

1

THETENCOMMANDMENTSFamilyStudyGuide

[WesuggestthatasyouusethisFamilyStudyGuide,selectandfocusonamainportionortwothatyoufeelwillhelpyourfamily’sstudyintothecommandment.Youdonotneedtocovereveryaspect,discussionorscripturepresentedinthisguide.Selecttheaspectsorprinciplesmostrelevantorhelpfultoyourfamily.]Objectives:

• HelpyourchildrenlearnmoreaboutdevelopingarelationshipwithGodbyunderstandingthemeaningoftheFirstCommandment.

• HelpyourchildrencomparetheresultsofobeyingtheFirstCommandmenttotheresultsofviolatingtheFirstCommandment.

MEMORYVERSE:Matthew22:37-38“YoushalllovetheLORDyourGodwithallyourheart,withallyoursoul,andwithallyourmind.Thisisthefirstandgreatcommandment.”Whatdoesitmeanto"WorshipnogodbutMe"?

• GodwantstobefirstinourlivesbecauseofHisloveforus.WhenweputourtrustinGodonly,welearntolooktoHimforprotection,healingandforthethingsweneedeverydaylikefoodandaplacetolive.

o Matthew6:32-33...ForyourheavenlyFatherknowsthatyouneedallthesethings. ButseekfirstthekingdomofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddedtoyou.

• WemustlearntoloveandthinklikeGodbeforewewillbetrulylikeHim.IfwearetobelikeGod,wemustfirstlearnmoreaboutwhatHeislike.

o 1John3:1-3BeholdwhatmanneroflovetheFatherhasbestowedonus,thatweshouldbecalledchildrenofGod...Beloved,nowwearechildrenofGod;andithasnotyetbeenrevealedwhatweshallbe,butweknowthatwhenHeisrevealed,weshallbelikeHim,forweshallseeHimasHeis. AndeveryonewhohasthishopeinHimpurifieshimself,justasHeispure.

Whyshouldweobservethiscommandment?

• TheGodweworshipisreal–andHeistheonlyGod.Theonlyother“gods”thereare–arethosethatmancreatesinhisownmind!

• WesaythatGodprovidesuswithfood,shelterandclothing.DiscusswithyourfamilyhowitisthatGoddoesthis.(Example:Godcreatedtreesthatwebuildhomesfrom).

• Godcaresforusasaparentcaresfortheirchild.ParentsaretoraisetheirchildrentounderstandandobeyGod.Theyalsoprovidelove,food,aplacetolive,clothing,etc.Whatif,afteralltheyhavedone,theirchildmightsay,“Well,thankyouforallyouhavedoneforme,butIthinkIwouldliketohavesomeoneelsetobemyparentinstead.”Howwouldthatmakeyourparentsfeel?ConsiderwhatGod,ourprovider,thinkswhenwedothesametoHim.

• GodiscallingustobepartofHisfamily.

November/December2016

2

InwhatwaysshouldtheFirstCommandmentbeobservedfully?• WorshipGodandnootherbeing,includingfalsegodsorpeople.

o Matthew4:10(ESV)“…‘YoushallworshiptheLordyourGodandhimonlyshallyouserve.’”

• WorshipGodputtingHimfirstwithyourtime.IncludedailyprayerandBiblestudy.HonorGod'sSabbathday.Attendchurchservicesregularly.

o Isaiah58:13-14(NIV)"IfyoukeepyourfeetfrombreakingtheSabbathandfromdoingasyoupleaseonmyholyday,ifyoucalltheSabbathadelightandtheLord'sholydayhonorable,andifyouhonoritbynotgoingyourownwayandnotdoingasyoupleaseorspeakingidlewords,14thenyouwillfindyourjoyintheLord…

o WhatotherspecificwayscanyouhonorGodwithyourtime?• WorshipGodwithyourthoughtsandactions.

o Throughoutyourday,thinkofGod'sways,Hisblessingsinyourlife,andconsiderHiswondrousCreation.Psalm119isawonderfulexampleofthinkingonGod'sways.

o Colossians3:17Andwhateveryoudoinwordordeed,doallinthenameoftheLordJesus,givingthankstoGodtheFatherthroughHim.

• Questionfordiscussion:o WhataresomeoftheblessingsorresultsthatcomefromputtingGodfirstinourlives?

Inwhatwaysmightthiscommandmentbebrokenorviolated?

• PeoplethroughtheageshaveestablishedfalsegodslikeBrahma,Zeus,Jupiter,etc.Manyreligionsworshiptheearthandskyandnature,sayingthatallofitmakesupGod.

o Acts4:12(ESV)Andthereissalvationinnooneelse,forthereisnoothernameunderheavengivenamongmenbywhichwemustbesaved.”

• Spendingtoomuchtimeonwork,hobbies,etc.isanotherwaytoviolatethefirstcommandment.ChoosingtoplaylotsofvideogamesinsteadoftakingtimetoreadaboutGod’swayintheBibleisanexampleofnotputtingGodfirst.Playingvideogamespartofthetimeisnotwrong,butwhatdoyouspendmostofyourtimethinkingabout?

o Ephesians5:15-17(ISV)So,then,becarefulhowyoulive.Donotbeunwisebutwise,16makingthebestuseofyourtimebecausethetimesareevil.17Therefore,donotbefoolish,butunderstandwhattheLord’swillis.

• ChoosingtoplaysportsorothersuchactivitiesontheSabbath,tellsGodthatthesethingsaremoreimportanttousthanworshipingHim.

o Isaiah58:13(ESV)...honor[theSabbath],notgoingyourownways,orseekingyourownpleasure,ortalkingidly...

• UsingfoullanguageorlyingorcheatingtofitinormakelifeeasierisalsoawayofdisrespectingGodandnotworshipingHimandservingHimonly.ItismuchmoreimportanttopleaseGod.

o Matthew10:32-33(ESV)Soeveryonewhoacknowledgesmebeforemen,IalsowillacknowledgebeforemyFatherwhoisinheaven,butwhoeverdeniesmebeforemen,IalsowilldenybeforemyFatherwhoisinheaven.

• Questionfordiscussion:o Whatphysicalandspiritualconsequencesdowefacewhenweviolatethis

commandment?

November/December2016

3

TheBibleprovidesusexamplesforustolearnfromthesuccessesandmistakesrecorded.WhatcanwelearnabouttheFirstCommandmentandourrelationshipwithGodfromthefollowingexamples?

• Exodus32—IsraelandTheGoldenCalf• 1Kings18—ElijahandthePriestsofBaal• Matthew4—TheTemptationofJesus• Whatotherexamplescanyouthinkofasafamily?

PossibleFamilyDiscussionsorActivities:

ü HaveaTenCommandmentsJournalornotebook.WritedowntheFirstCommandmentandwhatthecommandmentmeanstoeachfamilymember.Alsoyoucanaddyourdiscussionsandexamplesfromthemonth.

ü TeachyourchildtoputGodfirstbyhelpinghimlearntosetasidetimeeachdaytoprayand

readaboutGod.

ü DiscusstheFirstCommandmentandwhyGodwantsustoputHimfirstinourlives.Howwouldtheworldlookdifferentlyifeveryoneobeyedit?

ü Haveeachfamilymemberfillouta“MyTimeManager”chartforawholeweek.ThendiscussthatGodhasgiveneachofus24hourseverydayandweareresponsibleforhowweusethattime.• Whatdoweputfirstinourlives?• Arewemakinga“god”outofsomething,becauseweputitbeforeGod?

Whenwe closely examineour priorities, our plans, howweuseour time, howwe spendourmoney,wegetaclearerpictureofwhoorwhatistrulyourgod.

ü Makeamemoryversewallhangingandthenhelpfindaplacetodisplayit,sothatyourchildcanberemindedhowimportantitistoobeyGodandkeepHiscommandments.

Supplies:• 9x12inchconstructionpaperorcardstock(selectionofcolors)• Copyofmemoryverse(seeendoflesson)• Crayonsormarkers/Stickers(optional)/Yarn/Tape(regularanddouble-stick)• Havechildrencoloranddecoratethememoryversepage(seeendoflesson).Mount

decoratedmemoryverseontoconstructionpaperusingdouble-sticktape.• Attachyarnsoitcanbehung.

AdditionalFamilyResources:

• UCGStudyBooklet“TheTenCommandments”https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/the-ten-commandments

• UCGTeenBibleStudyGuide"TheFirstCommandment"https://www.ucg.org/the-first-commandment-do-not-worship-other-gods

• BeyondTodayBibleStudySeries“TheTenCommandments”https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-bible-study/ten-commandments

November/December2016

4

November/December2016

5

OptionalClassActivitiesInstructor'sNotes:ScenariosrelatingtotheFirstCommandment(Greatformiddleschoolandteenagestudents)Goal:ApplytheprinciplesoftheFirstCommandmenttoeverydaysituations.Introduction:SummarizeyourlearningabouttheFirstCommandmentin20wordsorless.MainActivity:Placestudentsintosmallgroups.Giveeachgrouponeofthefollowingscenarios.After15minutes,studentswillpresenttheirskits/dialoguestothegroup.Afterthepresentations,discussobservationsandstrengthsofthepresentations,aswellaswhatcanbelearnedtobereadyforafuturediscussionofthissort.

• Afriendinchurchsaystoyou,“IthinkI’mjustgoingtoconnecttothewebcastnowandthenandstayhomefromchurchonceIgraduate.It’smoreofarestdaythatway.Besides,aslongasI'magoodpersonitdoesn'treallymatter.”HowcouldyouuseyourunderstandingoftheFirstCommandmentandtheroleofthechurchtobestanswerthem?Dosomeresearch(familystudyguide,plusanyinternetsearchonucg.org)andprepareaskit/dialogueillustratingwhatafriendorgroupoffriendsmightsay,andwhatcanbesaidinresponse.PossibleResources:FirstCommandmentFamilyStudyGuide.

• YoujustgotbackfromcampwhereyoulearnedaboutGod'sexcitingcalling!YoureallywanttohaveabetterrelationshipwithGod.Backatcampitwassoeasybecausetherewerenodistractions.HowdoyouandyourcampfriendshelpeachotherkeepGod’swayfirstinyourlives?

• Afriendasksyou,“So,yousayyou’reaChristianandthatyoushouldloveyourneighbor.Buthowcanyoushowloveifyoudon'tacceptotherpeople'sformsofworship?”HowcouldyouuseyourunderstandingoftheFirstCommandmenttobestanswerthem?Dosomeresearch(printedoutfamilystudyguide,plusanyinternetsearchonucg.org)andprepareaskit/dialogueillustratingwhatafriendorgroupoffriendsmightsay,andwhatcanbesaidinresponse.PossibleResource:FundamentalBeliefsofUnitedChurchofGod:"TheSacrificeofJesusChrist"https://www.ucg.org/booklet/fundamental-beliefs/sacrifice-jesus-christ

• Yourcoachwantsyoutobecaptainoftheteam,andexplainstoyouthiswouldbeanextracommitmentoftimeonyourpart.You'vealsobeenrecruitedtobeonStudentCouncil,andhaveagreedtohelppet-sitforyourneighborforsomeextraspendingmoney.HowcouldyouuseyourunderstandingoftheFirstCommandmenttohelpyoumakeyourdecision?Dosomeresearch(printedoutfamilystudyguide—MyTimeManager,plusanyinternetsearchonucg.org)andprepareaskit/dialogueillustratingwhatyourdiscussionmightlooklikewiththecoach,yourStudentCounciladvisor,yourneighbor,yourfriends,orallofthem!

Reflect:WhyistheFirstCommandmentsoimportantinourlives?

November/December2016

6

Instructor'sNotes:IsraelandTheGoldenCalfOpenbyreadingExodus20:1-3.Possiblediscussionpoints:GodwasspeakingtothechildrenofIsraelonlythreemonthsafterHebroughtthemoutofslaveryfromthelandofEgypt.InthisFirstCommandmentGodtellsthepeople,“YoushallhavenoothergodsbeforeMe.”

• Whathaveyouandyourfamilylearnedaboutthiscommandment?• WhatdoesthistellusabouthowwearetoworshipGod?• WhydoyouthinkGodwantsustoputHimfirstinourlives?

Askthestudentstotellthestorythatleduptothegoldencalfincident.Giveabriefoverview–includingfollowingpointsaboutfalsegods.InthelandofEgypt,wheretheIsraeliteshadlivedformorethan100years,thepeopleworshipedmanygodsandhadmanyidols.Eachoftheirgodsrepresentedsomethingdifferentintheirlives.Theyhadasungod,araingod,agodtheythoughtcouldhealthem,anothergodforprotection,agodforfire,andthelistgoesonandon.TheywerereallyworshipingthethingsGodcreatedandnottheOnewhocreatedthem.Whatismoreimportant—thattherearenotothergods.Itwouldbelikeplayingwitha“Super-Hero”toy—andsayingthatthattoycouldactuallysavesomeone—ordestroythebadguy.Itisonlyplasticanditcannotdoanything.• WhatelsehasGodgivenusthatweneed?[Letstudentsrespond.Examples:sunforheat,animals

tohelpusworkorforfood,theairwebreathe,theBible,family,theSabbath.]WhenwemakeGodfirstinourlives,weshowHimwearethankfulforallthesethingsHedoesforusandgivesus.

• Wedon’tbowdowntoandworshipothergodsoridolsastheEgyptiansdid.ButaretherewaysinourliveswecandisobeythisFirstCommandment?[Discussanyexamplesthestudentsbringup.]

Ifyouwatchthe“10Commandments”movievideosegment,reviewthefollowingquestions:(From10CommandmentsOverviewLesson)"TheGoldenCalf"Discussion:watchthe"goldencalfscene"fromthe1956CecilB.DeMilleversionofTheTenCommandmentsanddiscussthefollowingquestions.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YETnMqtlyI1.WhatwasGod’sreactiontotheGoldenCalf?2.Whydoyouthink,“YoushallhavenootherGodsbeforeme”isthefirstcommandment?3.DiscussthefollowingtwoquotesfromthemoviewhereMosessays:

a)“Thereisnofreedomwithoutthelaw”(read2Peter2:19;John8:32)b)“Thosewhowillnotlivebythelawshalldiebythelaw!”(readDeuteronomy30:15-20;James1:12-15)

WhilethesestatementsarenotdirectBiblequotes–discusswhytheyreflectbiblicalprinciples–andhowtheyapplytous.GodwantsustolearntotrustinHimeventhoughwecannotseeHim.WhenwechoosetoobeyHim,HewillshowusHislovebythethingsHedoesforus.WecanlearnmoreaboutdevelopingarelationshipwithGodbyunderstandingthemeaningoftheFirstCommandment.TheFirstCommandmentteachesuswemustputGodfirstinourlives.ThestoryofthegoldencalfshowshoweasyitcanbetoforgetwhatGodhasdoneforus,andwhyeverydaywemustmakeGodapartofeverythingwedoandsay.

November/December2016

7

Instructor'sNotes:ElijahandtheProphetsofBaalOpenbyreadingExodus20:1-3.Possiblediscussionpoints:

• Whathaveyouandyourfamilylearnedaboutthiscommandment?• WhatdoesthistellusabouthowwearetoworshipGod?• WhydoyouthinkGodwantsustoputHimfirstinourlives?

TodaywearegoingtolearnmoreabouttheFirstCommandmentbyreadingaboutcontestbetweenamanwhohonoredGodandpeoplewhobroketheFirstCommandmentbyputtingotherfalsegodsbeforeourgreatGod.

1Kings18:16-39.Tellinyourowndramaticwordsorreadfromachildren’sBiblethestoryofElijahandtheprophetsofBaal.Importantpointstocover:

• BackgroundabouthowsomeofthekingsofIsraeldidnotserveGodandoftenworshipedidolssuchasBaal.

• Thelandwasinadroughtandneededrain.Foodcouldn’tgrow.Animalsweredying.• ElijahwasaprophetofGodwhowastryingtoturnthepeopletowardsGodandawayfrom

worshipingBaal.WorshipingonlyGodiskeepingtheFirstCommandment.• Researchanddiscusswhatanaltarwasandwhatitwasusedfor.

o GodhadcommandedsacrificestobeofferedtoHim.o Falsepriestsbuiltaltarstotheirgodssuchasanimals,thesun,moonandotherthings.)

1Kings18:18…youhaveforsakenthecommandmentsoftheLordandhavefollowedtheBaals.

RelatethedramaticstoryofElijahvsthe450prophetsofthefalsegodBaal!Possiblyhavekidsrole-playthecharacters.AtonepointEiljahsaidtothepeople:"Howlongwillyouwaverbetweentwoopinions?IftheLORDisGod,followhim;butifBaalisGod,followhim"(1Kings18:21).

• HowdoyouthinkGodistellingusthesamethinginourlives?• InwhatwayscanwetrustthingsorpeopleratherthanGod?

ThispowerfulstoryshouldhelpusrecognizetheonetrueGod—andcauseustoputourfaithandtrustinHim.1Kings18:37“Hearme,OLord,hearme,thatthispeoplemayknowthatYouaretheLORDGod,andthatYouhaveturnedtheirheartsbacktoYouagain."

• WhatdetailsfromthisBiblicalexamplecanyouusetoexplainwhyweshouldputGodfirstinourlives?