Beware When You Swear

Keeping the third commandment requires taking some practical steps. First of all, talk about it. Most people have no idea of the power of words and what is behind them. Keep the commandment out in the open. When you know your kids hear foul language, talk to them about it. Let them know what it means and why not to use such language. If someone in your life is a regular swearer, take a calm moment to explain why it matters.

Second, constantly critique yourself, your words, and your lifestyle. Don't disobey the commandment by default. Ask yourself if you are a true advertisement for the transforming power of Christ. Do you honor the name of God in all you say and do? Do you obey the third commandment?

Finally, develop an awareness of who God is. When you know Him, you won't be fooled into worshipping an image you made yourself. You won't empty His nae in naive, foolish talk. You won't wear His name while acting like it means nothing to you. Learn to know Him, Let Him live through you!

Website

Some of you may have questions about theology, God, life...a really good website that is trustworthy & insightful is run by a ministry called Desiring God. This is a ministry of John Piper -- who is a GREAT writer, theologian, and pastor.

He answers questions from his members as well as others in a series called "Ask Pastor John".

You can read his responses here: Ask Pastor John

Exodus 20:4-6 (2nd Commandment)

This Sunday we talked about how God forbids us to minimize who He is. We talked about how our images of God can be characterized into the Grandpa god, Candyman god, Man Upstairs god, Supreme Court god, and Emotional god.

Here are some questions to meditate on...

How can we break generational bad habits and sin patterns?

In what ways do you see that you have been violating the second commandment?

****As fallible humans, we take objects, thoughts, or things and try to make ourselves a picture of God. It is time to put away our presuppositions and images because these things will always fall short of the true image and character of God.

We begin to think these objects represent God. In the finiteness of our humanity, we look for something we can touch, feel, and experience -- something that makes God comprehensible to us. We build an image to see and understand Him more, but it never does Him justice. And we end up loving our own creation more than Him simply because it is tangible and visible.****

(First and 10: A Small Group Study By: Ed Young)