The Ten(der) Commandments
Tall Tales
March 19, 2023 • Pastor Chad Ott • Genesis 20:1–12, James 4:11–12
Everyone lies. But just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. Abraham lies about his relationship to Sarah because of fear. He also tries to justify his lie by pointing out how it is partially true. We do many of the same things. Yet, because Christ is the truth (cf. John 14:6), we are called to be truthful.
Beg, Borrow, But Don't Steal
March 12, 2023 • Pastor Chad Ott • Leviticus 19:9–14, Romans 13:8–10
God loves to provide for us (cf. 2 Corinthians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkhf54bzv1e&t=550s). Stealing takes what God has provided for someone else and tries to commandeer it for oneself. Therefore, stealing distrusts God’s provision. Theft, of course, is not just a crime of the poor. As the story of Zaccheaus demonstrates, even the rich can fall prey to distrusting God’s provision.
Pleading the Fifth
February 26, 2023 • Pastor Chad Ott • Matthew 5:21–26
When someone “pleads the fifth,” they are refusing to speak about a particular incident because what they say may wind up being incriminating. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus looks at the Fifth Commandment and pleads with us that we follow it not only in our actions, but in our hearts.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
February 19, 2023 • Pastor Daniel Ondov • Ephesians 6:1–4
The great Greek philosopher Aristotle asserted that families are the basis of any healthy society. The Scriptural authors would agree. Thus, families need to thrive. The Fourth Commandment is meant to foster such thriving. Parents and children are to show mutual respect to each other.
Stop! In the Name of Love
February 12, 2023 • Pastor Daniel Ondov • Mark 2:23–28, Exodus 20:8–11, Hebrews 4:6–11
The Hebrew word “Sabbath” means “stop.” Yet, in our culture, we all too often neglect chances to rest for the sake of workaholism. God’s desire is that we stop and take time to rest so that we may do the work He has given us. The Sabbath, then, is meant to be a joy, given by God out of love.
Name Brand
February 5, 2023 • Pastor Chad Ott • Exodus 3:1–14, Philippians 2:5–11
In the ancient world, someone’s name was also their reputation. God does not want us to take His name in vain because that damages His reputation. Yet, by how we live and by what we do as Christians, we often do besmirch how God wants to be known. Honoring God’s name, then, includes everything we say and do.
One and Only
January 29, 2023 • Pastor Chad Ott • Isaiah 44:9–20, Exodus 20:3–6
Idolatry is when we take a good thing and turn it into a God thing--and that's a bad thing. Why? Because it is an affront to the true God. But Isaiah also reminds us that we desire out of an idol what it can never give: help and fulfillment. Idols always disappoint. God, however, always keeps His promises.
The Zero-eth Commandment
January 22, 2023 • Pastor Daniel Ondov • Exodus 19:3–6, Exodus 20:1–3
In Jewish thought, the first commandment is not so much a commandment as it is a declaration: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Before God tells His people what they are to do, He reminds them of what He has already done. God’s work, then, is the power behind our works.