Christ Alone
Ten Commandments
May 5, 2024
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
The sermon urges finding beauty in God's law, embracing sincere (though imperfect) obedience through Christ, rejecting all idols and misplaced loves, reordering family and cultural priorities for covenantal faithfulness, praying for repentance in the church, and approaching communion and stewardship with reverence.
Summary
Drawing from Exodus 23 and Matthew, the preacher affirms that the beauty of God's word shows itself in its shaping effect on our lives: God accepts sincere obedience through Christ even when imperfect, but calls for single-hearted devotion — no other gods, no competing loves. Idolatry often grows out of sinful fear or misdefined needs, so Christians must examine what they 'have' and reorder priorities (including family time, cultural distractions, and giving) to belong wholly to Christ. The sermon also calls for prayerful repentance over denominational decisions seen as unfaithful, emphasizes weekly communion as a real means of grace that must be received circumspectly, and echoes James Greer’s call to live as those who belong to Christ in every relationship.
Key Points
- Beauty is found in God's law and the shaping effect of Scripture (Exodus 23).
- God accepts sincere, imperfect obedience through Christ, not flawless performance.
- The first commandment demands exclusive devotion to Christ; we must reject any competing 'gods.'
- Idolatry is often created from sinful fear or misdefined needs; ask "What do I have?" rather than only "What do I need?"
- Total devotion means living as those who belong to Christ in every relationship (James Greer).
- Families must evaluate priorities: are children or Christ and the church the organizing center of life?
- Western culture produces too many loves and distractions (e.g., excessive phone use) that threaten devotion.
- Tithing and stewardship are ways to give God what He deserves and reorder loyalties.
- Pray for repentance and faithfulness in the church amid denominational decisions (e.g., recent UMC changes).
- Communion is celebrated weekly as communion with Christ and must be received with reverence and self-examination.
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