Prepare your heart for our Sunday Morning Gathering by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together.

You will find tangible suggestions for putting scripture to action in your personal life and in our corporate body, links to the songs we will sing, and lyrics for you to prepare for our corporate singing.

Critically Think

• Read Exodus 20 and then reread Exodus 20:1-7
• Who is speaking in this passage?
• What title does God use for himself in this passage? What is significant about this title?
• What does God remind Israel of prior to giving the 10 commandments?
• What unites the first three commandments?
• What is the significance of the word “likeness” in this text. Where else does this phrase show up in a significant way in scripture?
• What does it mean to “worship” and “serve” an idol? Define each.
• What does it mean that God is a jealous God? Is this a good thing? Explain.
• How extensive is God’s justice according to verse 5? Is this literal or symbolic? Explain.
• What is the biblical definition of “lovingkindness?”
• What is the warning included in verse 7?
• What does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Read Deuteronomy 5:1-21. What is the context of this passage?
• Compare and contrast this passage with Exodus 20:1-17. List the similarities and differences.
• Why might God remind Israel of their deliverance prior to giving the 10 commandments (See Exodus 20:1-2)? Consider Deut. 5:15 also.
• Read Matthew 22:34-39. How does this section relate to Exodus 20:1-7? Which Command of Jesus in Matthew 22 relates to Exodus 20:1-7 specifically? Explain.
• What is the difference between Exodus 20:3 and 20:4? Why did God include both these two?
• What is the worship issue that has gone awry when each individual command has been broken? Explain for each of the first four commandments.

Intentionally Act

• Write a summary of each of the first four commandments in your own words. Then summarize the purpose of each.
• Identify the idols in your own heart that may be sprouting or taking root. Use these diagnostic questions to assess your heart: What do you linger on? What do you treasure? Where do you go to find comfort, peace, and security? What brings you the most joy? What do you prioritize in your budget and schedule? What are your deepest desires if you are honest?
• How have you taken the name of the Lord in vain? Repent of this.
• Meditate on Exodus 20:1-7 and Psalm 139:23-24 together. Pray and confess any sin that is exposed in your heart in light of your meditation.
• Click the links below to find the lyrics and recordings of the songs planned for our gathering this Sunday; learn the songs, study the lyrics and sing them with others.
• Pray for those leading our corporate gathering this week and for the Holy Spirit’s work as the Word of God is further explained and applied: Dawson Bryant: music; Ben Gardner: elder prayer & scripture reading; Bret Capranica: teaching.

Songs for Sunday

Morning Gathering

• All Creatures of Our God and King (sheetmusic)
• Sing (sheetmusic)
• Lord, From Sorrows Deep I Call (sheetmusic)
• How Great Thou Art (sheetmusic)

Lyrics

Lyrics Morning Gathering - August 3, 2025 by Summit Woods Baptist Church