Year after year, one of my favorite Sundays at Grace is Mother’s Day, especially because so many sweet families dedicate their children to the Lord. This year is even sweeter for me and Amy because we’ll be dedicating sweet Bethany. Somewhere along the line, however, we’ve begun to realize that our little girl will, at some point, grow up and make her way in the world without us making sure she’s strapped into her carseat or sleeping peacefully in our arms. And that’s why we pray and dedicate her into God’s hands, knowing he is the one who can guide her on her way. Even if you aren’t a parent, you know what it’s like to love another person and desire the best for him or her.
Our text in Deuteronomy 13-14 this week is, in fact, poignantly appropriate for reflecting on such things. In it, God is telling his people how to make their way in the world so that as they bear his name they also reflect his heart of kindness and care.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: May 8, 2016 // Title: Promised Land Living: God’s Family Name
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:11//12:29–14:29
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This Sunday we continued our series of Promised Land Living through the book of Deuteronomy. In this week’s passage we learn, in great depth, what it means to not take the name of the Lord in vain. As we have seen in previous weeks, the bulk of the middle section of Deuteronomy is built as a commentary on each one of the Ten Commandments. In Deuteronomy 12–14, we see just what not taking the name of the Lord in vain (third commandment) might look like. This week, Jon challenged us about what we join the name of God to or place the name of God on. He demonstrated that this third commandment is not simply concerned with the words we say, but even more with the way we live. It challenges us at our very core, inviting us to think about how carrying the name of God with our life affects the company we keep, the culture we consume and the crops (or cash) we contribute.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Taking God’s name in vain is not just about the words that you say but the way that you live—it’s about who and what you join your life to.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture (what is the story saying?): What do you normally think of when you hear the Commandment to not take the name of the Lord in vain? How did this week’s message challenge or change your understanding of that? What did Jon say the word “take” referred to? (carry) What did Jon say the word “vain” referred to? (futility, emptiness). What might carrying God’s name with futility or emptiness look like according to this passage?
Mirror (where am I in the story?): What have you joined the name of God to in your life that might need to be evaluated? How might this affect the company you keep? How might it affect the culture you consume? How might it affect the things you contribute to? Which of these three—the company you keep, the culture you consume or the things you contribute to—has been most affected by your relationship with God? Which one of those three things might need more attention?
Window (How does the story change how I see the world around me?): At the end of Jon’s message, he shared about how the idea of tithing flew in the face of other religions—while other religions assumed their gods needed feeding, the God of Israel used the tithe to invite his people to join him in their abundance. How does this idea change the way you think of God? Of tithing? What would it look like to join God with your best? What parts of your thinking about God need to change for that to happen?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Mother May I?
Because this week was Mother’s Day, many of you probably celebrated your mom well. So, take this time to pray specifically for any needs that the women in your group may be experiencing. If you know of women in your group who are dealing with infertility, potential adoption or foster care ask them if you may pray specifically for them. But whatever needs arise from the women in your group, let those needs drive you in intercession to your Good Father.
Change IN // Meal Sharing
Jon challenged us this week about the company that we keep. One of the best ways to grow healthy relationships is around sharing meals together. Share a meal with your group this week by either meeting in a house or going out for pizza or some other food. Enjoy the meal together. Build friendship through food and thank God for the company you get to keep.
Change OUT // All People are Human
This week we were challenged to participate in a special missional opportunity around buying a ministry house in Clarkston. You can find out more about this initiative at www.allpeoplearehuman.com. Take some time this week to think about how your group can GIVE to this initiative. But even more, as a group, think about how you can GET this message OUT to others. Come up with three strategies to get the message OUT by the end of the week; we are looking for 10,000 people to give a $25 gift—so think about how you could use social media, connections at work or play, etc. to get the message OUT!
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.