'''Blueprint for living - right perspectives''' Exodus 20v4-6 ''by Stephen Coffin''
 
*''The Old Testament is the story of tension between a spritual conception of God & worship, and idolatry which materialises God & worship (New Bible Dictionary)''
*But is this commandment now irrelevant?  Idolize = to venerate or love extremely or excessively.
*What's your image of God?
*J.B.Phillips wrote a book entitled "Your God is too small" - how true!
*Matthew 22v29 - Jesus said "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." 
*Do we restrict God to Sundays & "religious" parts of our life, or make him as the focus of life?
*In what ways may you limit God by your wrong image of him?
*How can we avoid this danger? – Practical ideas, please!

'''Read John 4v1-44''' "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."  (v.24)
*Where & with what means we worship doesn't matter;  only the Sprit's inspiration counts
*In what ways does this story illustrate the danger of a false perception of God?
*Romans 14v17-18 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men."
*Romans 5v5 - "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
*Romans 8v14 - "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
*How, where & using what means do you find you can best worship God?
*Are there any dangers in this?  Do you risk limiting how & what God says?
*What place does the Holy Spirit have in how you respond to God?

'''Read 1Samuel 16v1-13''' "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 
*We're obsessed with appearances & the material today still
*Ezekiel 28v17 - "Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour." (Initially about the king of Tyre, this may picture Satan's fall.)
*1 Peter 3v3-4 - "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
*How concerned are you with outward appearances?  How can we overcome such prejudice?
*How can we get the right balance between outward & inner beauty?
*What qualities does God want to see grow in your life? (See, for example, Galatians 5v22-26)

'''Read 1 John 4v8-12''' "God is love."
*Deuteronomy 6v5 - "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength"
*What does it mean to say that "God is love"?
*How can we know that God loves us?
*Why & how should we express love to God, neighbours & other Christians?

'''Read Exodus 20v4-6''' "God is jealous for our love." 
*Sin has consequences, but God's loving grace is greater
*The worship of anything else is depicted in the bible as adultery – materialism, power, sex, work, leisure
*"The Lord doesn't want the first place in my life; he wants all of my life." (Howard Amerding)
*How do you feel about the idea of God being jealous for your love?
*What consequences of sin do you see in the world, which affect future generations?
*In what ways have you experienced God's love in your life?

'''Read Matthew 6v19-34''' "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (v33)
*''"What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.  Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find your everyday human concerns will be met." (v.31, 33 The Message)''
*What are the most important things in your life?
*How is this reflected in how you spend your time, money, effort?
*How can you learn to relax more and trust God for what you need?
*How, practically, can you put God first in your life?

What difference, practically, should this commandment make to how you live in the different areas of you daily life?