Old Rules for a New Life
Over the next 10 weeks, Sandals Church embarks on a journey to reimagine the 10 commandments as the rules and rhythms for a new life that God invites us into as we follow His Son, Jesus Christ. These 10 rules were not the way into a new life but a sign that God’s people were delivered to live a new life. First came deliverance and freedom. Then followed the rules for living, not the other way around.
How to Enjoy Life with What You Have
The 10th and final commandment in The 10 Commandments in the book of Exodus is to not covet your neighbor's...stuff. Their life, their relationships, their possessions, etc. This commandment gets at the heart level: if you're comparing yourself to others, you're not becoming the best version of yourself you could be.
You Shall Not Lie
"Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor..." - DON'T LIE. The 9th commandment in The 10 Commandments in the book of Exodus and maybe the most problematic for people living in the modern world. We lie constantly and even reward lying via media influence, digital platforms, and pathways to success. But what if the cost of lying is more than we can bear - at a spiritual level?
You Shall Not Steal
"Thou shall not steal..." The 8th commandment in The 10 Commandments in the book of Exodus. It seems straightforward enough to follow - but what if there are levels to obeying or breaking this command that we easily miss? More than just material possessions, do you steal opportunity from others? Do you steal honor, joy, and recognition of others? If we're brave enough to face ourselves, we may see the command to not steal in a whole new light that helps us live the new life we've been called to.
You Shall Not Commit Adultery
"Thou shall not commit adultery..." The 7th commandment in the 10 commandments - and the commandment that takes you into the privacy of the bedroom. This message talks through how to heal if you've been betrayed, how to heal if you have failed personally in this area, and how the ultimate faithfulness we desire to see can be found in Jesus.
Life is Precious
"Thou shall not murder..." The 6th commandment in The 10 Commandments. It seems straightforward enough to follow, but Jesus told his listeners that there were deeper levels to this command. He even equated murder with anger and verbal responses given in anger! Our advice? Follow the 6th commandment and go deeper by examining what ways you devalue life by your words and actions.
The Effect of Honor
An old commandment that translates weirdly to our modern world is - you shall honor your father and mother. It's a command that focuses on the importance of respecting family and it bleeds out into other relationships too. In our modern digital world, the way we often interact with each other is anything but honorable - what might happen in our culture if we let the command to honor our parents affect us at a deep level?
Spiritual Rhythms Bless my Everyday Life
You are not what you do occasionally. You are what you do consistently. One of the most transformative spiritual practices you can experience is the sabbath - a regular dedicated 24-hour period of rest where you stop working and connect with God. The sabbath was introduced to the nation of Israel in the book of Exodus, and its wisdom is still profound for our world today. What if your lack of being able to rest says more about what your life is truly defined by than you want to admit?
Taking God’s Name in Vain
When you hear the word, "God" what do you think of? The chances are high that whatever comes to your mind is probably related to your experience with people, and a lot of times people fail at representing God. The 3rd commandment found in the book of Exodus, "Do not take the Lord's name in vain." - is not a command about language or things you shouldn't say. It's a command to represent God in the way you live your life. That's a much higher calling and standard than avoiding cussing. It has to do with how you live your life if you call yourself a follower of God.
Everyone Worships Something
The idea of having an idol and worshipping something has long been outdated and seen as old-fashioned. In 2023 it is easy to think that we have progressed past the need for worship and for idols, but what if you still do worship someone or something? What if there are idols in your life that you don't realize that you've built up? Join us as we continue in our sermon series Old Rules for a New Life, as Pastor Matt preaches on the second of the ten commandments; you must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image.
Only God Can Set You Free
We learn that without God, we can could lose everything that really matters, and with God, we can unlock our full potential. God is the only one that can set us free, and with God, we can rewrite the end to our story. As we reimagine the 10 commandments as the rules and rhythms for a new life that God invites us into, how are you inviting God through your surrender, to surrender your sins and your fears to God so that He can do the work He desires to do in you?
Why I need God’s rules for my life
The word "rule" often creates a negative response within us. We associate it with our freedoms and enjoyment of life being restrained or inhibited. However, God's rules were designed to guide us into living a more full life and finding true freedom.
Why We All Still Need God
You may not know His name, but he knows yours. God knows your name, sees your struggle, wants to protect you, and wants you to be the best version of yourself. As we journey to reimagine the 10 commandments as the rules and rhythms for a new life that God invites us into as we follow His Son, Jesus Christ, we explore why we still need God and his calling to a better way of life.