ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 10 APRIL 2005

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: IDOLATRY

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on the talk at Sunday's 6:30 pm service. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

BIBLE STUDY ON THE 2ND COMMANDMENT, EXODUS 20:4-6 AND ISAIAH 44:6-20.

1. 'You shall not make yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the waters below.' Read Isaiah 44:12-19, 46:6-7; Psalm 115:4-7; Jeremiah 10:3-5,8-9

2. Discuss the features of idols. What are their makers like? (See Psalm 115:8)

3. J.John in his book 'Ten' says "Human understanding is a workshop where idols are continually being crafted." What idols are we making in our lives?

4. 'You shall not bow down to them or worship them.' What do the words "bow down" and "worship" conjure up in your mind? Why do we do them? How might we worship any of the following? Money, our careers, sex, sport, music, clothes or what we look like?

5. 'For I the LORD your God am a jealous God.' Discuss the meaning of the word 'jealous' and how this applies to God.

6. Look at the characteristics of "The Lord YOUR God" Isaiah 44:1-8, 46:6-7. Compare these characteristics with those of idols.

7. Therefore we have a choice - what is it? See Matthew 6:24. (For 'money', any of the above in question 4 could fit here)

8. '...Punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me'. What happens to such people? See Isaiah 44:9-11,20; Psalm 106:36,115:8. Jonah 2:8.  How do you think this affects the next generation... and the next?

9. '...But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.' Think how God has shown His love to us (eg Philippians 2:5-8, Romans 8:32) and still shows it each day of our lives (eg Psalm 23). How do we show Him our love in the context of the 2nd Commandment?

10. Do we let the idols be idols in our lives? Alternatively, do we reject everything related to them? How might the words 'Flee' (1 Corinthians 10:14), 'Repent' (Ezekiel 14:6) and 'Keep' (1 John 5:21) be applicable to us?

11. In Conclusion - for discussion and prayer:
a. J John: "To fill God's place with an image is like blotting out the sun and substituting it with a 45 watt bulb."
b. Jesus: "If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted." (Luke 11:36)

Jane Sutton
11 April 2005