We are a group of imperfect people pursuing a perfect God. We exist to help each other find and follow Christ. These are some things we want to be true of our group:

We create a safe and honest environment, staying transparent and authentic.
We keep it inside the circle. Confidentiality is necessary for a healthy group.
We look together to the Bible for help and guidance, and keep out our own politics, sales, or agendas.
We do not try to fix each other, preach sermons, or give unsolicited advice. We instead encourage, listen to, and celebrate each other.
We handle conflict between us quickly and honestly by going to the person, owning our part, and practicing forgiveness.
We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.
We trust that it is God’s role to change people, not ours.
We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.

Mike kicked off the series "Hills and Valleys" by sharing that laws aren’t conditions of His love, but a confirmation of His love. We’re taking in what it meant that God took Moses to Mount Sinai, and how these laws are still impacting us today.

BREAKING THE ICE

What were some of the most important rules you had growing up? Did you mostly follow them or look for ways to break them?

CONNECT

Rules are often misunderstood
What impression of the 10 Commandments did you have growing up? Throughout your life, why did you think the 10 Commandments were in the Bible?

With fresh eyes, read this quick summary of the 10 Commandments:
- No other Gods before me
- Don’t make any idol to worship
- Don’t misuse my name
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
- Honor your father and mother
- Don’t murder
- Don’t commit adultery
- Don’t steal
- Don’t lie
- Don’t covet
  - What observations can you make about these? Do they make sense? Do any confuse or frustrate you?
  - God gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments after hundreds of years in slavery - He didn’t give them rules SO they could be in relationship with Him; He gave them rules BECAUSE they were already in relationship with Him. How does that influence or challenge the way you’ve thought about God’s rules throughout your life?

APPLY

Freedom or Slavery?
God’s laws were meant to give freedom to enslaved people and they still give us freedom today. How do these apply to you? How can you trust that these laws give you freedom in your own life?

a good example

God required us to take a day to center ourselves on Him once a week. To give ourselves permission, and in fact required us, to prepare our food ahead of time and have no one working on this day. This law was not meant to enslave us further, but to give us freedom. Think about your own life and the constant busyness that threatens our culture. REQUIRING a day of real rest is not restrictive... it frees us up to live the best possible life!

Identity
In Exodus 20, God gave Moses a lot of rules, one of the most important was when God said to Moses, “I am the Lord Your God.” Do you relate God’s word choice of your like a parent giving rules for their children? How does understanding that God claims us as his before we choose to behave or follow rules impact your view on the 10 commandments?

Identity
In Exodus 20, God gave Moses a lot of rules, one of the most important was when God said to Moses, “I am the Lord Your God.” Do you relate God’s word choice of "your" like a parent giving rules for their children? How does understanding that God claims us as his before we choose to behave or follow rules impact your view on the 10 commandments?

The Jews Were Slaves
God didn’t give us formal laws until the people of God were enslaved for 400 years. Why do you think God took so long to give His people rules? What was different about the way they would have followed God as slaves vs how they would follow him now as free people that could have led God to create these rules? Discuss as a group what it took for God’s people to get there.

Household Rules
God gives rules to those who are a part of his family and we are in God’s family because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. Just like we don’t earn the love of our parents, we don’t earn God’s love. Do you trust this? Is it still more comfortable to try to earn his love?
- Follow-Up Question
  How do you feel that it’s not our job to make the world accountable to these laws?

the follow-up question

That question about NOT holding the world accountable to God's laws can be a tricky conversation. In short: once we accept the invitation to be a part of God's family, THEN the rules apply to us. They are evidence of that relationship. So when it comes to those who have not accepted that invitation yet, the rules don't apply in the same way. Everyone still falls short of God's standard of perfection, so the primary importance is always on being a part of God's family first.

READ. PRAY. DO.

READ

During this series at Mission, we are all challenging each other to do the SYNC Bible Challenge! Head to missionventura.com/sync for more info!

PRAY

Pray this prayer on your own, or use it to kickstart your own personal prayer time.
God Thank you for choosing me, for calling me your son or daughter. Help me to have a proper perspective on your laws. To not fall into the trap of believing that my behavior determines your love for me. Help me to see your laws as things that lead to freedom. Open my heart and mind to how you want to lead and instruct me.

DO

Take one commandment and chew on it (think about it), follow it, and write down and talk to God about how you feel about this law. If you’re comfortable, share with someone and hold yourself accountable to this law. Read Psalm 1 and meditate on the importance and helpfulness of God’s law.