2 Cities Church Podcast

Big Idea: This is far more spiritual than sexual.#7- Exodus 20:14Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not commit adultery.I. Adultery starts long before the bedroomMatthew 5:27-30 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.II.  Adultery IS IdolatryMalachi 2:13-15. This is another thing you do. You are covering the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning, because he no longer respects your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.  And you ask, “Why?” Because even though the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, you have acted treacherously against her. She was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant.III. Marriage represents the Gospel CovenantEphesians 5:31-33 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.Next Steps: Believe: I need Jesus to purify my soul today.Become: I surrender all my desires to Jesus today.Be Sent: I will serve someone in a broken marriage this week.Discussion Questions: Why does God often use language of adultery to describe idolatry?Leviticus 20:10 made adultery a capital offense. What does this say about our society’s views on sex today?What is the root cause of the growth of pornography today?Where exactly does your heart cross the line into adultery when you look at someone attractive?Is it acceptable to end a marriage due to an emotional affair? Explain your reasoning.Read 1 Thessalonians 4:8. Why is yielding to sexual temptation a rejection of God?Pray for the Holy Spirit to control your sexual desires this week.

Big Idea: 3 words to guide all relationships#6- Exodus 20:13Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.Do not murder.I.  What this says… and doesn’t sayII.   Grounded in worth, not wrongMatthew 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire. So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.III.  Demands protection, not just preventionProverbs 24:11Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.Next Steps: Believe: I need Jesus to change my heart today.Become: I will cherish God’s image this week.Be Sent: I will protect the vulnerable this week.Discussion Questions: Who is the last person you’ve seen break this commandment?Why does God place a high value on human life?  Why do we devalue it?Is harming the guilty worse than failing to protect the helpless? Explain your reasoning.What is the difference between capital punishment and murder in your own words?According to Matthew 5:22, when exactly does it go from hostility to murder in your heart?How will you put this commandment into practice this week?Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you honor God by protecting life this week.

Big Idea: Some relationships you choose.  Others, God chooses for you. #5- Exodus 20:12Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery…Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. I.  The foundation for all relationshipsII.  This is fundamental to all societyIII.  This sets the framework for your faithNext Steps: Believe: I want God to become my Father today.Become: I will call my parents this week.Be Sent: I will follow Jesus’s example in all my relationships this week.Discussion Questions:Is honoring a matter of your heart, your actions, or both?Why is it difficult to carry out this commandment perfectly?  Why is there a promise attached to this commandment but not to the others?Is this commandment more about your relationship with human parents or with God the Father?  Do children have to honor evil parents?  Explain your answer.If God makes children suffer consequences when their parents disobey the second commandment, why does he include consequences for children in this commandment? Pray for God to work in your family this week.

Big Idea: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. #4-Exodus 20:8-11Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work- you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.1. Sacred Day.         2. Day of Rest. 3. Day to Remember. Next Steps: Believe: Today, I rest in God.Become: I will trust the God of the Sabbath this week.Be Sent: I will share the meaning of the Sabbath with someone this week. Discussion Questions:1. Do you think it matters which day we should worship God?2. What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy?3. What are the main instructions held in the fourth Commandment?4. Did Jesus explain that the Sabbath was made for mankind? Read Mark 2:27-28; 3:1-45. Do you find it easy to rest from the cares of life on the Sabbath? If not, why?6. How have Christians observed the Sabbath Day in the past? 7. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you devotion to God this week.

Big Idea: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Exodus 20:7Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name. 1. Respect the name. 2. Don’t use the name in vain. 3. Hallowed be Your name. Next Steps: Believe: I surrender my soul to the name Jesus today.Become: I will not use the name of God in vain this week.Be Sent: I will walk worthy of His name this week. Discussion Questions:1. How does making an oath or vow violate this command? 2. What does it mean to take God’s name in vain?3. Does saying OMG break the third commandment?4. Should we swear by His name?5. How do people currently break this commandment?6. Would you openly correct a friend or family member when they use God’s name in vain?7. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you use God’s name with reverence.

Big Idea: Worship is supreme- don’t get it wrong.#2- Exodus 20:4-6Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery…Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a  jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. I. Worship is rooted in loveII. Your spirit must mirror God’s Spirit for proper worshipIII. What you serve IS what you worshipNext Steps: Believe: Today, I surrender my soul to Jesus for the first time.Become: I will worship Jesus all day this week.Be Sent: I will worship Jesus by serving someone this week.Discussion Questions: How would you describe worship to someone who has never heard the term?  What is your strongest modern idol?What is the most important part of your worship?  (You wouldn’t call it worship without it.)Can you worship something you don’t love?  Explain your answer. How much time did you spend with Jesus yesterday?  Why is it tempting to worship something you can see and feel rather than something you can’t?Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you worship all day this week.

#1- Exodus 20:1-3Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me.Big Idea: Loving God and loving others starts with _______. I. It’s #1 for a reason.Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”II. #1 touches everything.1 Kings 18:21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.III. Everything follows #1.Exodus 34:14Because the Lord is jealous for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god. He is a jealous God.Next Steps: Believe: Today, I renounce my lesser gods and trust Jesus.Become: I will trust the Holy Spirit to direct me this week.Be Sent: I will show my trust in God to others this week.Discussion Questions: Has your loyalty to God been challenged this week? If so, explain.If loving God with “all your heart, soul, and mind” is the greatest commandment, what needs to change in your life to live it out fully this week?Ezekiel 14:3–6 describes “setting up idols in their hearts.” Does this differ from ancient carved images? What internal “idols” compete for your devotion?Do you know anyone who worships created things rather than the Creator? If so, explain.Is it possible to serve two gods at the same time?  Explain your answer using Scripture. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you follow God fully this week. 

Big Idea: God’s RULEs don’t bind you — they guide you.Exodus 20:1-2Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.I. Born out of RelationshipII. Unchangeable and UniversalIII. Come from LoveIV. Exist for your GoodNext Steps: Believe: I need Jesus to change my heart today.Become: I will follow God’s RULEs this week.Be Sent: I will show others how God’s rules guide me this week.Discussion Questions: How did the Ten Commandments impact your day yesterday?  How does obeying the law out of love differ from mere obligation?Do these rules apply to people who don’t worship him?  Explain your answer.How do these commandments relate to living for Jesus?Can you see your need for God’s grace without the law? Who needs to see through your life that God is worth following?Pray for the Holy Spirit to showcase your love for Jesus this week. 

Big Idea: We’re working on where God is working. I. God is bringing people to himself through Christ.John 5:19Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.II. Christ is bringing people together.1 Corinthians 12:13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.III. God is bringing people to his plan.Ezekiel 2:1-2He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.” As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me.Next Steps: Believe: I need Jesus to change my soul today.Become: I will follow God’s plan this week.Be Sent: I will work where God is at work this week.Discussion Questions: What indicators show where God is at work?Where have you seen Him at work recently?If God created all people, why is His church so divided?Does God need His church to accomplish His work? Explain your answer.How do you know when you’re hearing from the Holy Spirit?Who is the last person God brought to salvation through you?Pray for God to show you where the Holy Spirit is at work this week. 

Big Idea: Have you multiplied yourself? I. Go and do likewise. Luke 10:37“The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”Matthew 28:19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,2 Timothy 2:2What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.Matthew 22:37–39He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.II. Love for one another.John 13:34-35“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”Next Steps: Believe: I surrender my soul to Jesus today.Become: I will follow Jesus fully this week.Be Sent: I will serve someone far from Jesus this week.Discussion Questions: Where does evangelism end and discipleship begin?What kinds of people refused to become Jesus’ disciples, and why?Who has intentionally discipled you, and how did that relationship shape your faith?What steps does it take to call yourself a disciple-maker?What role does the local church play in making disciples?Can a church truly love you—and can pastors truly shepherd you—if they never challenge you to make disciples? Explain your answer.Ask the Holy Spirit to identify one person He wants you to begin discipling this week. Who comes to mind, and what is your next step?