THE 3RD COMMANDMENT: DON’T DESPISE GOD’S WORD Lesson 11 Faith Foundations Course One

What does God forbid in the 3rd Commandment? LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD What does God forbid in the 3rd Commandment?

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION Read Luke 14:16-24. In the story of the great supper, Jesus tells us that many people reject God’s salvation banquet. How did many people in the parable show that they didn’t think the supper was important? They made excuses for not accepting the invitation.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION No one can enter God’s kingdom without an invitation. God has made all things ready, and through his Word, he extends his invitation to all. What warning does Jesus give in this parable? People who reject God’s gracious invitation by refusing to hear the message of Jesus will not taste his heavenly banquet. They will only have themselves to blame for their eternity in hell.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION Read Luke 10:16. Jesus tells his disciples that when they preach his Word, it is as though he himself is preaching. What sad truth do we learn about those who despise or reject those who preach God’s Word? By despising or rejecting God’s Word, people are actually rejecting Jesus, who was sent by the Father to give rest for their souls.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION Shane was concerned that over half of the students in his confirmation class weren’t worshiping regularly. What do we learn in John 8:47 that shows why Shane was right to be concerned? Those who belong to God hear his Word. Not wanting to hear God’s Word is a sign of not belonging to God.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION 5. Imagine that you have moved to a different part of the country. You miss your best friend, so you invite her to come visit—all expenses paid. You text her, but she never responds. Compare the friend who doesn’t want to hear from you with the person who doesn’t want to hear God’s Word. She must not think very much of you & will miss out on a wonderful weekend. Those who refuse to hear God’s Word don’t think very much of Jesus & will miss out on all the wonderful things he has won for them.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION List excuses people may give for not hearing God’s Word. They already know the Bible. They can worship God when they are out hunting or fishing or playing golf. They need to sleep in.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION What do you think is the ultimate reason why people neglect hearing God’s Word? The 1st & 3rd Commandments are related. If they don’t want to hear what God has to say, they must not love God.

KEY POINT #1 God forbids us… to despise the preaching of his Word.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE Read Colossians 3:16. God urges us to let his Word dwell in our hearts richly. What do you think he means by that? To hear his Word regularly, study it closely, talk about it, use it as a guide in our lives, find comfort in its promises regularly, and encourage one another with it.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE Read Ecclesiastes 5:1. Fools think they are doing all right by offering sacrifices they don’t understand—just going through the motions. Here God warns us to “guard our steps”—to be careful when we go to God’s house. What are some ways we might be guilty of offering the “sacrifice of fools” when we go to church? We may not think about what we are singing or hearing. We may think that God will be pleased just because we are there.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE Why do we say people are despising God’s Word when they are careless about listening to it? They act as though God’s Word were not important.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE Sheri realizes she has been guilty of despising God’s Word. She knows how easily distracted she is in her Bible reading and how she often lets her mind drift away during family and classroom devotions. She wants to listen, but it seems so hard. What can she do? Ask God to forgive her. Pray that God give her greater appreciation for his Word and strength to resist temptations that distract her.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE What are some practical things we can do to help us learn God’s Word when we are… a. Reading the Bible? Find a quiet place. Read slowly. Answer questions: What does this tell me about God? about me? about my relationship with God? Keep a journal of Bible reading.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE What are some practical things we can do to help us learn God’s Word when we are… b. Listening to family or classroom devotions? Remove distractions from the table or desk. Fold our hands and keep from looking around at others. Look for the main idea or theme in the devotion.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE What are some practical things we can do to help us learn God’s Word when we are… c. Memorizing portions of God’s Word? Read the entire passage several times to get the main idea. Rather than spending a long time at the last minute trying to memorize a longer passage, set aside shorter periods of time and practice more frequently.

KEY POINT #2 God forbids us… to despise the learning of his Word.

WHAT DOES GOD FORBID IN THE 3RD COMMANDMENT? God forbids us to despise the preaching of his Word. God forbids us to despise the learning of his Word. SUMMARY God forbids us to despise the preaching and learning of his Word.

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”