Commandments 1-3
The 10 Commandments don't start with "Do not..." In Exodus and Deuteronomy the commandments start with a context about what _____ has done for people and an invitation to a relationship between _____ and people.
What or who is God?
State this commandment: In a busy world, we regularly set aside time to rest as a loving act of community protest and resistance, in solidarity with all.
What is "keeping the sabbath day holy" or the fourth commandment?
State the full commandment broken in these examples: Trusted money managers make off with clients' life savings. Struggling youth rob a convenience store of snacks and few dollars. Young adults walk out of stores and boutiques and "forget to pay". Employees pocket office suppliers for use at home. We download copyrighted material without paying or "forget" to return a library book.
What is "You shall not steal" or "Do not steal"?
State the full command that invites us to embrace our lives as they are -- to look at who are and not just who are not, not look at what we have and not just what do not have. This command is about embracing ourselves, our families, our living space, our spheres of influence, our accomplishments, and our bodies as "enough".
What is "You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” OR "Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife. Do not crave your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."?
State which commandment(s)s this is: God alone is ours. We don't wave other loves in God's face.
What is the first and second commandments or "I am the Lord your God, You must not have any other gods except me... Do not make idols for yourselves."
State the commandment: Interrupt harm. Do not physically, verbally or emotionally harm someone beyond repair.
What is "do not murder" or the sixth commandment?
The choices we make either take from others or give to others in large and small ways. When we take the easy way to get what we want at the expense of others, use people to suit our needs, or ______ when we think that some people are worthy and others are not, we are...
What is "steal" or "stealing"?
The first command declares God as our one and only. Circling back, these final commands call us to see ourselves and our lives differently as a result. Our human tendency toward greed and comparing ourselves to others affects our lives and communities. If God is our one and only, then we can focus on what we have and who we are without _________ things we do not have and often do not need.
What is "coveting"?
State this commandment: We do not make mischief with God's name.
What is the third commandment or what is "Do not misuse the name of God or take the Lord's name in vain"?
__________ is a radical weekly practice of reorganizing life and priorities toward God and the presence of God not just rest or sleep or going to church. In “remembering __________ and keeping it holy (set apart)", we pause in order to put everything in perspective and proper order. For one day a week we remember we are not in charge of the universe and stop behaving as if we are. _________ in the context of “escaping Egypt" connects us to social justice and gathering strength to fight against slavery happening again. Keeping _________ is to reject the values of dominant American culture that teach us that we are what we do and have and instead to stop, rest and worship together in community.
What is Sabbath?
State the full command that prevents betrayal and erosion of personal and institutional trust. This command originally dealt with community survival through what we call perjury today because God knew there must be a legal system, a bedrock of truth and honesty, for a community to stand together through trusting each other.
What is "you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" or "do not testify falsely against your neighbor"?
Throughout the Bible, covetousness is seen as a problem of the _____. Desire for sustainability, fair dealing and equitable treatment isn't covetousness so the poor are exempt. Problems come when those who have enough want more and more. When _____ becomes itself an end and not a means for blessing others, gaining and maintaining _____ can become predatory and the whole community suffers.
What is "wealthy/wealth" or "the rich / riches"?
State the commandment based on these examples: Attach God’s name to lies or to priorities designed to get us something rather than further God’s will. Use God’s name to give trivial answers to deep questions. Use God’s name as a weapon to stop conversation or to convince, coerce, or manipulate others into doing what we want them to do.
What is the third commandment or what is "Do not misuse the name of God or take the Lord's name in vain"?
State the commandment: This commandment is about how we honor life and all of the people who bring and nurture life in us – it applies to all those, biological or not, whom God has used to parent us in one way or another. The original Hebrew text (before translation to English) suggests this command is addressed to mature adults in the community (not children). This commandment is the only one that comes with a specific promise attached.
What is the fifth commandment or "honor your father and your mother"?
While the Old Testament does not prohibit all lying -- there is freedom to lie in order to save a life, to avoid injury, to make peace, to maintain modesty, to protect someone from being taken advantage of, or to keep harmony in the family -- the issues at heart is how the well-being of others is affected by our words. This command is about the importance of trustworthy judicial system and the necessity of basic _________ for the stability of community. Giving false instead of _____ witness can set in motion dynamics that cut to the heart of relationships, community, and the fabric that holds society together.
What is "honest" or "honesty" or "truth" or "truthful"?
Name one commandment that you learned something about today, and share how would you explain it to someone else in a way that makes sense today not just thousands of years ago.
What is (the commandment) and (how is it relevant)?
State the commandment based on these examples: Compartmentalize faith and make it only for Sundays or prayers before meals and it doesn't impact the the choices we make. Instead of demonstrated God is our ultimate source, we lean heavily on other sources and people to meet our needs and are often distracted by phone, sports, social media, etc..
What is the first and second commandments or "I am the Lord your God, You must not have any other gods except me... Do not make idols for yourselves."
State the commandment: Do not throw the community into chaos by being selfish in relationships or watering down boundaries.
What is "do not commit adultery" or the 7th commandment?
This motivation for these two commands is to protect the innocent, poor and most vulnerable in society. We live in a time when words are manipulated and people in power choose a narrative and repeat it over and over again until others accept it as truth --whether or not the narrative is in any way factual. __________ itself collapses when lies are accepted as truth and facts become relative and engineered in order to manipulate. _________ is required to address structures that support the economic needs of all, to fail to do so, or to exploit some for the benefit of others is seen as theft. This also includes passive inaction in the presence of economic hardship. __________ is responsible for the economic welfare of all people because God does not want poverty.
What is "the community"?
State the 10 Commandments in order.
What is (some version) of ...
1. God alone is God -- you shall have no other gods before Me
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not bear false witness
10. You shall not covet