Have you ever realized that three of the commandments concern the use of our tongues? Makes you stop and consider that this must be something of importance! Our words have incredible power – to hurt, harm or to build up! God’s desire is that the words we speak would bring love into people’s lives – not hurt. Because our words are so powerful – we must be careful, careful, careful what we say! To Know: I have to be careful what I say – everywhere I am! To Feel: Compelled to be intentional about what I say. To Do: Choose this week to be over sensitive to what I say and to whom I say it! Make my words pleasing to God at all times!

Many people think this command is easy to keep because they have never actually murdered anyone, but Jesus points out to us that in our anger, we “kill� each other every day. Every time we speak out in anger, whenever we act out in anger, when we intentionally hurt someone else – we are doing exactly what we’re told not to do. God knew anger was a problem and would always be a problem for us and so here he takes time to help us!

Contrary to popular belief, this commandment is not just for kids! While we are to honor our parents, those who are parents are called to also be worthy of honor. And this command – is the only commandment with a promise – it is the hinge between the commandments about our relationship with God and our relationships with others. Our lives hinge on how we deal with this commandment because in knowing how to honor parents – we learn how to honor others as well. Tonight will also not only talk about honoring, but will teach us HOW to honor as well. To Know: What it means to honor someone in God’s eyes To Feel: Called to figure out ways to honor our parents – and others in our lives. To Do: Choose today someone you need to honor and have a hard time honoring…then make a plan to start honoring them today!

Ron Mehl writes, “…if you consistently dishonor the Sabbath principle in your life, somewhere along the line the bills will come due. Things will begin to break down in your life…� When we think of remembering the Sabbath often what we think of is focusing on God – and while this is certainly a part of this, there is a reason that God gives us a day to REST. Tonight we will look at the whys of and importance of Sabbath and the role it plays in our life! To Know: God calls us all to a day of rest EVERY week! To Feel: Relief and excitement at the gift that God is giving To Do: Choose to honor the Sabbath…by actually changing your calendar to give yourself a day of Sabbath each week. Do the hard work!

Tonight we will look at the truth that idols are anything which takes our focus off of God. Even the things which seem or are “good� – when they usurp God’s position in our lives, they become idols. We’ll challenge people to look at their own lives and name the idols they worship and then also remind them, that God tells us he wants our focus on him – not so he can see better when we mess up and be ready to jump on us – but rather He wants our focus on Him so that we will focus on what’s best for us – in this life and for eternity. To Know: We become like that which we worship To Feel: Desire to take stock of what gods I am worshiping that aren’t God and the willingness to get rid of them To Do:Take an active look at your life and answer this question: If everyone leaves an “Image� here on earth (and we do) – what image so I want mine to be? Then take the active steps towards doing just that!

When God penned the 10 commandments he gave us more than just “rules for living�. He actually was writing a profound love letter to us. These commandments are God’s way of telling us what he thinks, what he desires for us. Just as a father wants their own children to have the benefit of their wisdom, the experiences, etc – the same is true for God with us. Over the centuries this love letter has been turned into something critical, something unattainable – over the next few weeks we want to reclaim this as what it is – a love letter from a Father to his children. To Know: God penned one of the most profound love letters in the 10 Commandments To Feel: The depth of God’s love – that he would love us so much, he’d give us this letter to guide our lives To Do: Commit to discovering and living the 10 Commandments more fully

Jesus had risen…he had appeared to his disciples many times and now it was time to get the show on the road again! After planting the vision for where Jesus wanted them to go (the ends of the earth) with His message, Jesus gives them what he has long promised – the gift of the Holy Spirit! This gift transforms their lives! This same Spirit is here for us today and if we will dare to ask it in, to invite it to empower us – it will! But watch out! When the Spirit shows up, things happen!! To Know: The Holy Spirit has a call on my life today, too! To Feel: Empowered to live in the power of the Spirit To Do: Choose to/dare to invite the Holy Spirit into your life and then follow where the Spirit takes you! Expect great things to happen!

It is still the in-between time – the active mission of Jesus is on hold and the disciples are wondering what to do now. Without faith and conviction in their mission, they revert back to what they know – fishing. But Jesus shows up and changes the day. Through a miracle of fish and a bit of breakfast, Jesus plants the seeds of a new mission for these men and for us. “Feed my sheep� becomes the mantra for the day and for a lifetime! Just as Jesus called his disciples to this that day – so too, he calls us! To Know: No matter what – Jesus wants to use you to “feed his sheep�! To Feel: Motivated to step into the place Jesus calls – even if it looks different than I thought To Do: Find ways to help renew the passion of Joy – personally and as a large community of faith!

The crucifixion of Jesus was just three days ago. These two followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus had to wonder if there was any reason for hope or joy. They walked unsure of what the future held. Suddenly, but discreetly Jesus shows up in the picture again and begins to rekindle that flame in their hearts. And with one little breaking of the bread, Jesus reveals He is alive, there is reason for hope and a new day has begun. God calls us to see Jesus in our midst as well and to pay attention to the hope He brings for a new day, a new way and hope beyond measure! To Know: Jesus still wants to be very much present in your life To Feel: There is still reason for hope To Do: Start living out the hope God has for your life and the life of this place called Joy!