Ready for Impact (10 minutes)
Catch up on how things have been since the last time your Impact Group met. Allow anyone new to introduce themselves. Then ask group members:
- What is the most pointless rule you have ever come across?
Ask for a volunteer to read Exodus 20:1-17 to the group, praying a short prayer that – however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d get to know him better because of your time together.
Impacted by the Word (25 minutes)
Watch the first part of the video.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
- What is your natural response towards rules?
- Re-read verses 1-2. How does this context impact the way we should hear what follows?
- What does it say to you about God that he rescues his people before giving them any commandments?
Now watch the second part of the video.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
Relationships lie at the heart of these commandments. God is calling the Israelites to a dual commitment – to love God and to love others.
- Re-read verses 3-17. Use the table below to record your observations.
| How the people are to relate to God | How the people are to relate to each other |
|---|---|
These commandments served to restore the Israelites to all that slavery in Egypt had taken away. Brought into relationship with God, the people are now free to worship him. They are also free to work with dignity and free to relate to others kindly.
- Imagine a world characterised by these commandments. Which do you personally find most attractive? Why?
- If commandments reflect something of the one giving them, what can we conclude about God’s character?
- As an Israelite hearing these commandments, how do you think they’d feel about the prospect of trying to live them out?
The commandments helped God’s people both to reflect what he’s like and to expose their own need for mercy. As we are confronted by God’s standards, we too are made aware of our need for mercy.
Jesus' death is the ultimate display of God’s mercy for us. Jesus offers us a rescue and then invites us to pledge our allegiance to him.
- If obedience flows out of knowing we’re loved, how would you respond to someone who concludes “God is out to ruin our fun”?
Much has been written on Sabbath and how we are to apply it today. For the purpose of the session, keep the following in mind.
Both work and rest are commanded in verses 8-10: six days of work and one of rest. God specifically calls his people to remember to rest, to set aside time where they cease work.
This was highly unusual at the time. And to rest demanded a high level of trust. To rest – to cease working – required that, for a whole day, God’s people were to depend on him to provide for them. In a subsidence culture, this must have felt very risky. Sabbath, then, is a call to trust. This is why Hebrews 3-4 speaks about the Sabbath ultimately being fulfilled in Jesus.
Many Christians believe that the Sabbath commandment applies in some way today. Some view Sunday as their Sabbath, a corporate day of rest for God’s people. But even amongst those who emphasise discontinuity, there is a general recognition that to consciously put work down (paid or unpaid) and to rest is good for us. Sabbath is a God-given pattern that helps us recognise that God is the giver of all things. In turn, this pattern is good not just for us, but also for our family, friends and the communities we serve in.
Impacting our Hearts (10 minutes)
When Jesus is asked which of the laws was most important, he says:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus says that love is to characterise his people’s obedience. But obedience doesn’t come naturally to us.
In twos and threes, discuss:
- What can make loving God hard? What can make loving people hard?
- How does knowing that we are loved by Jesus help us to love boldly?
- How does this also help us keep going when we fail to love well?
Take some time to pray for one another, that the Lord would grow your love for him and for others.
Impacting the University (15 minutes)
Often people consider Christianity to be restrictive rather than freeing.
Watch Andy Bannister responding to the question ‘Is God against our freedom? (5 minutes)
Discuss together:
- Where do university students look to find freedom?
- What restrictions do your friends believe Christianity would place on their lives?
- How does Andy’s response help you to ask better questions when having conversations about freedom with friends?
Take some time to pray for opportunities to discuss this with friends in the week ahead.
Wrap-up – TACOS 🌮
Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or just hanging out in the meantime!