Confirmation 24 & 25 done

My Life With My NeighborThe Seventh and Eighth

Commandments

24

INTRODUCTIONHow many of you get an allowance or

have a job like babysitting or lawn mowing? What sort of things do you spend

your money on? It’s nice to have some money to spend on some things that are

your very own. That’s one of the things we want to talk about today. We want to

answer the question: What does God teach us about his gift of possessions?

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not take our neighbors money or property, or get it by dishonest dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and means of income.

STUDYING GOD’S WORD

Where do our possessions come from?

James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like

shifting shadows.

Ecclesiastes 5:19Moreover, when God gives any man

wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and

be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.

Job was blessed by God. Ten children, 11,000 sheep, camels, oxen and

donkeys. (In those days wealth was measured by animals in the pen and not money in the bank. He also had many

servants. In one day it was all taken away. What was Job’s response? “The

Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” He

knew everything he had was a gift from God.

OUR POSSESSION ARE A GIFT FROM OUR GRACIOUS GOD.

GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE

Agree or disagree and why? The clothing in your closet is yours.


How does God give these gifts to me?

Deuteronomy 8:17,1817 You may say to yourself, “My

power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God,

for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his

covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

God gives ability to work. Some people complain about work. But

just talk to someone who can’t work—a blind person or a person in a

wheelchair. The ability to work is a wonderful blessing.

Genesis 24:52,5352 When Abraham’s servant heard

what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53 Then the

servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and

gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her

mother.

Gifts from friends and relatives. We have lots of opportunities to give and

receive gifts, like Christmas or birthdays. Can you think of some other times when we receive gifts from loved ones? This is one of the ways that God

gives us possessions.

1 Kings 21:2,32 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable

garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better

vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” 3 But Naboth

replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my

fathers.”

God gives us possessions through inheritance. Sometimes

grandparents set up a college fund in their will for their grandchildren so they can go to college without going

into debt too deeply.

God gives me possessions by enabling me to work for them,

through gifts and through inheritances.


Evaluate: Joe says, “I have the right to use my possessions however I

want. After all, I earned them!”


What does God always want me to remember about my possessions?

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and

everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

1 Corinthians 4:2Now it is required that those who

have been given a trust must prove faithful.

He still owns them. We are just caretakers of them. (stewardship). Many huge dairy farms these days, may be owned by one

person who hires several managers to run it. A manager might point to the farm and

say, “That’s my farm.” He wouldn’t be lying. It’s his in the sense that he’s responsible for

caring for it. However, it really belongs to the owner. In the same way we are

managers of our possessions, but they really belong to God.

God wants me to remember that my possessions really belong to

him. I am just the caretaker.

How does God want me to use the possessions he has given me?

Mark 12:41-4441 Jesus sat down opposite the place

where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money

into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a

poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction

of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this

poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she

had to live on.”

To support the work of his church. Whatever is most important you do

first. When you make a list you write down the most important item first.

Our gifts to the Lord need to be at the top of our list.

1 Timothy 5:8If anyone does not provide for his

relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the

faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

For my family needs. Sometimes we hear a news story about parents who have

neglected their children, leaving them alone and not feeding them for days. Even non-Christians are shocked by this. How much more will we Christians realize the need to

care for our families.

1 John 3:17If anyone has material possessions and

sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

To help the needy. God wants us to help out those who are in need: the sick and injured, those unable to work, or those

who have lost their home in a disaster like a tornado. One way to do this is through the WELS Committee on Relief (explain).

Romans 13:6,76 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give

their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe

taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor,

then honor.

To pay taxes. There is lots of complaining around April 15—TAX DAY! God wants us to avoid complaining and cheerfully pay our

taxes, giving thanks to him for all the blessings he brings to us through our

government. Can you name some of those blessings?

1 Timothy 6:17Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so

uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for

our enjoyment.

For personal enjoyment. This is last on the list, but God doesn’t want us to leave

it off the list. He wants us to enjoy our possessions, which he has graciously

given us.

God wants me to use my possessions to support the work of his church, to take care of my family, to help the

needy, to pay taxes, and for my enjoyment.

HIS WORD IN MY LIFE

Evaluate: Jenna said, “We tip the waitress 15%. It seems to me that any decent Christian would give at least that much of his income to thank God.

Agree or disagree and why? Giving a needy person a handout is actually harming him because it teaches him to be lazy.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT - You shall not give false testimony

against your neighbor.


We should fear and love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him or give him a bad name, but defend him, speak well of him, and take his words and actions in the kindest possible way.


Why is God’s gift of a good name so important?

Proverbs 22:1A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver

or gold.

Proverbs 11:9

With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the

righteous escape.

It determines whether a person will be respected and trusted or not.

Name some things that you can’t do if no one respects or trusts you? (get/hold a job, hold office, find a

spouse, have friends, etc.) A good name is very important. Without a

good reputation it’s almost impossible to function in life.

How do people ruin the good name God gave to others?

Psalm 109:2for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken

against me with lying tongues.

By telling lies about another person (slander). Potiphar’s wife told a terrible

lie about Joseph and look at what happened to him as a result .

Proverbs 11:13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a

trustworthy man keeps a secret.

By betraying another person’s secrets. Joan had a harmless rash on her arm under a

long sleeve shirt. John, her brother, told the other kids that she had chicken pox. The

other kids avoided her. The teacher looked at the rash and called her parents to come get her. John caused a lot of trouble by his

lie!

1 Timothy 5:13Besides, they get into the habit of

being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become

idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought

not to.

By saying a bad thing about someone that is true (gossip). A pastor had a gossip in his

congregation. He took him up in the bell tower, cut open a pillow, and watched the feathers spread over the whole town. He

told the member to pick them all up. “I can’t,” he said. That’s what gossip is like. Once we’ve said it we can’t take it back.

People ruin the good name God has given to others by lying about them, betraying their secrets, or

gossiping about them.

APPLYING GOD’S WORD

Agree or disagree? It doesn’t matter what we say about someone. As long as it’s true, we’re not breaking this commandment.


How does God want us to help others keep their good name?

1 Samuel 20:30-3230 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and

rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your

own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor

your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!” 32

“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father.

God wants us to defend and speak well of others. Have you ever been

in a group of people that was having a “rag session” about some person? If you stood in the group and remained silent (or joined in)

you failed.

1 Corinthians 13:5-75 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of

wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God wants us to take other’s words and actions in the kindest possible way. Imagine you were taking a walk downtown and saw

the pastor coming out of the county jail looking rather disheveled. Why? You might assume he spent the night in jail for doing something wrong, when actually he was counseling with a member who was in

trouble.

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and

show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your

brother over.

Show a person his sin so that he repents (instead of gossiping). If someone was

walking down a path that led off a cliff you wouldn’t let him do it. No, the loving thing to

do would be to warn him about the cliff so that he doesn’t fall to his death.

God wants us to help others keep their good names by defending

them, speaking well of them and taking their words and actions in

the kindest possible way.


Agree or disagree and why? It’s impossible to break the Eighth Commandment if you keep your mouth shut.

Evaluate: John said to his pastor, “Pastor, Mrs. Jones is always saying bad things about others. Will you come with me to talk to her about it?” What does the pastor say?

Christian Vocabulary

Stewardship - The careful management of the blessings our gracious God has given us.

Gossip - Saying something bad about someone behind his back even though it’s true.

Slander - Telling lies about someone to make him look bad and ruin his good name.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME

REVIEWING THE LESSON Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words! PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. 2. Journal Entry: Write about a time when someone talked about you behind your

back. Tell how it made you feel. TIME WITH THE COMMANDMENTS Memorize the Seventh and Eighth Commandments along with the "What does this mean?"

My Life With My Neighbor

The Ninth & Tenth Commandments

25

INTRODUCTION

What would happen if you went into a bank, pretended you had a gun, and demanded a million dollars? (alarm would ring, you’d be arrested) What if you went into the bank,

thought about how nice it would be to have a million dollars, and even considered trying to steal it? (nothing—you wouldn’t be guilty

of a crime in the eyes of the state, but in God’s eyes you would)

THE NINTH COMMANDMENTYou shall not covet your neighbor’s house.


We should fear and love God that we do not scheme to get our neighbors inheritance or house, or obtain it by a show of right, but do all we can to help him keep it.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENTYou shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,

workers, animals, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.


We should fear and love God that we do not force or entice away our neighbor’s spouse, workers, or animals, but urge them to stay and do their duty.


What is coveting?

Psalm 10:2,32 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts

down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts of the

cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

James 4:2You want something but don’t get it. You kill

and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not

have, because you do not ask God.

A sinful craving in your heart for something you shouldn’t want. It was

okay for Ahab to want Naboth’s vineyard. It was okay for him to offer to purchase it, but when he kept on

scheming for ways to get it after Naboth told him no, he was coveting.

James 1:14,1514 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and

enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,

when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

A sinful thought that leads to sinful words and actions. What did the evil desire of

Ahab’s heart lead him to do?

COVETING IS A CRAVING FOR SOMETHING A PERSON SHOULDN’T

WANT WHICH MAY LEAD HIM TO SINFUL WORDS AND ACTIONS


Agree or disagree and why? It’s wrong to want a stereo system like the one your friend has.


Why is the coveting that goes on in my heart not something I should take

lightly?

Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the

time my mother conceived me.

Gives evidence of my sinful nature. Adam and Eve created in image of God (review

meaning). But then sinned and had children in their own image (sinful). We,

their descendants, are sinful too.

Genesis 6:5The LORD saw how great man’s

wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his

heart was only evil all the time.

Shows that my heart is inclined to only do evil. Like a compass that always

points to North, our hearts always want to go toward wickedness, rebellion and

sin

1 John 3:15Anyone who hates his brother is a

murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him

We deserve the same punishment for our sinful thoughts and sinful actions: HELL. Imagine being put in prison for thinking

about robbing the bank. May seem unfair, but not to God’s way of thinking. He

demands that our thoughts be pure too.

I DESERVE NOTHING BUT DEATH AND HELL FOR THE

REBELLIONS SINFUL NATURE I HAVE HAD SINCE BIRTH THAT FILLS MY HEART WITH SINFUL

DESIRES.


Evaluate: Because everyone is born with a sinful nature, even a Christian is

capable of committing any sin.


By God’s grace what other kinds of thoughts and desires do I have in my

heart?

Ephesians 4:21-2421 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old

self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new

self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

By bringing me to faith in Jesus, God placed holy desires in my

heart. Sometimes people need a heart transplant because their old

heart is worn out. In a sense, God has given us a new heart—a

heart that desires what he desires.

Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is

excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

By bringing me to faith, God enabled me to love his will. Zacchaeus is a good

example of someone whose heart and life were changed by being brought to faith in

Jesus. He no longer wanted to cheat people but to help them.

BY BRINGING ME TO FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN ME A NEW

HEART THAT LOVES HIS WILL AND HAS HOLY DESIRES.


Agree or disagree and why? Because every Christian has a new man, a real Christian will think about and do more good things than bad.


What’s the result of having both a sinful nature and a new heart?

Galatians 5:17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Constant battles inside me. We are like walking civil wars. Two sides are trying to get control of one country. Sinful nature and new heart fight for

turf.

Romans 7:23-2523 but I see another law at work in the

members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a

prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of

death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself

in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

By growing in faith, I can win these battles. A great player can come in and turned a game around. Jesus

has come into our hearts and turned the game around so that we

can fight the temptations of our flesh.

MY LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD, BUT AS I GROW IN FAITH JESUS ENABLES ME

TO WIN MORE ANE MORE OF THE BATTLES.

GODS’S WORD IN MY LIFE

Evaluate: When one of the comic sections in the newspaper pictures a person with a devil on one shoulder urging him to do something bad, and an angel on the other shoulder telling him to do good this is a good picture of what goes on inside the Christian.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME

REVIEWING THE LESSON Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral quiz. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. 2. Journal Entry: Write down a list of things you’d really like to have. Cross off all the

things you don’t really need. Write an answer to these questions: What is the correct way to go about obtaining those things on the list? What if you don’t get them?

TIME WITH THE COMMANDMENTS Memorize the Eighth and Ninth Commandments along with the "What does this mean?"

Spiritual

Confirmation 24 & 25 done