Learning the 10 commandments is obviously very important. We should teach our youth the 10 commandments starting at a toddler age. We teach them not to take toys from other kids, we teach them to go to church on Sunday, we teach them to be honest. When they are older we go over the meaning of all the commandment. But how often are we teaching the ten commandments to teens after around the age of 16? It just kind of turns into one of the common stories like Daniel in the lions den or David and Goliath. We tend to not focus on those common lessons as much when our youth gets older but there are some commandments that gain meaning the older we get. It's like, there are more ways now to break the commandment than there was when they were 10 years old. These rules are a very important part of life and we need to be sure our youth understands them fully before they are grown up and on their own in the world. I hope that today I can help you with explaining God's commandments to your youth so they will have a better understanding of how to follow theses laws of God
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1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
Exodus 20:3
Ask your class what they think this means. You may get answers like "don't pray to statues or any gods because our God is the only true God". This is very true but there are other ways of worshiping other things and making them our "god" and it may happen without realizing it. T.V is a very big example of putting something before God. You was suppose to go to church tonight but there was a movie premiering that you just couldn't wait to see. You put the T.V before God. Your on the sports team and even though practice is multiple times a week you still skip church for it a lot. You have been practicing for the church Christmas play but found out about a Christmas party that you really want to go to is happening the night of the play so you drop out and go to the party instead. You was suppose to help out with the youth fundraiser but decided to go to a concert you found out about instead. You are putting all of these things before God. You haven't read your Bible in weeks because you've been busy but I'm sure you have had time to watch T.V. You was at church but you didn't hear anything cause you was to busy thinking about ways to improve your performance on the sports team. These are more examples of putting other gods before the true God. Our first thoughts should be how to serve Him in what we are doing. We should be planning our activities around church instead of saying "we can do it that day, I just have church, I can skip it that day." If something can't be scheduled around your time with God and you choose the other thing, you are putting it first and God second. Yes there are special important events that will cause us to miss church or forget to read our Bibles. But people are slowly changing from "I'm sorry but I have church that day." to "I'll be at church next week as long as nothing else comes up." Put God first, the world second, and see how your life will change for the best. 2. you shall not make any graven image. (no idols)
Exodus 20:4-5
This commandment is much like the first but it is basically saying not to make a thing to worship, like a golden calf. You know, like the one that was being made and worshiped while Moses was with God receiving these rules. Some people carry around a good luck charm to bring them good fortune, in a way they are making these things an idol. Maybe they're not praying to them but they are putting their faith in them. Our faith and trust belongs to God alone. We can not put our faith in superstition. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. 6:24 3. you shall not take the name of the lord in vain.
Exodus 20:7
What could this mean? Seems many people do not know. It baffles my mind actually, so if you can explain why I hear many Christians break this commandment, then please comment below. Oh my ........goodness. Now this is a phrase we hear almost daily but instead of "goodness" guess who's name is used. God's name. You can't watch a movie without this phrase, especially one that's for kids/teens. It's a phrase that just doesn't seem to go outdated. People constantly say it, people that don't cuss will still say it. It needs to be taken more seriously. Using God's name in vain is a sin. Here's some homework on this commandment to maybe help understand it better. Look up "vain" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary or on their website. Then look up "blasphemy". God's name is not a word to just be thrown around. His name is sacred and should be respected. 4. remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
The Sabbath day belongs to God. Not to your friends, not just if you feel like it, and not to whatever cool event is in town this weekend. Stopping by to hear a few songs at church and then leaving early to go on about the rest of your busy life does not count as keeping it holy. Yeah I know "you don't have to go to church to be a christian" sure, but it does help! You spend the other 6 days of the week going to all kinds of places with all types of people, it's nice to have one day where you are surrounded by God's people. I know some times there's that one person that goes to church that isn't exactly the nicest person around, but you just gotta ignore their rudeness and be polite as possible. If they're in the wrong, well at least they're at church so as soon as they realize they're problem they'll be in the right place to ask for forgiveness. Of course you should keep in mind that they may be trying to help you and you just don't want to hear what they have to say. We all have our faults, some just have faults that stick out more than others. There's enough things that I could say about this matter that I could make another entire post about but let's get back to the main point for now.
If we spend the day on T.V or out at the mall or at some party, we are not keeping God's day holy. Reading your Bible for 10 minutes before you go on to that other stuff doesn't count either. It is the day of rest, your work will survive without you, your friends can join you in worshiping God, your T.V can wait. Spend this day talking to Him and thanking Him for all He has done, ask Him for guidance through the coming week. Listen to Christian music and read His word a little extra. This day is set aside for Him from now till the end of this world. So stop planning parties on this day, stop picking this day to lay around the house sleeping all day, stop choosing God's day to do the leftover things you didn't get done through the week. Teach your youth the importance of prayer 5. Honor your father and your mother.
So this is a bit touchy in some areas because sadly there are many kids today whose parents are not together and they have to listen to one or both of their parents talk bad about the other parent. If parents are bad mouthing each other then how are we suppose to teach our kids this commandment. So let's start off with saying that your mom is not your maid and personal chef. Your parents number one job in life is not to make sure every little thing in your life is absolutely perfect and that you never have to suffer the slightest inconvenience. Paying the house bills is work in it's self, and yes parents should be caring for their kids and helping them when needed, but it is the child's job to learn how to go through life by watching their parents. You've seen your mom wash dishes now you know how, so do it. You've seen how dad cuts the grass, so help out. You got a job finally, pay your own phone bill. Stop making your parents do everything for you or else you will never know how to do anything for your self. And when you move out, call them up, the time you was home went by fast and now they miss you. See if they need help with anything around the house when you visit and let them know you appreciate them.
As a side note, parents, stop doing EVERYTHING for your kid. I had to teach a 10 year old how how to make a bowl of cereal, and how to open a straw.......literally could not figure it out....... Now the next thing, this is mostly for the kids who have divorced parents. Stop playing your parents, stop playing the victim card to one parent because you got in trouble by the other parent. Yes sometimes there's that one parent that's a push over and just wants to be the favorite, you are causing a lot of pain to that parent that is actually trying to parent you. So you have a parent that doesn't let you get away with anything you want. That does not give you the right to cause a custody battle between your parents. You are breaking your parents hearts while stressing both of them out. It's hard when you have two different house rules to follow. Just follow the rules of who you are with and give both parents the love and respect that they deserve. Now you may have that one parent that truly is hateful and have to stay away from. This is just something you will have to stay in constant pray with God about. Let Him tell you how you can still follow this commandment even if your parents don't deserve the honor. Maybe he will tell you to give this honor to someone more deserving, maybe the only way you can honor them is by praying for their souls. Don't let their hate make you hateful, Let God guide you and help you. 6. You shall not kill.
Well this one is pretty obvious. I don't think anyone has trouble understanding this commandment and knowing that it is wrong. Sadly there are people in this world that get filled with so much hate that they come to break this commandment. This is why we should always be slow to anger and do our best to always show kindness to people even if they don't seem to deserve it. Don't let hate consume you, ask God daily to help you with things that test your anger.
Teach your youth the meaning of "love thy neighbor". 7. Do not commit adultery.
A bit harder to explain to younger kids. We just always tell them something like "Mommies and daddies should not be kissing other mommies and daddies." or if they comprehend boyfriends and girlfriends, we let them know that they can only have one lol! It's an awkward one to explain but eventually they will be old enough to understand and even if you want to think of your kids/youth group as little kids still, they are growing up and need to know these things or the world will tell them different.
Committing adultery is not just sleeping with someone, it's texting inappropriate things, going on a secret date, and even just thinking about someone in a sexual way. So be careful and keep your mind on your spouse. Marriage is very sacred and should not be treated lightly. Be sure you know you have found the one God has intended for you to be with before taking the very serious vows. Love is a wonderful thing, be patient and wait for the right one. Don't just date every girl/boy that is available. The one for you may come along but won't be able to ask you out on a date because you are already in a relationship. Dating should be taken more seriously than it is these days. Maybe if teens took dating more seriously then they would take marriage more seriously when they are older. Teens seem to have a new boy/girl every month. Why date someone if your not actually feeling like they're the one? Don't tell me you thought your last three was meant to be. You dated them because someone said you looked good together, they were just so adorable, they had a cool car, or they were just so popular and you wanted that popularity too. Marriage is between You, your spouse, and God. The same should go for dating, if your feeling crazy in love with someone then pray about, be friends first and see how things go. Don't go telling all your friends who tell their friends who tell his friends till suddenly your only dating cause everyone else pushed you before you both were ready. Everyone seems so scared of marriage, "what if they're not the right one?" but maybe if you practiced taking dating seriously and not changing every month who your with, then a life time commitment won't seem so terrifying. Basically my point is, if you don't want to be vulnerable to breaking this commandment then don't get so used to changing girlfriends/boyfriends now. Practice commitment while your young. 8. You shall not steal.
This one is pretty obvious as well. Just remember that taking someone else's things is not the only way to steal. Taking credit for someone else's work is another way to steal from someone. Work hard and stay true to God , He will provide you with all you need.
9. Thou shall not bear false witness.
Lying is a sin. A man's word is an important thing. Don't destroy your word by telling lies. Sometimes the truth is hard but if you become someone no one can trust then you will find yourself very lonely which is exactly what the Devil wants. If you want to be respected then be respectful, be honest, be true.
10. You shall not covet.
Coveting is basically jealousy. You want something that is not yours and can never be yours. This could lead to the sin of stealing. Yes there are many things we'd like to have and dream of someday owning which is fine. Coveting is where instead of dreaming of a nice car that is like your friends, you desire your friends car specifically. You don't think of where you can find a similar one, you think of how you can get theirs. You don't want just any girlfriend/wife, you want someone else's and feel nothing but jealousy when you see them.
You become obsessed with something or someone that you can not have. You loose focus on what you do have. Don't chase someone else's life, you have your own and you can do what you want with your life. Give thanks daily to God for all He has done for you and practice being grateful. God wants you to live your life, not your friends life. We all get different opportunities given to us, trust God in the path He has given you. conclusion.
Though there are more rules than 10 that christians should follow, these commandments are full of major lessons. Lessons that your youth should know clearly before heading out on their own in the world. Remember, if we don't help our youth learn how to live, then the world will. No christian is special enough that they can just choose which of these commandments to follow, God wants us to follow all of them! Yes we will stumble and break some of these laws, but we can repent and ask God for strength to keep us from the temptation of these sins. Pray everyday that your youth will always have a desire to follow these laws no matter what the world may say, the world is a hard place for young chritians.
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