LIFEGROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
February 21, 2021
"Don't Murder... Don't Even Think About It"
Commandment #6 | Exodus 20:13
"Don't Murder... Don't Even Think About It"
Commandment #6 | Exodus 20:13
Opening Questions
Today's message was on the subject of Murder...
Review the Text...
Do not Murder. | Exodus 20:13
Review the BIG IDEA...
Review the Outline...
[1] THE CORE OF THE COMMANDMENT...
[2] THE MESSAGE OF THE COMMANDMENT
[3] THE REACH OF THE COMMANDMENT
[4] THE DEPTH OF OUR MURDEROUS HEARTS
[5] THE MURDER OF JESUS SETS US FREE
Discussion Questions
In the message today, Pastor Derek talked about the episode of Seinfeld where George felt humiliated by someone's joke about him and he spent the rest of the episode thinking of extreme ways to "get back" at the guys who did it...
We saw that the message of the 6th Commandment is that God views human life as precious, priceless and sacred because humans bear His image and display His glory more than any other part of creation. Murder ultimately is comparable to "Killing God in Effigy".
We heard some alarming statistics today that by the age of 18, we will witness over 200000 simulated acts of violence and murder on television. Add Video games and internet videos, and the number is almost impossible to speculate. All of this is evidence that we live in a "Culture of Death."
This message hit on some pretty controversial subjects... (Capital Punishment, War, Abortion, Suicide, Racism, Terrorism)
Toward the end of the message today, we see that the Murder of Jesus is ultimately what sets us free...
Close in Reflection and Prayer
Today's message was on the subject of Murder...
- What images does that word bring to your mind and heart?
- How old were you when you came to know what murder was? Do you remember how that made you feel? Did you lose some of that childlike "innocence" people talk about?
Review the Text...
Do not Murder. | Exodus 20:13
Review the BIG IDEA...
- The 6th Commandment is about understanding the value of human life and our commitment to preserve and protect it.
- From this definition, how does this change your view of the 6th Commandment?
Review the Outline...
[1] THE CORE OF THE COMMANDMENT...
- Many Bible writers had deeper definitions of murder
- James said it extended to our attitude to the poor (James 5:5)
- Ezekiel said that if He didn't carry God's message to His people, it would make him guilty of Murder (Ezekiel 33:8)
- The Apostle Paul said the same thing about the Gospel message. (Acts 20:25-27)
- Jesus looked to the heart as the source of murder (Matthew 5:21-25)
- This is the core of the commandment. It’s about the heart which is much more prone to murder than the hand. It’s about whether or not we value human life enough to give of ourselves for the good of others.
- This is the core of the commandment. It’s about the heart which is much more prone to murder than the hand. It’s about whether or not we value human life enough to give of ourselves for the good of others.
[2] THE MESSAGE OF THE COMMANDMENT
- Through the 6th Commandment, God reveals His heart and desire for all of His human creation...
- See Genesis 9:1-6...
- Human life is precious
- Human life is priceless
- Human beings are made in the Image of God
- Murder defiles God's Image
- Human life is precious
[3] THE REACH OF THE COMMANDMENT
- What isn't covered by the 6th Commandment...
- Self Defense (Ex. 22:2)
- Capital Punishment (Ex. 22:3; Gen 9; Romans 13:1-4)
- Just War (Rom. 13:1-4)
- What is covered by the 6th Commandment...
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Suicide
- Abortion
[4] THE DEPTH OF OUR MURDEROUS HEARTS
- Why do we murder?
- Murder ultimately is rooted in IDOLATRY
- Greed, Jealousy, Fear, Hate, Revenge, etc.
- Murder ultimately is rooted in IDOLATRY
- See Matthew 5:21-25
- Invisible Expressions of Murder...
- Anger toward others that desires physical harm... (Mt. 5:22)
- Thinking of people as less than an image bearer of God... (Mt. 5:22)
- Turning a deaf ear to the suffering of the poor while living in luxury... (James 5:5)
- Not taking the Gospel to those we are called... (Ezekiel 33:6-8)
- Anger toward others that desires physical harm... (Mt. 5:22)
[5] THE MURDER OF JESUS SETS US FREE
- Jesus is the only one who ever fully obeyed the 6th Commandment.
- All humanity is guilty of Christ's murder
- Jesus was murdered by murderers for the sake of the murder.
- See Isaiah 53:5
- See 2 Peter 2:24
Discussion Questions
In the message today, Pastor Derek talked about the episode of Seinfeld where George felt humiliated by someone's joke about him and he spent the rest of the episode thinking of extreme ways to "get back" at the guys who did it...
- Are you someone who is prone to revenge?
- Do you find yourself replaying arguments you "lost" obsessing over what you should have said or done to put that person in their place?
- Do you find yourself fantasizing over people's demise or bad fortune?
- How does this reflect a murderous heart toward that person?
We saw that the message of the 6th Commandment is that God views human life as precious, priceless and sacred because humans bear His image and display His glory more than any other part of creation. Murder ultimately is comparable to "Killing God in Effigy".
- Have you ever viewed the death of another Human being as the loss of God's image?
- How does this affect the way we view life and death in a culture saturated with it?
We heard some alarming statistics today that by the age of 18, we will witness over 200000 simulated acts of violence and murder on television. Add Video games and internet videos, and the number is almost impossible to speculate. All of this is evidence that we live in a "Culture of Death."
- Do you feel that you have been desensitized to death by interaction with media? How so?
- How does the news and 24/7 reports of real life tragedy affect us?
- How does this reveal Satan's agenda as the, "Murder from the beginning," that Jesus said He was in Scripture?
This message hit on some pretty controversial subjects... (Capital Punishment, War, Abortion, Suicide, Racism, Terrorism)
- Did seeing these issues which are so often put in the "Political" category through a Biblical lens help to give clarity to issues?
- How does a believer, called to live according to Biblical principles, navigate morally in a culture of death?
Toward the end of the message today, we see that the Murder of Jesus is ultimately what sets us free...
- Have you ever drawn a direct line from the command not to murder to the cross where Jesus was killed for our sin?
- How does the notion that we are all guilty of the murder of Jesus cause you to think?
- How does the fact that Jesus willingly laid down His life so we, the murderers could live reconcile the 6th Commandment?
- How can we emulate Christ in how we live around others in this culture of death?
Close in Reflection and Prayer