RALLY DEVOTIONS 2006 –
Introduction to Series No.1
Goal: ‘Chaos without rules – Order with rules’
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1, 28-29, 32-33 / 6:1-7, 17-25
Main Teaching:
- What does the word commandment mean?
- Why do we need rules? (Could play a game without giving them any rules and see what chaos ensues)
- Why did God give them to us?
- God didn’t give us rules so that we would fail; God gave us rules to help us win in life!
Introduction to Series No.2
Goal: ‘Disobedience brings punishment – Obedience brings joy and satisfaction’
Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 2 Chronicles 24:20, Proverbs 19:16, 13:13
Main Teaching:
- So now we have the rules, what are we going to do? Obey or disobey them?
- Whether we obey or disobey we are telling God how we feel:
.. Obedience tells God we love Him (John 14:15 & 21a, 1 John 5:3)
.. Disobedience tells God we don’t respect Him
- Whether we obey or disobey there will be a result:
.. Obedience brings a reward from God (we live, prosper and prolong our days)
.. Disobedience brings a punishment from God (Ephesians 5:6)
1st Commandment
Goal: ‘No other gods – Keep God first’
Scripture: Exodus 20:3
Main Teaching:
- Show a variety of other gods (pictures of money, sporting heroes, pop stars, etc)
- God is the only true God, the only one who offers eternal life (true life)
Hand Signal:
- Right hand: Thumb up “God is number One”
2nd Commandment
Goal: ‘No image of God – Keep God as spirit’
Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6
Main Teaching:
- We need to have a true understanding of God
- Show pictures of Father Christmas, Superman, god throwing thunderbolts
- We need to look to the Bible and Jesus Christ to see who God really is.
Hand Signal:
- Right hand: Index finger held up like an idol “No idols”
3rd Commandment
Goal: ‘No swearing – Honour God’s name’
Scripture: Exodus 20:7
Main Teaching:
- What does your name mean?
- Why are names important?
- What are some of the names of God?
(Hand out verses for children to find out some of the names of God)
Hand Signal:
- Right hand: Thumb and first two fingers make talking mouth “No swearing”
4th Commandment
Goal: ‘No work on God’s day – Keep God’s day holy’
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11
Main Teaching:
- Use creation story to show pattern of rest (Genesis 1-2:3)
- Special day to honour and worship God
Hand Signal:
- Right hand: Thumb and little finger held down, three middle fingers held up to form W “Worship God”
5th Commandment
Goal: ‘No disobeying – Honour parents’
Scripture: Exodus 20:12
Main Teaching:
- Story of Esther: She honoured her ‘parent’ Mordecai, and eventually saved her people
Hand Signal:
- Right hand: Make a fist, hold up bent little finger, wiggle up and down and say in a squeaky voice “Children obey your parents”
6th Commandment
Goal: ‘No murder – Respect for Life’
Scripture: Exodus 20:13
Main Teaching:
- Story of King David where he finds King Saul in a cave and won’t kill him (1 Samuel 24).
- Hatred / murder starts in the heart
Hand Signal:
- Left hand: Little finger in a stabbing motion “No murder”
7th Commandment
Goal: ‘No adultery – Honour Marriage’
Scripture: Exodus 20:14
Main Teaching:
- Talk about the importance of faithfulness in all relationships and especially marriage
- Possibly talk about the effects of unfaithfulness in marriage and why God’s pattern / plan is best
Hand Signal:
- Left hand: Hold left hand up and wriggle ring finger with right hand “Stay with the one you marry”
8th Commandment
Goal: ‘No stealing – Work’
Scripture: Exodus 20:15
Main Teaching:
- Role play about someone stealing, with the level of crime escalating
- Talk about the effect that loss has on people and the value of working for your possessions
Hand Signal:
- Left hand: Thumb and first two fingers in grabbing/stealing motion “No stealing”
9th Commandment
Goal: ‘No lying – Tell the truth’
Scripture: Exodus 20:16
Main Teaching:
- Story of Peblos – problem with lying, the missionary got him to hammer a nail into the gate for every lie that he told. Even though he could remove the nails the results were still there
Hand Signal:
- Left hand: Index finger held up and waved back and forth as if telling someone off “No lying”
10th Commandment
Goal: ‘No coveting – Be content’
Scripture: Exodus 20:17
Main Teaching:
- Story of Achan (Joshua 7)
- Coveting is at the root of many of the sins that we commit. It destroys our happiness and causes great distress.
Hand Signal:
- Left hand: Make a fist with the thumb kept straight – this forms an ‘e’ for ‘envy’ with the index finger and thumb “No envy”
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