Podcasts about ten words

What might it look like to embrace a God-centered rest that isn't about improving your life, but about setting aside time each week to delight in the Giver of life?

Join us in our series, The Ten Words: The Ancient Path of Covenantal Love.For more information go to: www.thelighthousechurch.caGathering Time: Sundays - 10:30am

Command 4: Honor your father and mother The foundation What does it mean? What are the limitations Why obey? The doom of the Little Rascals

7 key takeaways from this study God is the ultimate Artist, and He values human creativity. The craftsmen in Exodus 31 (Bezalel, Oholiab, etc.) show that artistic gifts are God-given and meant to be used in His service, not just for personal enjoyment. The primary purpose of the tabernacle is God's presence, not sin management. All the furniture (altar, incense, menorah, table, priestly garments) supports one central truth: “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Sin offerings are secondary to the main goal—God living in the midst of His people. Whatever is at the center of your life becomes your “tabernacle” or your idol. In the camp diagram, God is meant to be in the center. The golden calf is a picture of the people evicting God from the center and inserting something else—any substitute (self, family, money, ideology, even “good” things) becomes an idol when it takes God's place. Idolatry is often made from good things misused, not evil materials. Gold, art, rainbows, human value — none are evil in themselves. Sin enters when we take something God made good and elevate it to ultimate, making it the object of our trust, identity, or worship. Mediation and mercy only matter if there is real repentance and change. Moses acts as a mediator, pleading with God not to destroy Israel. His intercession is meaningful only if the people turn from the calf and back to God. In the same way, Jesus' mediation is not a license to continue in sin, but a path back to obedience. The commandments “hang together”—break one, and you shatter the whole relationship. The visual of the 10 Commandments as hooks on a beam shows that all the laws “hang” from that covenant. When Moses breaks the tablets, it symbolizes that Israel has broken the whole covenant, not just one small rule. We are both the place where God dwells and the foundation of that dwelling. The half-shekels melted into bases for the tabernacle posts show that the people themselves form the foundation of God's dwelling. New Testament images (living stones, our bodies as a temple) carry this forward: God wants to dwell in us and among us, and our obedience, repentance, and faith make us a fit “home” for His presence. A simple but powerful observation from Exodus 31 is God Himself appoints specific people — like Bezalel and Oholiab — to craft the furnishings of the מִשְׁכָּן Mishkan (“dwelling place,” i.e., the Tabernacle; Exodus 31:1–6). Artistic skill is not a side issue; it is a spiritual calling. Human creativity reflects the nature of God as the ultimate Artist. He designs the heavens, the earth, and the intricacies of the human body (Genesis 1; Psalm 19:1–4). He is not just an Engineer or Scientist but an Artist whose work shows intention, beauty, and order. Just as artists often create out of joy and inner drive, God places in human beings a similar desire to create, design, and beautify. The תּוֹרָה Torah (“instruction”) acknowledges that artists frequently experience their work as delight rather than drudgery. A sculptor, musician, or fabric artisan often does not say, “I'm going to work,” but, “I get to create.” Yet even this holy enjoyment must submit to God's rhythms — especially שַׁבָּת Shabbat (“Sabbath”). God reminds the artists through Moses that even work “for God” has limits (Exodus 31:12–17). The same God who gifted their creativity also commands rest, because He Himself rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2–3). “So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.” Exodus 31:16 NASB95 Interestingly, later in the Torah, the Levites and priests must work on Shabbat and the mo'edim (appointed times), because their avodah (service) is part of the very structure of that sacred time (Numbers 28–29). This creates two categories: those who are required to work on Shabbat (priests, Levites in their service), and everyone else, including the gifted artisans, who must cease from melachah (מְלָאכָה, melachah, “work”). Even holy calling must bend to God's rhythm of rest. The true function of the Tabernacle It is easy to reduce the Tabernacle to its parts: altar, incense altar, מְנוֹרָה menorah, table of showbread, priestly garments, tapestries, and so on (Exodus 25–30). We often define each by its function: The altar for sacrifices The incense altar for incense, symbolizing prayer The menorah for light The table for the bread of the Presence All of this is true, but incomplete. The primary purpose of the Tabernacle is not sacrifice management, but divine presence. God states the purpose clearly: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 NASB95 This is central. The Mishkan is God's way of dwelling b'tocham (“in their midst,” Exodus 25:8), not merely near them. The furnishings are tools that serve this deeper goal. They help maintain holiness so that the Holy One can live within a sinful people without destroying them. Sin offerings and rituals are therefore secondary. They protect the relationship; they are not the relationship itself. The Tabernacle is first and foremost a place of שְׁכִינָה Shekhinah (“indwelling presence”), not simply a “sin mitigation system.” God at the center: The camp of Israel and the heart Consider the layout of Israel's camp (Numbers 2). The tribes surround the Mishkan on all sides; priests and Levites camp closest, and the Tabernacle stands at the center. This layout pictures a core truth: The people form a community. God dwells in the middle of that community. Where the tribes of Israel were to be camped around the Tabernacle, according to Numbers 2–3. (“The Tabernacle PowerPoint,” Rose Publishing Inc., 2013) This connects with the inner life of a person. Just as the tribes encircle the tabernacle, so a human being has a “center”—often symbolized by the lev (לֵב, lev, “heart”)—the seat of emotions, desires, and spiritual direction. When God dwells at the center of a person's heart, that life is ordered around His presence, not around self, money, family, ideology, or any other “good” thing. Artists, whose work often flows directly out of the heart more than out of linear logic, have a special connection here. God, the master Artist, inspires human artists so that their creativity reflects His presence in the very center of the community. The golden calf: Displacing God from the center Against this background, Exodus 32 and the golden calf become sharper and more tragic. While Moses is on the mountain receiving detailed instructions for the tabernacle, the people grow restless (Exodus 32:1). They demand visible representation. Aaron collects gold earrings and fashions the עֵגֶל הַזָּהָב egel ha-zahav (“golden calf,” Exodus 32:2–4). The golden calf is not just “idolatry” in the abstract. It is a replacement for God in the center of the community. Where God intends His mishkan to stand, Israel inserts a man-made image. The problem is not the gold itself. Gold, like all creation, is morally neutral. The issue is what the people choose to do with it. The same dynamic applies to many modern symbols — such as the rainbow (originally a sign of God's covenant faithfulness; Genesis 9:12–17) — which can be co-opted into serving messages or identities that directly conflict with God's ways. The object is not inherently evil; the meaning we attach and the place we give it in our hearts can turn it into an idol. Idolatry, then, is often made of good raw materials redirected toward wrong worship. What we place at the center Every person and every community will place something in the center. It might be: Personal pleasure Family Money National identity Human reason or “humanity” itself (a kind of religious humanism) Ideology, law, or any system of values When any of these occupy the position that belongs to God alone, they become an אֵל אַחֵר el acher (“another god”) in practice, even if they are not called “gods.” The golden calf episode portrays Israel pushing God outside the circle of the camp. He is now “out there” with Moses on the mountain, while placing the calf in the middle. This visual powerfully illustrates what happens whenever a person or society marginalizes God and enthrones something else. Breaking the covenant: The tablets and what the Law ‘hangs’ on When Moses descends the mountain, sees the calf and the revelry, he throws down the two tablets, shattering them (Exodus 32:19). The study presents a striking image to explain this: think of the עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים Aseret haDevarim, (“Ten Words,” Ten Commandments) not primarily as a foundation but as a beam from which everything hangs. Yeshua (Jesus) later echoes this when He says: “On these two commandments depend (‘hang') the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40 NASB95 The idea is that all the detailed מִצְווֹת mitzvot (“commandments”) in the Torah hang from core categories like “You shall have no other gods before Me,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” etc. (Exodus 20:1–17). If the beam breaks, all that hangs on it crashes. So when Israel breaks even one of the foundational commands — such as the prohibition of idolatry (Exodus 20:3–5) — they effectively shatter the entire covenantal structure. Moses' smashing of the tablets is not a mere emotional outburst; it is a visual declaration: “The covenant you agreed to has been broken.” (Exodus 24:3, 7; 32:19) This explains why later New Testament writings can say that one who stumbles in one point is “guilty of all” (James 2:10). The covenant stands or falls as a whole. Mercy, logic and the role of the Mediator At this point, God declares to Moses that He will destroy the people and make a new nation from Moses instead (Exodus 32:9–10; Deuteronomy 9:13–14). From a purely legal, logical standpoint, this is completely justified. The people agreed repeatedly, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” (Exodus 24:3, 7). They then immediately and flagrantly break the covenant. But Torah is not only about cold logic. The study contrasts a purely logical application of judgment with God's heart of חֶסֶד chesed (“mercy, covenantal lovingkindness”) and סְלִיחָה selichah (“forgiveness”). Moses steps into the role of mediator — μεσίτης mesitēs (“mediator”) in Greek New Testament language (1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15). He intercedes, appealing to God's reputation among the nations and to His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 32:11–13; Deuteronomy 9:18–20). Moses recalls: “I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger.” Deuteronomy 9:18 NASB95 Moses even intercedes specifically for Aaron (Deuteronomy 9:20), who bears heavy responsibility for crafting the calf. Here, mercy steps beyond simple cause-and-effect. Justice says, “They deserve destruction.” Mercy says, “Give them space to repent.” This is not illogical so much as supra-logical — rooted in God's character. Concepts like mercy and forgiveness do not “fit” in a rigid legal framework, yet they are central to who God is (Exodus 34:6–7). Repentance and the limits of human mediation The study stresses that mediation only has value if the people actually change. If Moses rebuked Israel for the golden calf, and they simply replaced it with a silver calf or an emerald calf, nothing substantial would have changed. They would still be idolaters, only with different décor. Similarly, the New Testament presents Yeshua as our advocate — παράκλητος paraklētos (“advocate, helper”) — and propitiation —ἱλασμός hilasmos (“atoning sacrifice”) — for sins (1John 2:1–2). Apostle Yokhanan writes: And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 1John 2:1–2, NASB95 But Yokhanan immediately ties this to obedience: By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1John 2:3, NASB95 If someone claims to know God but willfully refuses to keep His commandments, John calls that person a liar (1John 2:4). This aligns with the golden calf narrative: a mediator's work is not a free pass to persist in rebellion. It is a bridge back to covenant faithfulness. Yeshua's role continues and heightens what Moses models. Moses stands between God and Israel on Sinai; Yeshua stands at the right hand of the Father, interceding for those who turn back (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). But in both cases, intercession assumes תְּשׁוּבָה teshuvah (“repentance, return”). There must be a real turning from idols back to God. The people as the foundation of God's dwelling The half-shekel census (Exodus 30:11–16; 38:25–28). Each Israelite of military age contributes a half-shekel of silver as “ransom for his life.” That silver is later melted down and cast into the sockets (bases) for the Tabernacle's frames. This imagery is rich: Each person is “counted” through a small piece of silver. Those individual pieces are refined and formed into the structural base of God's dwelling. The people themselves thus become the foundation of the Mishkan in a very literal way. This resonates strongly with later imagery such as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house (1Peter 2:5) and the community as a “temple of God” (1Corinthians 3:16–17). The study notes that when a community chooses a “golden calf” instead of God, it is not only rejecting God; it is, in a sense, erasing itself from its proper role as His dwelling's foundation. Yet God can still “pluck out” individuals who remain faithful even in a failing community — as seen in the lives of Daniel and others in exile (Jeremiah 24; Daniel 1). A nation may displace God from its center, but individuals can still enthrone Him in their own hearts. Shabbat, artists and the heart of Torah Whether one is an artist, a leader, or an ordinary member of the community, calling and gifting do not cancel God's commands. The very God who inspires art also commands a rhythm of rest (six days of work and then the Shabbat) and a structure of worship. The Torah is not just “rules”; it is God's wisdom for ordering life so that He can dwell among His people without consuming them. Yet, without chesed and selichah — without mercy and forgiveness — the Torah would become a crushing weight, since all inevitably fail at some point. The golden calf story, Moses' mediation, and the later New Testament teaching about Messiah Yeshua as mediator and atoning sacrifice together show that God's goal is not destruction but restoration. When a person or community repents — removing the idol, whatever form it takes, and re-enthroning God at the center — the Holy One is willing to treat the past as if it were a footnote rather than a defining reality (Ezekiel 18:21–23). The Mishkan's ultimate purpose is fulfilled: God dwells in and among His people. Each of us must examine what truly sits at the center of the camp of our lives. Is it God Himself, or a golden calf made of something good but misplaced? Through Torah, through the example of Moses, and through the greater mediation of Messiah Yeshua, God invites His people to become once again a living Tabernacle for His presence. The post Golden calf vs. living God: Choosing who dwells in your heart (Exodus 31-32; Deuteronomy 9; 1John 2) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

What does it really mean to be a Christian? We hear conflicting answers to this question in our culture—and sometimes in our churches! On Equipped, Pastor J.D. Greear joins Chris Brooks to explain the essential aspects of the Christian message and how the Gospel addresses the most pertinent questions of believers and non-believers alike. Featured resource:Essential Christianity: The Heart of the Gospel in Ten Words by J.D. Greear February thank you gift:D.L. Moody: God's Bold Messenger by Faith Coxe Bailey Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here. To become 1 in 100 who supports at $1,000, click here.  

What does God's word about adultery reveal about the importance of sexual faithfulness for a follower of Jesus?

Join us in our series, The Ten Words: The Ancient Path of Covenantal Love.For more information go to: www.thelighthousechurch.caGathering Time: Sundays - 10:30am

Join us in our series, The Ten Words: The Ancient Path of Covenantal Love.For more information go to: www.thelighthousechurch.caGathering Time: Sundays - 10:30am

Entering God’s rest

Recorded: 2/8/26. Rick Scheuermann.

What does it mean to honor family amid the diversity of experiences and complexities that shape our upbringings?

Worship with the right attitude

Join us in our series The Ten Words: The Ancient Path of Covenantal Love.For more information go to: www.thelighthousechurch.caGathering Time: Sundays - 10:30am

Join us in our series The Ten Words: The Ancient Path of Covenantal Love.For more information go to: www.thelighthousechurch.caGathering Time: Sundays - 10:30am

Life belongs to God, and the sixth commandment forbids taking what belongs to God alone. God's commands are good for us because they show us how to follow Jesus. Jesus gives us the power to be doers of the word, and not only hearers.

Consider the scene upon that Galilean hillside, dear reader. There ascends a Man—not with tablets of stone borne heavily in His hands, as once did Moses upon Sinai amid thunder and smoke—but with words that burn more fiercely than any fire, words destined to be written not upon rock but upon the living tablets of human hearts.In the old story, Moses climbed the mountain alone, veiled in cloud and terror, to receive the Law that would set a people apart. The Ten Words thundered forth, carving boundaries around conduct, marking what was holy from what was profane. They were good, those commandments; they were the very breath of God restraining the chaos of fallen man. Yet they stood external, like a fence around a garden we could not enter without stumbling.Now behold a greater ascent. Jesus of Nazareth goes up into the mountain, and the crowds follow, not in fear, but drawn by a strange authority that mingles majesty with meekness. He sits (as teachers do), yet speaks as One who needs no intermediary. Where Moses mediated between God and man, this Man is the mediation. Where Moses brought down stone inscribed by the finger of God, this Man brings down Himself – the living Word, the very finger of God made flesh.He does not abolish the ancient Law; no, He fulfills it to its utmost depth. “You have heard that it was said... but I say to you.” With each repetition, the old commandment is not merely repeated but plunged into the hidden springs of the soul. Murder becomes anger unchecked; adultery becomes lust entertained; oaths become the simple honesty of “yes” and “no.” The Law, once a boundary line drawn upon the ground, is now revealed as a mountain peak we are called to scale but this, it's not by our own strength, but by the power of the One who has already reached the summit and beckons us upward.And yet, who among us can hear these words without a secret shrinking? The Beatitudes pronounce blessing upon poverty of spirit, upon mourning, upon meekness; these qualities we possess only in fragments, if at all. The command to love enemies, to turn the other cheek, to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect strikes like a sledgehammer upon our self-sufficiency. We are not flattered; we are exposed. The mountain does not flatter the climber; it humbles him.So let no one suppose the Sermon on the Mount is a counsel of despair. It is, rather, the map of joy. It is the narrow path that leads to life. In Christ, the old commandments find their fulfillment, and the new commandment of love becomes not a burden but a liberation. Ascend, then, with Him; listen to His voice upon the mountain; and find that the Lawgiver has become the Law fulfilled, the Teacher the Truth incarnate, the Moses greater than Moses, leading us home. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

Bishop Tony Percy says think nutshell and kernel. Moses receives the Ten Words. Jesus gives the Eight Beatitudes. The Eight Beatitudes are the inner core of the Ten Commandments. Moses received, but Jesus gives

What does it look like to love God by learning, guarding, and carrying His name wherever you go?

Command 1: no images Don’t make them Don’t serve them The reason The consequence

Joshua BoydCore Truth: The key to a blessed life is obedience. The key to obedience is the tongue.This message ties together the Law, faith, and daily Christian living—showing how words shape obedience and outcomes.God's Word Was Meant to Be SpokenScripture (Old & New Testament) remains fully relevant—God does not change.Jesus fulfilled the Law; He did not eliminate it.The Ten Commandments are called the “Ten Words”—spoken directly by God.God gave His Word in written form so it could be remembered, repeated, and obeyed.Obedience Brings Blessing“Obey” appears 321 times in the Old Testament; 75 times in Deuteronomy.Moses repeatedly emphasized obedience because it leads to life and blessing.Obedience is fueled by keeping God's Word in our mouth and heart.Example: Nehemiah—God's Word was spoken into his heart, producing faith and action.The Word Is Near YouDeuteronomy 30:11–15God's command is not distant or unreachable.It is on your lips and in your heart—so that you can obey it.Obedience is a daily choice between:Life or deathBlessing or disasterWe love the promises—but the path to them is obedience.Righteousness vs. BlessingWe are made righteous by faith in Jesus, not by obedience.But blessing still flows through obedience.Christianity is different: Jesus did the work we couldn't do.Yet our daily choices still matter—and words guide those choices.Faith Is SpokenRomans 10Faith “says” something—and also knows what not to say.Salvation itself comes through:Believing in the heartDeclaring with the mouth that Jesus is LordFaith stays alive through spoken Word.The Shield of FaithThe enemy attacks first with thoughts.Thoughts become words; words shape belief and direction.The shield of faith stops fear-filled thoughts before they reach the mouth.Speaking God's Word aloud protects the heart and redirects life.Speaking the Word Builds FaithFaith is visible—and audible.You can hear whether someone is in faith by what they say.Feeding fear (news, projections, worst-case scenarios) weakens faith.Speaking Scripture strengthens faith and brings peace.Speaking in the SpiritNew Testament gifts include speaking, prophecy, and tongues.Tongues:Build up the believerSpeak mysteries directly to GodBypass the mind and align with God's willRomans 8:26 — The Spirit helps us pray when we don't know how.Paul prayed in tongues often—and it fueled revelation and strength.Words Determine DirectionWords either advance God's will or the enemy's.Faith-filled speech produces life; fear-filled speech produces bondage.Change doesn't start by “trying harder”—it starts by changing words.God Listens to Faith TalkMalachi 3:16–18Those who feared the Lord spoke often to one another.God listened and recorded their words in a book of remembrance.The difference between righteous and wicked is revealed by speech.Final TakeawayThe key to a blessed life is obedience. The key to obedience is the tongue.When we honor God's Word by keeping it in our hearts and on our lips, obedience follows—and blessing flows.

What does it mean to no longer expect anything above, under, or beside us to provide what only God can truly give?

Command One: no other Gods

We often assume the Ten Commandments are an irrelevant or boring list of rules, but in this series, The Ten Words, we explore how they are relational directions that reveal God's very nature and the life we so desperately crave as those made in God's image.

Erik kicks off our next sermon series, Enduring Words, Abiding Love, with a sermon from Exodus 20:1-17. (January 4, 2026)

7 takeaways from this study The Sabbath is more than rest from fatigue. It is a celebration of spiritual fullness and a reminder of God's creation, designed to rejuvenate both body and soul. True rest and renewal come from honoring God's design for our lives, not from modern “machines of rest” or stimulants like caffeine. Spiritual growth and application require discernment. Avoiding logical fallacies helps us receive truth regardless of the messenger. Delegation and wise leadership, as exemplified by Moses and Yitro (Jethro), are essential for healthy, sustainable community and ministry. We are not meant to walk alone. Community, mutual support, and accountability are central to living out faith effectively. The Ten Commandments are not just rules but a framework for a just, loving, and purposeful life that honors God and others. Trust in God is the foundation for moving from bondage (of any kind) to blessing. Faith, confession and perseverance shape the journey of spiritual transformation. One man's life was, by any worldly standard, a roaring success. He led three companies, was responsible for 300 employees, was raising tens of millions of dollars annually, and made lengthy public appearances daily. Outwardly, it looked like everything he touched prospered. Yet on the inside, the pace was unsustainable. He found himself fatigued, drained, and spiritually confused, constantly struggling to “keep it all together.” With exhaustion mounting, he reached out to a trusted business adviser who happened also to be a pastor. In a vulnerable moment, he confessed: “I'm hitting a wall. I have more obligations than I have time. I'm drinking eight cups of coffee a day just to stay afloat.” His adviser listened, then posed a direct question: “Are you honoring the Sabbath?” This simple question ignited a journey. The man was struck, almost blindsided, by it — a gentle but firm reminder that perhaps running on caffeine wasn't a sustainable answer. He would later reflect: “Caffeine is not a performance enhancer, it's a loan shark. It robs from tomorrow to pay for today.” What caffeine does is it basically turns off your noticing that you're tired, not actually giving you more energy. That's what adrenaline would do. Caffeine just masks your fatigue. The pastor's question pressed: What if the tiredness, the restlessness, wasn't just physical? What if it was spiritual, too? The man began to explore what the Sabbath actually means, both in Scripture and practice. Delving into the Torah, he found its first appearance in Genesis 2: “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (וַיִּשְׁבֹּת vayishbot) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work.” Genesis 2:2-3 NASB95 He was struck that this rest didn't come from exhaustion, but from fullness. As he later wrote: “This rest is not due to fatigue, but to fullness. It is not the withdrawal of power, but the crowning of meaning. It is the divine punctuation mark at the end of the most magnificent sentence ever spoken: creation. The world is not merely functional, but good—and that goodness is worthy of joy.” He went on to dig deeper, not only scripturally, but practically. Searching for the roots of Sabbath observance, he looked to Jewish tradition, practices like unplugging from all communications, setting aside technology, and turning yourself off from the world beaming itself into you, starting at sundown on Friday. The more he explored, the more passionate he became. He wrote: “The more I started to appreciate the Sabbath, the more I realized the great need to share its wondrous beauty with the world. If the Sabbath can change my life, it can change everyone's life.” He found it ironic that even though “today's world offers so many gadgets promoting rest — memory foam mattresses, sleep apps, white noise machines — never have we, as a society, been more exhausted. We are surrounded by the machinery of rest, but we've lost the theology behind it. Sabbath is the answer.” Opportunity for conversation You've likely heard this man’s name.1Sources for the preceding account, including book quotations: “Charlie Kirk's final book points at a truth we've forgotten,” Deseret News, Dec 12, 2025, accessed Dec. 13, 2025. “‘Stop in the Name of God’: Charlie Kirk’s Final Book Honors ‘Transforming’ Sabbath,” Paul Petite, CBN.com, Dec. 11, 2025, accessed Dec. 13, 2025. He’s Charlie Kirk, whose book Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life was released this week (Dec. 9, 2025) and has reignited a powerful conversation about the Sabbath in the Christian world. As we see the coinciding of Kirk’s book release with our reading this week of Exodus 18–20, within it the Sabbath commandment, there's a lesson waiting for all of us. Whether we are building companies, leading families, or seeking holiness: true rest comes from aligning with God's order, not man's endless striving. Keep an open mind When evaluating any teaching — especially on controversial topics like the Sabbath or from polarizing figures such as Charlie Kirk — it's important to watch out for logical fallacies that can cloud good judgment. The “shoot the messenger” fallacy happens when we dismiss truth — and attack the method of delivery — simply because we dislike the message. Similarly, the ad hominem fallacy attacks a person's character rather than considering the argument. The genetic fallacy rejects ideas based on their source, not their merit. Instead, focus on the message itself, weighing it against Scripture, regardless of our feelings about the teacher. A sign and a testimony The Sabbath — שַׁבָּת Shabbat — was never intended as mere ritual or recovery from fatigue. It is, as Charlie described, “the crowning of meaning.” Embedded in the book of בְּרֵאשִׁית Beresheet (Genesis) and reiterated in Exodus 20:8–11 (“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”; Deuteronomy 5:12–15), the Sabbath is sanctified, set apart (קָדוֹשׁ kadosh). It is an invitation — more, a command (מִצְוָה mitzvah) — to cease (שָׁבַת shavat), be full and delight in God's creation. Shabbat is both a sign (אוֹת ot, Exodus 31:12–17) and a testimony (עֵדוּת edut) to Who our God is: a Creator who brings order from chaos, who invites us into His rest (וַיָּנַח vayanach, “and He rested,” Exodus 20:11). But Sabbath is also a battleground. For centuries, debates swirled: Is Sabbath only for the Jews? Has the resurrection transferred rest from Saturday to Sunday? Charlie is not the first to ask; in fact, Samuel Bacchiocchi's seminal 1977 dissertation-book “From Sabbath to Sunday” details this historical shift and its profound theological consequences. Yet, as followers of Messiah, we look to His example. Yeshua kept Shabbat (Luke 4:16). He reminded us: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 NASB95 (see last Shabbat’s study: “Sacred cycles: Embracing God's rhythms of rest and labor“) Reclaiming Sabbath has meant returning to the root and fullness of what God invites us into — a taste of the world to come (עוֹלָם הַבָּא olam haba). Leadership and burden Charlie's story of being overwhelmed echoes that of Moses' experience. In Exodus 18, יִתְרוֹ Yitro (Jethro) wisely advises Moses to share responsibility: “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” Exodus 18:18 NASB95 The solution? Delegation. Equity in leadership. Bringing others into the work, each according to gifting and ability. The instructions for training leadership in the ways of Heaven is linguistically linked to the giving of the Ten Commandments. In Hebrew, the narrative is woven together with the וַ vav consecutive, indicating God's actions unfolding in beautiful, purposeful sequence — a pattern of rest, structure, and relationship. In honoring Sabbath, we are reminded not just to rest, but to participate in and build wise, healthy community. Priesthood of all believers As the Torah moves into Exodus 19–20, Israel is called to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ mamlekhet kohanim v'goy kadosh). Our role is not merely to obey but to draw near — to help others approach (הִקְרִיב hikriv) — the Holy One. In the Messiah, this calling is heightened: You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. 1Peter 2:5 NASB95 Our observance of the Sabbath is a living testimony — an act of separation (קָדוֹשׁ kadosh) that draws others to ask about the hope and peace we carry. Fear and love “The fear of the LORD” (יִרְאַת יְהוָה yirat Adonai). This fear/awe (יָרֵא yare) is not paralyzing terror but reverent awareness. God sees — רָאָה ra'ah — beyond outward performance to our hearts. As Yeshua (Jesus) taught: “the greatest commandment is: ‘Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one; and you shall love (אָהַב ahav) the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might'” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NASB95 Sabbath becomes a sanctuary for our returning, repenting and receiving God's love anew. The Ten Words: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת Aseret HaDibrot The Ten Commandments are not rules alone, but a framework for relationship. The first — “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” — is a declaration of deliverance, echoed every Shabbat. “You shall have no other gods before Me” is about allegiance. “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) reminds us that life is sacred, for humanity is made בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים b'tzelem Elohim (“in the image of God,” Genesis 1:27). The commandments build a community of justice, kindness, and holiness — the very heart of Torah and the teaching of Messiah. Community, confession and healing It can be easy, in our brokenness, to withdraw. Many wonder, as did participants in our study, “Could God truly want me, after all I've done?” Yet the answer of the Sabbath is always “yes.” We are called not to isolation but to community, to confess our failings (“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed,” James 5:16 NASB95), and to strengthen each other in faith. Sabbath gatherings are a time for restoration and encouragement — space for honest hearts and uplifted hands. Testing and trust: Wisdom for the walk In a world of many voices, the call to “test the spirits” (1John 4:1) is urgent. We must return to the Scriptures — TaNaKh and Apostolic Writings — measuring every teaching by the Word. As the Bereans modeled (Acts 17:11), search, question, discern. As we trust (אֵמוּנָה emunah) and obey, we encounter joy and peace beyond what striving ever brought. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NASB95 An invitation to Sabbath Charlie Kirk's journey is not unique. His discovery is ancient and ever new: Sabbath is a divine gift — a rhythm of rest, joy, holiness, and communal healing. As we recapture what has been so often lost, we open ourselves to transformation, not just personally, but as communities and nations — a light to the world. So let's remember the Sabbath — זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת zakhor et-yom haShabbat —and keep it holy. In Messiah, every week is a new invitation to rest, rejoice, and be restored. Shabbat shalom (Sabbath peace). 1 Sources for the preceding account, including book quotations: “Charlie Kirk's final book points at a truth we've forgotten,” Deseret News, Dec 12, 2025, accessed Dec. 13, 2025. “‘Stop in the Name of God’: Charlie Kirk’s Final Book Honors ‘Transforming’ Sabbath,” Paul Petite, CBN.com, Dec. 11, 2025, accessed Dec. 13, 2025.

Suddenly, my life-long perception of ten black-and-white “commands” is laid bare for the hollow and meager interpretive shell it has always been. A chapter-a-day podcast from Deuteronomy 5. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

What if the Ten Commandments weren’t meant to restrict you, but to set you free? In this message from our Fire & Cloud series, Pastors Aaron and Dick Foth unpack Exodus 20 and reveal how the “Ten Words” show God’s heart for His people. From the mountain of Sinai to the teachings of Jesus, we see that God’s law was never about earning His love; it was a response to already being rescued. Obedience flows from grace, not to it. Together, we look at how these words shape our culture, guide our relationships, and draw us closer to God. The Ten Words are not a list of limitations but an invitation into a life of freedom, rhythm, and love, fulfilled perfectly in Jesus. Watch as we explore what it means to love God fully, love others well, and live in the freedom of His design.

Series: N/AService: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: John Kilgore

How do you share your faith without feeling weird or “pushy”? They say the best way to understand something is to try to explain it to someone else. But trying to explain the Gospel in ten words or less kinda feels like trying to fit a gallon of ice cream in an dixie cup. It can be so complex, but it can also be so, so simple. Today, Alli Patterson gives us some tools to not only understand the Gospel, but how to share it with our friends in a way that feels like Good News (and not weird or pushy). Recorded live at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Ohio

Ben Crelin

Ben Crelin 

The worshipping church is an Ark…a place that offers refuge to sojourners “in this wicked world as in a deluge.”Friday • 9/19/2025 •

Exodus 20:1-17

Moses pleads to enter the land, but God tells him no. Instead, Moses reminds Israel of the covenant, the Ten Words, and the Shema. This portion calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. Obedience is not just about rules—it's about relationship. Va'etchanan teaches us to remember who God is, what He's done, and to pass that truth to the next generation.Va'etchananDeuteronomy 3:23-7:11Hear, O IsraelStay ConnectedLinktree: https://linktr.ee/jacobstentWebsite: https://jacobstent.org/Facebook: @jacobstentfellowship Instagram: @jacobstent Download Our App: https://jacobstent.org/appGiving: https://jacobstent.org/giveEmail Signup: http://eepurl.com/g-YpcDJoin us for our Shabbat service with Bill Cloud and the Jacob's Tent Family!If you are enjoying this live stream, PLEASE consider sending in an offering, tithe, or donation to help us continue spread the gospel free from Jacob's Tent. We work hard to make sure this is an enjoyable experience to our online community, but it doesn't come without a price.Give online via the Jacobs Tent app, our website, or text any amount to 84321 to support this ministry. Yahweh bless you and keep you! Shalom.

LifeBlood: We talked about the first principles of spirituality, the power of attention and acceptance, the root cause of suffering and discomfort, the superpower of personal agency and decision making, and why nobody likes to be told what to do, with Lauryn Axelrod, Interfaith Minister and author.  Listen to learn why if you don't weed your garden, you're not going to eat! You can learn more about Lauryn at LaurynAxelrod.com, and Instagram.  Get your copy of Ten Words here: https://amzn.to/4jxlIr3  Thanks, as always for listening! If you got some value and enjoyed the show, please leave us a review here: ​​https://ratethispodcast.com/lifebloodpodcast You can learn more about us at LifeBlood.Live, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook or you'd like to be a guest on the show, contact us at contact@LifeBlood.Live.  Stay up to date by getting our monthly updates. Want to say “Thanks!” You can buy us a cup of coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeblood Copyright LifeBlood 2025.

Brad's sermon preached at First Presbyterian Church in Eden, NC, on Exodus 20:15-21.

Brad's sermon preached at First Presbyterian Church in Eden, NC, on Exodus 20:1-2-14.

Brad's sermon preached at First Presbyterian Church in Eden, NC, on Exodus 20:1-11.

In this episode, the community got to connect live with Interfaith spiritual teacher Lauryn Axelrod, and author of the book Ten Words.In her book Ten Words, Interfaith/Interspiritual leader and teacher Lauryn Axelrod offers a practical path forward. Based on a contemporary, but timeless set of ten simple words distilled from the common principles of the world's great faith and wisdom traditions supported by modern science and psychology, Ten Words provides an integrated, interspiritual guide we can use everyday to become happier, healthier, more fulfilled people in a kinder world that supports all.This is an inspiring episode about finding faith.You can buy Lauryn's book here. Support the showRead Alex's Writing at the Intersection of the Bhavagad Gita, Patanjali's Sutras, The Buddha Dharma and Mental Health at:https://www.soberyogagirl.comCheck Out All Our Upcoming Retreats, Programs and Offerings at:https://www.themindfullifepractice.com/

What if the deepest spiritual truths could be distilled into just ten words? In this episode, we sit down with Lauryn Axelrod — interfaith minister, spiritual director, and author of Ten Words: An Interspiritual Guide to Becoming Better People in a Better World. Lauryn brings her no-nonsense wisdom and grounded insight into what it means to live a spiritually centered life today.We dive into her interspiritual path, the role of radical compassion in a chaotic world, and how ancient truths can still guide us — no matter your tradition (or none at all). From hospice care to handmade ceramics, Lauryn's journey is a soulful tapestry of art, service, and sacred presence. This conversation will leave you grounded, inspired, and reconnected to what really matters.Lauryn Axelrod is an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual minister, chaplain, spiritual director, and teacher. A graduate of One Spirit Interfaith/Interspiritual Seminary, she is the founding Spiritual Director of Three Mountains Interspiritual Community and author of Ten Words: An Interspiritual Guide to Becoming Better People in a Better World. She also pens the popular Substack newsletter, Radical Spirituality: Getting to the Root of What Matters, and leads transformative retreats and workshops online and in-person. Lauryn is known for her deeply grounded, no-nonsense style and her ability to translate ancient spiritual truths into practical wisdom for modern life. She's also a hospice chaplain, End-of-Life Doula, award-winning ceramic artist, and New Monastic — blending contemplative living with active service. She lives on a serene farm in Vermont where she grows organic vegetables, cares for a maple forest, serves tea with intention, and finds peace in the quiet rhythm of nature.https://www.laurynaxelrod.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.

https://christoverall.com/article/longform/ten-words-about-words-getting-a-grip-on-godly-speech/

Timestamps00:32 – Intro02:30 – Dr. Schrock's Longform in a PDF05:05 – Where Did Dr. Schrock Get the Idea for Using the Finger/Hand Imagery?06:20 – Dr. Wellum's First Impressions08:14 – What was Dr. Schrock Trying to Accomplish with the Article?11:30 – Speaking With a Full Range of Words13:07 – The Thumb: Wisdom from God & Prayer to God18:15 – The Pointer Finger: Pointing to the Truth and Defending the Faith23:45 – The Middle Finger: Righteous Anger and Serrated Speech27:05 – Expressing Righteous Anger38:48 – Using Humor40:31 – The Ring Finger: Speaking Simply and Making Promises43:44 – Consumption of Public Figures Affects the Way We Speak51:39 – The Pinky: Delicate Compassion and Vulnerable Confession57:50 – OutroResources to Click“Ten Words about Words: Getting a Grip on Godly Speech” – David SchrockWanted | New Saint Andrew College TrailerThe Scandal of the Middle Finger Ad – Douglas Wilson & FriendsBack to the Future III | “The Entire Plan | Model Train Scene“The Grasping Hand” – American Museum of Natural History“The Tree of Knowledge and the Law of Yahweh” – David Clines“The Two Voices Every Preacher Needs” – Josh DawsSeven Good Words: The Sayings of Jesus from the Cross (Sermon Series) – David Schrock“Why Johnny Cash Still Matters” – Russell Moore60 Benjamin R. Merkle, Stephen Wellum, David Schrock • Interview • “Big Ed, too Big to Fail”Matthew Millsap X PostJoe Rigney X Post“Encore: A New Testament Scholar Explains What Should Be the Two Key Voting Concerns for Christians” – Robert A.J. Gagnon“Encore: Evangelicalism in 2020 and Beyond” – Mark Devine“How Shall We Then Mock? Ten Principles for Wielding the Sword of Holy Satire” – Clinton ManleyBad Words, Mockery and Sarcasm (FLF 2022) – Doug Wilson“Speech Act Theory, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit” – Gregg AllisonTheme of the Month: Wise Words: Simple, Salty, & SacredGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadWordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life – Douglas WilsonPreaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism – Timothy KellerThe Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1-24 (NICOT) – Daniel I. BlockThe Household and the War for the Cosmos – C.R. WileyA Serrated Edge: A Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking – Douglas Wilson

Resources to Click· “Ten Words about Words: Getting a Grip on Godly Speech” – David Schrock· Wanted | New Saint Andrew College Trailer· The Scandal of the Middle Finger Ad – Douglas Wilson & Friends· Back to the Future III | “The Entire Plan | Model Train Scene· “The Grasping Hand” – American Museum of Natural History· “The Tree of Knowledge and the Law of Yahweh” – David Clines· “The Two Voices Every Preacher Needs” – Josh Daws· Seven Good Words: The Sayings of Jesus from the Cross (Sermon Series) – David Schrock· “Why Johnny Cash Still Matters” – Russell Moore· 3.60 Benjamin R. Merkle, Stephen Wellum, David Schrock • Interview • “Big Ed, too Big to Fail”· Matthew Millsap X Post· Joe Rigney X Post· “Encore: A New Testament Scholar Explains What Should Be the Two Key Voting Concerns for Christians” – Robert A.J. Gagnon· “Encore: Evangelicalism in 2020 and Beyond” – Mark Devine· “How Shall We Then Mock? Ten Principles for Wielding the Sword of Holy Satire” – Clinton Manley· Bad Words, Mockery and Sarcasm (FLF 2022) – Doug Wilson· “Speech Act Theory, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit” – Gregg Allison· Theme of the Month: Wise Words: Simple, Salty, & Sacred· Give to Support the Work Books to Read· Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life – Douglas Wilson· Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism – Timothy Keller· The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1-24 (NICOT) – Daniel I. Block· The Household and the War for the Cosmos – C.R. Wiley· A Serrated Edge: A Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking – Douglas Wilson

This new series, Jesus and the ten commandments, is a conversation on how Jesus embodies – and helps us to embody – the kind of life we are built for, and the kind of life framed by the Ten Words. Bill starts with a re-framing of the Ten Words – which we mistakenly call Commandments – as more about relationship and reality than about rules and restrictions. When the Ten Words are reduced to rules restricting what we think of as our freedom, we will try and find ways to do end-runs around them – and discover that they were actually protections put in place to enable human thriving the way God intended. Because Jesus is fully aware of this, He invites us to learn our lives from Him – to follow in His way. As we do so, allowing Him to shape us by alignment with Him, we discover that we live in the center of the Ten Words naturally and without thinking about it. They have become part of what it means for us to be human. By Bill Dogterom

Exodus 20 and Deut 5 list the “Ten Words,” or the “Ten Commandments.” Did Jesus obey these? Did Jesus have to obey them? 

How can we serve God? The Catechism identifies ways in which we can keep the first commandment through adoration, prayer, sacrifice, and promises and vows. Fr. Mike relates these to us and identifies how we can truly worship and serve the Lord throughout our daily lives. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2095-2103. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Taking a look at the first commandment, we see how we are called to love and worship God above all else. The Catechism also lists the ways in which we may potentially fall into sins against faith, hope, and charity. Fr. Mike elaborates on these violations and reminds us that while it may seem overwhelming, God loved us first, and we must trust in him. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2083-2094. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

God reveals himself and his glory through the Ten Commandments. We begin exploring the Ten Commandments as shown in the Catechism and learn about how these laws are not meant to limit us, but set us free from the slavery of sin. Fr. Mike reminds us that the Commandments are truly a gift from God and reflects his love for us. Today's readings are the Ten Commandments and Catechism paragraphs 2052-2063. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.