"Love - Life" - Sermon

Grand Lake Church

Read Exodus 20: 1-17 (today’s focus is v. 13).

1. The 6th Commandment says, “Thou shall not murder.” The KJV uses the

word “kill” rather than “murder.” How are these two words different?

Which do you think best speaks to the intention of this Commandment?

2. The United Methodist Book of Discipline states, “We affirm that all persons

are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God.” What does

this statement mean to you? How does/should the church demonstrate

this affirmation in the life of the church?

3. Who were Cain and Abel? (see Genesis 4) What does their story teach us

about human nature after The Fall once sin entered the world?

4. Read 1 John 3: 15 and Matthew 5: 21-22. How do these verses influence

the way we understand the 6th Commandment?

5. What drives people to commit murder? Read James 4: 2 and look up the

7 deadly sins. How do these help you understand the slippery slope of sin

that can lead to murder?

6. Read Matthew 15: 18-20. How does this passage, as well as Matthew 5:

21-22, help us to better understand the 6th Commandment? Can we

break the 6th Commandment without literally killing someone?

7. Is it possible to disrespect, devalue, dehumanize and even destroy

others with our words and attitudes? If so, how might that behavior be a

violation of the 6th Commandment?

8. Read Luke 9: 52-55. Why did the disciple want to destroy (kill) people in

the Samaritan village? How do we in the church sometimes make the

same mistake as the disciples?

9. Read Mark 9: 38-41. What were the disciples upset about? How does

that relate to the church today? What would Jesus have us do?

10. Will you commit to being invitational, using the tools provided (yard signs,

window clings, cards), and treating everyone as a person of sacred worth?

Does anything about this scare you? If so, what/why?

Prayer for the Week:

Almighty God, we thank you for creating us in your image. Remind us that we

are all persons of sacred worth, even though sin has distorted your image in

all of us. Help us to truly respect and love one another and work together to

advance your kingdom here on earth. Forgive us for the times we devalue and

dehumanize others with our harsh words and judgmental attitudes. Help us to

see others as you see them and share your love with them as you love us. Help

us to be invitational to everyone, knowing that if we all reach the ones we’re

called to reach, we’ll reach them all. We pray all of this in the name of the One

who makes all things possible, our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, who

lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Amen.