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Taking God’s Name in Vain

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. EXODUS 20:7 NIV

Our lives are to be a representation of who God is

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. EXODUS 20:7 NET

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God…And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
EXODUS 19:3, 6 NLT

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
EPHESIANS 5:1 NLT

All of us have a gap between what we say we believe and how we live

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” MARK 7:6-8 NIV

Where in your life are you at risk of misrepresenting God?

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show…the greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. MATTHEW 23:1-5, 11-12 NLT

Three ways our hypocrisy misrepresents God

With Jesus I can represent God through compassion, authenticity, and service

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 NLT

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. MATTHEW 23:37 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a minute to slow down, giving Jesus any burdens you may currently be facing. Invite God into this time, asking Him to help you be real with yourself and Him. When you consider that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” if you were to play back a recording of the public and private things you’ve said this week, what would you find? What would that reveal about your heart? Confess to God any areas that need addressing, and ask Him for the strength to become a better imitator of Christ in the way you live. Now, as you consider others God has placed in your life, in what practical ways can you move closer to people so you can actually listen to them and understand them? Confess to God any judgment you might feel toward others, and instead ask Him for a mindset of curiosity. Ask God to show you how this might model His love for others, drawing them closer to Him. Close your time by thanking God for the way He selflessly loves you. Write down your reflections in the space below, sharing with your group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, (link found on the top of sermon notes). Use this time to examine the ways you reflect Christ to those around you. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: Who in your life today best represents what God is like? What about them draws you closer to God?
  3. REAL WITH GOD: Name some specific ways that the truth that you belong to God impacts your sense of identity. When you consider the life Jesus modeled—one where His identity was firmly rooted in the Father—what things could you let go of to experience more freedom?
  4. REAL WITH OTHERS: The way you live serves as a representation of God to others. What do you hope to be teaching others about God by the way you carry His name?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: Take some time to let each person in the group know how you see their lives representing God well: send text messages to each member of the group letting them know what you observe (yep—right now!). Next, take a moment to read what others have texted you; as you read what they observe in your life, how can you use these qualities as the “staff in your hand” to serve others in an even greater capacity?
  6. TAKE ACTION: This week, practice making an honest and accurate confession to someone you trust. Work to overcome any fear that might accompany this, focusing instead on the freedom that confession brings. Ask your group to pray for courage if necessary.