Ex.20:1-11, Hold fast to the word of the covenant(Ten Commandments 1):…

Ex. 20:1-11, Hold fast to the word of the covenant (The Ten Commandments 1)
1-11, 1.God spoke all these words, saying: 2.“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3.You shall have no other gods before me. 4.You shall not make for yourself an idol, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5.You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generation of their hatred, 6.but showing mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7.You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. 8.Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9.Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but 10.The seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God; you shall do no work on it, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor the stranger who is within your gates. 11.For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

<Sermon>/Who is the perfect person acknowledged by God? Dr. Torrey says: 1) A person who has become God's possession (treasure), 2) A person who lives for God, 3) A person who completely obeys God, and 4) A person who knows nothing but God's will.
After delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt, God gave them the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are God's supreme principles of life, showing how the saved people should serve God and live. Being saved means not living as I please, but aligning the direction of one's life with God's Word.

1. Serve God alone — The First Commandment
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (V.3) God alone is our only master. Not only other gods, but anything we love and value more than God can also become an idol. We must place God in the highest position in our lives, above children, money, honor, and success. “God alone is the Lord of my life.” This confession is the starting point of faith.
2. Do not idolize God — The Second Commandment
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image… You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Vs.4-5) God is not one to be confined within forms and habits, but a living, personal God. Therefore, worship should not be a time to fulfill obligations, but a time to share our hearts and commune with God. “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and listening is better than the fat of rams.” (1S.15:22) Let us move beyond formal worship and offer true worship that involves dedicating our hearts and lives.

3. Do not misuse God’s name — The Third Commandment. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” (V.7) Respecting God’s name means not merely being careful with words, but living a life worthy of that name. We must ensure that God’s name is exalted through our words and actions. “I will not bring shame to God’s name, but will live worthy of that name.”
4. Keep the Sabbath holy — The Fourth Commandment
“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” (Verse 8) The Sabbath is not merely a rest from work, but a confession of faith believing that God is the one who sustains and provides for my life. New Testament believers worship God on the Lord’s Day, remembering the grace of the Cross and the Resurrection. Setting aside the Lord’s Day as holy is a confession of faith: “I live by the grace of Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection. I offer the first place and the first day of my life to God.”

Resolution/I will serve God alone as the Lord of my life. I will become a worshipper who offers my heart and life, not just in form. I will honor God’s name and live worthy of that name. I will set aside the Lord’s Day as holy and hold fast to and obey God’s Word throughout the week.
Prayer /Holy God the Father, thank you for saving us from the bondage of sin and death and making us your children. May we enthrone only God in the highest place of our lives, and may we lay down everything we love more than Him. Make us true worshipers who offer our hearts and lives, not merely in form; grant that we honor God's name and keep the Lord's Day holy. May we live this week holding fast to Your Word and obeying it. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


<Bible Study Material> Ex.20:1-11— Hold fast to the word of the covenant(Ten Commandments-1)

After God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt, He gave the Ten Commandments as the principles of life for His covenant people to live. The Ten Commandments are God's standards, showing how His saved people should serve Him and how they should live.

1. Observation — What do you discover in the text?
Where did God save Israel? (1-2) → He saved them from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

What are the first four commandments God gave? → ① Serve God alone ② Do not make or serve idols ③ Do not take the name of God in vain ④ Remember the Sabbath(Lord's Day) and keep it holy

Why does God command us not to serve idols? (5-6) → Because God is a jealous God, and He is the One who bestows grace upon those who love Him and keep His commandments.
How should the Sabbath(Lord's Day) be observed?(8-11) → Remember it and keep it holy; work diligently for six days and rest on the seventh.

2. Interpretation — What is the will given by God?
First, we must serve God alone as the Lord of our lives. If there is anything we love and rely on more than God, that can become an idol. The starting point of faith is placing God in the highest priority of our lives.

Second, we must not formalize or idolize God. God is a living, personal God. He desires a sincere heart and obedience toward Him rather than the form of worship (1 Samuel 15:22).

Third, we must honor God's name. Not only should we not use God's name carelessly, but we must also glorify His name through our words and actions.

Fourth, we must keep the Sabbath holy. God is the Lord of our lives and our time. For believers today, Sunday is a day to remember the grace of Jesus Christ's cross and resurrection and to offer the Lord the first place in our lives.

4. Application — How Should I Live?
① What do I place before God in my life right now? _______________________________
② Am I offering worship that communes with God, rather than merely formal worship? → ______________________________________

③ Are my words and actions glorifying God's name? → ____________________________
④ Am I setting apart the Lord's Day to God? → ______________________________________

5. Resolution/“I will serve God alone as my Lord. I will lay down all idols that I love more than God. I will abandon formal faith and offer worship that communes with God. I will honor God's name, set the Lord's Day apart as holy, and live according to God's Word throughout the week.”

6. Prayer
Holy God the Father, we thank You for saving us from the bondage of sin and death and making us Your children. May You alone serve You in the highest place of our lives, and may You enable us to offer true worship, not mere formality. May we glorify Your name, set the Lord's Day apart as holy, and live in obedience to Your Word throughout the week. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.