Unit 5 We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

The Ten Commandments Fundamental obligations that lead us to life-giving relationship with ourselves, God and others. What other fundamental obligations do you have in your everyday life?

Commandment 1 You shall worship the Lord your God and only shall you serve. Translation: Do not worship false idols OR stay away from idolatry Ex. Money Money Money…MOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEYYYY!

Commandment 2 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain Translation -

Example – What other words do we use that can be seen as “unholy” – don’t shout them out…

Commandment 3 Remember that Sabbath Day, to keep it holy Translation – Go to Church Example  I know it may surprise you but…

Common excuses for missing church It is youth Sunday. God told me I needed to stay home this Sunday for some reason (this is great, who can dispute God???). I worked 80 hours this week. They are just serving communion, so I will just stay home. The music is too loud/slow/fast/old/new/contemporary. The music director wouldn’t let me sing in the choir. They are having a guest speaker. The pews/chairs are too hard/soft. Someone made fun of my toes (no joke, heard it myself). I’m just not getting fed.

I don’t know anyone there (because you never come, wait, did I just type that?) It’s full of hypocrites (well yea, it’s full of people). They try and get “rough” youth to come. I don’t want to be a part of a church that invites kids with problems (blank stare). I don’t have anything to wear. I can stay home. There are plenty of preachers on TV. They just want my hard earned cash. The preacher preached against Harry Potter (this is one of my personal favorites). I can’t come without my spouse. The preacher preaches too long. They have drums there. Our electricity went off. Its too cold/hot.

No one checked on me after I missed three weeks in a row. Someone I don’t like goes there. The preacher yells too much. There are too many old people. They cater to the young too much. My alarm didn’t go off. I really needed to mow the yard. The preacher gave a sermon directed specifically at me. The church did me wrong about 15 years ago.

I can’t come because I might have a seizure crossing the street (this one was given by a gentlemen that lived across the road from the church over a decade ago). I overslept. I haven’t gotten to see my family much this week. It’s the Superbowl. Not a single person asked me how I have been doing. The church is too mission minded. I thought I might be getting sick. Someone corrected my child. Someone was in my seat. I just don’t like church politics. I just needed a day off. I will go to church when things get right between me and God.

Commandment 4 Honor your father and mother. Translation – Respect your parents and elders Example -

Commandment 5 You shall not kill Translation – Refrain from destroying yourself and lives of others (physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, etc.)

Example -

Commandment 6 You shall not commit adultery Translation – Stay honest with your significant other, both in your thoughts, words and actions. Example -

Commandment 7 You shall not steal Translation – If you cannot get what you want legitimately Example -

Example

Commandment 8 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour Translation – Be honest to others and to yourself Example -

Commandment 9 and 10 You shall not covet your neighbour’s spouse You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods Translation – You shall not desire anything that another person has to the point of envy/jealousy Example – Why can’t you be more like person X? Example – Why don’t we have _______ like our neighbours across the street

What is the purpose of the 10? They help us to examine our conscience in a complete way Our conscience is a navigation chart that helps us to do the right things as we go through life. We must not only follow our conscience, we must develop it

Sin A decision we make that goes against the truth that is God. It is doing on purpose what we know Jesus would ask us not to do Sin weakens our love for God and one another, and keeps us from being “whole” people The church practices reconciliation today by going to confession We speak with a priest to confess our sins (privately) We reflect on our inner selves and examine our conscience

With sin we alienate ourselves from? 1. ourselves – no matter how we sin, it has a diminishing and disintegrating effect on our inner selves 2. God – when we sin, we think that God is angry with us, so we distance ourselves from Him 3. Community – when we sin, we break relationships with others. Sin is a force that causes problems in the community and divides us from family, friends, and acquaintances.

Creative Response 2 Story about four characters (a family) Each member breaks one of the commandments Show how this is done Show how this is reconciled/resolved in the end