The Ten Commandments are perhaps one of the most powerful examples of God’s love in all of Scripture. Some people, of course, imagine them to be the exact opposite. They don’t hear love in these statements, they hear the clink of chains and the rattle of padlocks. Rather than the source of joy it was intended to be, the law is viewed as an angry god’s restrictions for a rebellious people. Jen Wilkin’s exuberant reinterpretation of the Ten Commandments provide a new understanding of the biblical context that defines these simple guidelines for living—not as harsh, restrictive rules, but as a tender love-letter from a wise, all-knowing Father. Disciples will see how each commandment protects us from the consequences of our own moral weakness and guides our thinking and actions in every situation. Wilkin emphasizes this point framing each of the Ten Commandments with a simple value/action statement.
Ten Words to Live By
This book's Disciple Making Purpose
This book addresses two common misunderstandings in our human relationship to God: the misunderstanding that God’s commands are measure of performance and acceptance, and, the attitude that his commands are from a controlling God instead of a loving God. Both of these misunderstandings affect repentance (we tend to rebel when we are told what to do instead of seeing the what as an opportunity for success) and our relationship with God (he is a demanding Father instead of a loving Father trying to save us from ourselves).
God longs for his children to live the abundant life. He longs to provide spiritually and materially so that we can succeed and he has recorded his guidance, instructions, and warnings for our success in the Bible. With our failed human relationships demanding obedience for reward and our bent toward performance oriented love and living, it is easy to see God’s commands as “have tos” instead of “get tos.” His truths can feel limiting, demanding, and burdensome especially when they begin to call for change in deeper areas. Our team uses this book to reorient or reinforce the disciple’s perspective of God’s commands and instructions to a view that they are loving, tender commandments meant for our success.
By the time that disciples read this book (using the SD Essential Companion Reading Plan), they will already have begun to adjust their lives and perspectives of God to simple convictions. For example, don’t murder and God is all powerful. These are things they don’t want to do and hopeful truths about God. Ten Words to Live By prepares them to see God’s future pushes in deeper areas as loving pushes, simple shortcuts they can take to success instead of performance based commands. And this attitude shift is essential when it comes to disciples responding to deeper convictions.
Key Topics or Truths
Applying God’s Truths
Destroying Legalism
Living in Freedom and Grace
Understanding God’s Good Desires for Us
This Book is Good For...
Every Christian who has been brought up in church, has had bad bosses, or was brought up in a demanding, performance oriented family! It is also a good relationship check for every Christian and provides a solid foundation for understanding the Ten Commandments.
How We Use this Book to Make Disciples
We use this book in Year One to challenge the perception that Christianity is about a bunch of rules that limit us. We have the disciples read the entire book in two weeks reviewing each half after they read it. Here’s how we divide the book:
- Week 1: Introduction + Chapters 1-4
The first four commands that are focused on our relationship to God and his holiness. - Week 2: Chapters 5-10 + Conclusion
The last six commands that are focused on our relationships with others on this earth.
We lean in on the truth that God’s commandments are meant to guide us to an incredible life stressing the obvious, like,
- How many times does adultery work out?
- How does gossip destroy?, and
- God gave us these instructions to help us avoid trouble.
The author does such a good job most disciples require little guidance to grasp the core truth that God’s commandments are tender instructions to us. If it does not happen with the disciples’ observations, we lead a discussion about why commandments can “feel” limiting or oppressive. Why do they feel limiting at times? As Paul writes, “the sin dwelling in our flesh has a propensity to want to do the exact opposite of what is good for us.” God knows our weaknesses and the temptations that we will face because of sin. His commandments fight those “sinful” desires of our flesh and until we have surrendered to His truths, his commandments can “feel” like they are taking away instead of giving.
Make sure that you and the disciple don’t miss the value and understanding of each of the actual commands as well! We guide the discussion with the liberty to ask individual disciples or go round and ask the entire group questions like,
- Bob, what is the truth in the first commandment?
- Sue, what is the value of the first commandment?
- Tom, what does this commandment show you about God?, or perhaps
- Going around the room asking, “How does this command apply to you? Is there something you need to change? An action step you need to take this week?
Remember the value of the call to action! God’s truths are useless unless we work on self-awareness and change (repentance). Education is of little value unless applicable truths are applied.
Real Life Story
Diane’s dad was strict, almost oppressive. There were rules for everything. There was a rule dictating when you could shower. There was a rule outlawing the use of hair conditioner in the shower. There was a rule about what you could read and how much you could read. Diane grew up with a set of rules that served her father and did little to improve her future, so Diane’s initial impression of God was that his rules were meant to control her for his purposes. You should have seen the light come into her eyes when she realized that God’s truths were meant to set her free and set her up for success.
Know Issues or Controversies
None
When I first read this book it disrupted my view of God’s “commandments” and reminded me of what I had already seen throughout the Bible – God’s words are good for us and bring life. His truths, his commandments, are not meant to rule over us but set us free. It sounds obvious but Wilkin makes the argument in a compelling way.
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Jen Wilkin
Book Details
- Phase: Year 1
- Book Type: Non-Fiction
- Flair: Eye Opening, Storytelling
- Tags: Applying Truth, Easy Read
Reading Time
Related Reads
We always read this book after reading Quick Smart Start. It provides a healthy view of God’s initial instructions to us about how we are designed to live. This is a stand alone book doing a specific work among the Bible reading and other companion books of Year One.