Dear Friends,We’ve all heard the amazing stories of miracle after miracle as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness, headed towards the promised land. God delivered them from a life of slavery and was moving them into being a nation set apart, His people -- the people of God. And it was during those years in the wilderness that God would firmly establish his relationship with them. When the people arrived at the base of Mount Sinai, they witnessed yet another miracle: a large cloud containing thunder, lighting, and the sound of trumpets, signifying God's presence.
The people were afraid, but Moses would go up onto the mountain to hear from God himself. Moses met with God and received from Him ten commandments for the people to follow, ten laws written in God’s own hand.The Ten Commandments in the Greek are called, "Decalogue.” In the word decalogue the root deca - or ten, is combined with logos, Greek for "word,” essentially translated as the “Ten Words of God” or, what I am calling, "The Big Ten.” These laws -- or "thou shalt nots" -- are actually meant for our protection and guidance. God, as our loving Father, wants us to grow in wisdom and to avoid making choices He knows will harm us. These laws include commands to honor God, the Sabbath day, and one's parents, and bans on worshiping images, swearing, murder, adultery, theft, lying about others, and envying what others have.While It was upon these very laws that ancient societies were, in large part, structured, the Ten Commandments do not actually seek to restructure society itself.
Instead, these laws are meant to lead and instruct individuals in how they should live and think and act in whatever type of society they find themselves.Today in 2020 we find ourselves in a very complex society. We are currently experiencing a host of uncertainties that are leading us to have more trepidation about the future rather than hope. But as the people of God what can we discover through the Ten Commandments that can ground our faith? What exactly did God intend to teach us through the Ten Commandments? What can we learn from this ancient law that could actually be relevant for us today?
Starting Sunday, August 16, we’ll begin a journey through "The Big Ten," an up-close and personal look at the Ten Commandments. These laws are not meant to spoil our fun or be a punishment, they are an act of grace and love which God carved in stone and then brought to life through His Son Jesus Christ. They can serve as a grounding anchor for us in stormy times and inspire us to hope for a bright future. Throughout this ten-week sermon series, I encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit to help you clarify and deal with the commandments you could do a better job at following (don’t worry, we all have some!). How could your life be more fully alive and free from insecurity, fear, and anxiety if you kept these laws? We’ll discover all this and more as we explore “The Big Ten.” Please join me on August 16th!
In His Service,
Rev. Roland Mitchell
Rev. Roland Mitchell
Lead Pastor HHUMC
