Forming Faith Blog

Ten Commandments and a Loving Community (Exodus 19 & 20)

Posted on September 29 2026 by Gregory Rawn

God gave the people of Israel, and us, the Ten Commandments as a gift for how to create and maintain a loving community with God and our neighbors.

Engraved stone tablets of the Ten Commandments in central Visayas, Philippines.
Photo by Amaia Garcia
About the Story

Last week, we read the story of the Israelites being freed from Egyptian enslavement. This week, we continue in the Book of Exodus as the Israelites camp at the base of Mount Sinai. 

In today’s story, Moses goes up the mountain, and there God speaks. God again reminds Moses and the people that it is God who provided freedom in order to bring the people to God’s self. Among the instructions God gives are what we now call the Ten Commandments. Though different denominations and faith traditions number them differently, what is common to all is that these words give the vision God has for how the community of God’s people will live with God and one another as a blessing for the world. This vision describes a community in which love for God and love for the neighbor guides thoughts and actions.

It is a vision that is as much God’s desire for us today as it was for the Israelites at the base of Mount Sinai. Even as God was giving these commandments, though, the Israelites were turning to worship false gods. We do no better at keeping these commandments. But as we will see in coming weeks, when we confess our sin, God forgives. In spite of the fact that we will never keep them perfectly, the commandments remain God’s instruction for us. God’s commandments are given so we can live the best possible life by loving God and our neighbor. (Adapted from Living the Word: Small Groups)

Bible Nuts & Bolts: The Torah

Torah is a Hebrew word meaning “instruction” or “teaching.” It is sometimes also translated as “law.” Torah can refer to any and all of God’s instructions, but often is specifically used to refer to God’s instructions given on Mount Sinai and recorded in the first five books of the Bible. The Ten Commandments are part of the Torah, though the Torah includes much more. In Judaism today, Torah refers not only to written Scripture but to other stories and traditions as well, recognizing that God gives instruction in a variety of ways. (Adapted from Living the Word: Small Groups)

Context Insights

The following are a few insights found in our background resource Living the Word: Contexts & Connections. Within the Contexts portion of the resource, all factual and interpretive statements are cited in the endnotes, although those citations are not included here.

  • Linguistics: The Hebrew word sӗgullȃ, translated as “treasured possession” in the NRSVUE (Exodus 19:5), refers to a possession that has been acquired and is especially valued. This underlines God’s initiative in liberating and claiming Israel as God’s own.
  • Literature/Genre: The Decalogue is made up of apodictic (absolute) commands. They are not intended for specific legal cases and contexts. Rather, they express general, absolute principles that are meant to set the tone for the Israelite community. For instance, the command against coveting could not be legally enforced, since it addresses an inward reality. 
  • Authorial Intention/Occasion: Eight of the ten commands are negative (“You shall not…”). By dwelling on what should not be done, these commandments appear to be protecting a community that already exists, rather than forming a new one. The behaviors that are prohibited will destroy the relationships that tie a community together.
Connections and Suggestions

We have Narrative Lectionary resources for 2026-2027 for all age groups. Here are a few activity summaries you can use. The full activity descriptions and much more are available in the product noted. 

  • Kids: Cover ten cereal boxes with brown paper to make ten stone tablets. Divide the large group into ten small groups or pairs. Provide printed copies of the Ten Commandments from your preferred translation along with simplified versions. Assign a commandment to each small group or pair, and challenge them to rewrite their commandment in their own words on their tablet. You can also challenge each group/pair to rewrite their commandment as positive (if the commandment is prohibitive/negative) or as negative (if the commandment is positive). In addition, groups/pairs can act out their commandment for a charades-style game. (From Living the Word: Kids (3rd-6th))
  • Youth: Facilitate a discussion among the youth about honoring parents and/or other adult caregivers in their lives. Help them brainstorm ideas for mini service projects that they can do to honor their caregiver(s) in the upcoming week. Challenge them to choose one and do it. Be sure to acknowledge the difference between honoring caregivers and keeping silent in the face of abuse. Optional: Expand the list of caregivers to others in positions of authority as Martin Luther does in his Small Catechism. (From Living the Word: Youth)
  • Intergenerational education: Provide small groups with different types of game supplies (e.g., balls, dice, marbles, playing cards, etc.), telling them to play but not giving them any instructions. Allow them to play for a few minutes. Discuss their experiences with this, connecting it to a life without instructions/rules and the Ten Commandments as guidelines for life. Optional: Give time after the discussion for groups to play, this time either making up their own rules or with provided instructions. (From Living the Word: Cross+Gen Education)
Daily Bible Readings

Throughout both the Narrative Lectionary year (roughly September through May) and the summer, we have created a daily Bible lectionary that corresponds with the Narrative Lectionary readings. These readings are used throughout our NL products, and you can subscribe to them digitally through our Daily Readings Calendar.

DateDayLectionTitle
10/11/2026SundayExodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17The Ten Commandments
10/12/2026MondayLeviticus 19:13-18Rules for a Godly Community
10/13/2026TuesdayDeuteronomy 6:1-9Keep These Words
10/14/2026WednesdayDeuteronomy 34:1-12The Death of Moses
10/15/2026ThursdayJoshua 1:1-11The Call of Joshua
10/16/2026FridayJoshua 3:1-17Joshua and Israel Cross the Jordan
10/17/2026SaturdayJoshua 4:1-9Twelve Stones to Help Remember
10/18/2026SundayJoshua 24:1-15 [16-26]Joshua Serves God
Previous Posts

This is our blog’s third go-around in the Narrative Lectionary, Year 1. Here are some previous posts on this particular passage if you are interested:

I hope you find this all useful! If you have any questions or feedback on this blog post (or anything else), comment on this post below or on Facebook, or send me a message.

In Christ,

Gregory Rawn (Publisher)

Order Faith Formation Resources

It’s not too late to purchase resources for your 2026-2027 faith formation programming! Order program-year curriculum resources for the Narrative Lectionary (Year 1, 2026-2027), Revised Common Lectionary (Years A & B, 2026-2027), or Key Bible Stories (non-lectionary, PK-2nd, 3rd-6th) and download TODAY.

New RCL faith-at-home resource!

I’m excited to announce a new product series for Spirit & Truth Publishing: Taking Faith Home. Taking Faith Home is a set of weekly devotional resources (often distributed as worship bulletin inserts) that follows the Revised Common Lectionary. We offer it as a Church Year (Dec. 2026 to Nov. 2027) and a Program Year (Sept. 2026 to May 2027). You can also purchase by quarter, such as Summer and Fall. Learn more here and read a review!

VBS, Events, Retreats, and More!

Are you looking for resources for topical Sunday school, family/intergenerational events, retreats, and more?

Learning Together can help! This series of affordable, five-lesson units on a variety of topics can be downloaded immediately, uses basic supplies you probably already have, and is so easy to use that you can hand the leader’s guide out that day (though that’s not recommended)!

Like all of our faith formation resources, Learning Together is effective, theologically sound, and inclusive. The current topics are:

+ Paul’s Adventures (NEW!), Celebrations, Created to Care, God’s Gift of Water, Heroes of the Bible, The I AM Statements of Jesus (free!), Travelers (Immigrants and Refugees), Do Justice, Celebrations, Women of the Old Testament, and Bible 101

Building Faith has recommended two of our units as VBS curriculum: Paul’s Adventures (reviewed in 2026) and Celebrations (reviewed in 2025)!

You can also read outside reviews of both our Do Justice and Created to Care units.

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