Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 34

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  Blessed are those whose way is blameless who walk in the law of the LORD!

2  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

3  who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

4  Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently.

5  O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes!

6  Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all thy commandments.

7  I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I learn thy righteous ordinances.

8  I will observe thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly!

9  How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word.

10  With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments!

11  I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12  Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!

13  With my lips I declare all the ordinances of thy mouth.

14  In the way of thy testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

15  I will meditate on thy precepts, and fix my eyes on thy ways.

16  I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 19-20

1.       The first time Moses encounters the LORD he is leading a flock of sheep to Mount Sinai. Now he is leading the “flock” of Israel to Mount Sinai.  What “flocks” did the LORD have you lead before he invited you to be a husband/father?  Why is it important for a Patriarch to lead his children to the places where he first encountered the Lord?  How much of your journey with the Lord do your children know about?

2.       The LORD tells Moses to “set bounds for the people…”.  Why does the LORD command Moses to do this? How do you determine what “bounds to set” for your children? How do you balance respecting their freedom with also limiting their freedom?  Do you establish clear consequences for “crossing the boundaries”?

3.       What does the LORD say immediately before He gives the First Commandment?  Why is this significant?  How does this relate to your “giving commandments” your children?

4.       Do you know the Ten Commandments by heart?  Who taught you the Ten Commandments?  How does a Patriarch teach his children not only to remember the commandments, but also to love them?

5.       What does “Remembering the Sabbath day” mean according to the LORD? What is communicated to future generations when Patriarchs “remember the Sabbath day” as commanded in Genesis 20:8-10?  Is this how you treat the Sabbath day?

6.       At the time the Ten Commandments were given, God had been in relationship with the descendants of Abraham for 500 years.   Why does the LORD wait so long to reveal the Ten Commandments?   How does this model inform your “revealing of commandments” to your children?  How does a Patriarch train up young children to more fruitfully receive commandments when they are older?

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own.  Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1.    I will re-evaluate with my wife increasing or decreasing the boundaries that we set for our children.
2.    I will share with my children the story of a significant time that I encountered the LORD and will bring them to that place if it is appropriate or possible.
3.    I will teach my children the Ten Commandments by discussing a different commandment at dinner each night for the next ten days and applying it to a situation that they can relate to.
4.    I will memorize the Ten Commandments with my family.
5.    I will discuss with my wife how our family can better “remember the Sabbath day”.
6.    I will come up with a plan to train my younger children in self-control and perseverance (i.e. music lessons, karate lessons, a household project, etc.)
7.    I will find a practical way to “win my children’s hearts” so that they find me more trustworthy when I am giving them commands.  The way I will “win their hearts” will be ____________________________________.

Previous Resolutions - Exodus 18

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.