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Week 9 – Exodus 20:7 (Part II)

Receive and Reflect (20 mins):

Reflect on your time since you last met. How has God been challenging you? 

Pray and thank God that He is conforming us into the image of His Son. Ask that He would speak to you.

Read (20 mins):

Read Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12 and Matthew 5:33-37

1. Share a time when you felt pressure to “swear” (by something) to add credibility to what you are saying. Why did you feel that pressure i.e. why didn’t you feel that it was sufficient to simply let your statement/promise stand alone?
   
   
   
2. Why is it important for God’s people (and really, all people) to be people whose word can be relied upon?
   
   
   
3. Sometimes we find that our statements and promises are not trusted by others because they are not backed by our character as a trustworthy person. At other times we find that our character is untested and therefore unproven. God doesn’t let us “off the hook” in either situation.
   
   
   If you are in a situation where your own actions mean that others don’t trust your word, how can you approach this in a Godly way?
   
   If you are in a situation where others don’t trust you either because you are an unknown entity or for reasons unrelated to you, how can you approach this in a Godly way?
   
   
   
4. Consider the situations in which you feel pressured to add credibility to your name. What are you trying to attain? What idols may be revealing themselves here?
   
   

Respond (20 mins):

Spend a few minutes in personal reflection. What is the Holy Spirit impressing on your heart?

Take time to share how the Holy Spirit is challenging you. How can you be accountable to each other? Consider keeping a record for the purposes of prayer and accountability.

Pray for each other.