A Just Community

Exodus 20:22–23:33

A Just Community

Scofield Foster Staff Photo (Updated)

Scofield Foster

Downtown Campus Pastor

In these chapters, God applies the ten commandments to the Israelites’ everyday lives, establishing guiding principles for them to live by in order to be a set apart nation that represents both his love and justice to the world. Today, God calls his people, the Church, to be that holy community.

Application

  1. Does reading through these holy standards for God’s people feel invasive or restraining to you? If so, what does that reveal about your relationship with God?

  2. In what ways are you following the Spirit-led calling of Acts 2 to worship God in awe, serve the family of God sacrificially, and create pathways for others into God’s Kingdom?

Key Points

  • When God’s people do the right thing, it is because they belong to him.

  • The Bible was written for us, but not to us, so we should be careful to consider its original context rather than interpreting it through our own cultural lens.

  • God calls us to remove all other gods from our lives—anything we look to instead of him for hope, security, or provision.

  • Stealing is a direct assault against the God of manna—the One who provides for our daily needs. The root of theft is envy, which reveals we doubt God’s provision.

  • We must deal ruthlessly with sin by acknowledging its destructive, pervasive, and infectious nature and putting it to death when we recognize it.

  • Anything we hold back from God holds us back from experiencing delight in our relationship with him.

Other Scripture References

Matthew 6:21

Micah 6:8

Acts 2:42–47
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