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SkateChurch Recap: The Ten Commandments

SkateChurch Recap

The Ten Commandments- Introduction

Before we can really understand the Ten Commandments, we have to know a little about them: how they got here, what they say, and why we have them.

How they got here:

It all began in the Garden of Eden, when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. Sin became a part of the fabric of man, it became man’s nature. People are separated from God because of their sin. A few chapters later in Genesis we meet Abraham. Through Abraham, God begins to bring humans back to himself. Abraham and his wife, Sarah have a child named Isaac. Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, gives birth to a son named Jacob. When Jacob enters into the picture, our story takes a bit of a detour. He has a son, Joseph, who is betrayed by his other brothers. After a series of events, Joseph becomes second in command of all of Egypt. He forgives his brothers and his entire family enters Egypt. In Egypt, they prosper and multiply in number, just as God had promised Abraham. As they continue to grow and prosper, the old Pharaoh dies out and Joseph is forgotten. The next Pharaoh is cruel, and becomes nervous about this new blossoming people. To control the Israelites, he begins to treat them as slaves, making them do hard labor for little or nothing. He also gave the command that should any of the Hebrew women have baby boys, that those baby boys be killed. One lady had a baby boy, but she didn't want him to be killed. So she placed him on the banks of the Nile River. He was found by the daughter of Pharaoh. She told the mother to raise the child and when he had grown up to bring him back to her. She gave him the name of Moses. When Moses was older, he saw an Egyptian mistreating a fellow Hebrew slave, and Moses killed him. He was now a wanted man, so he ran. He ran away to the desert, where he lived for many years, working as a shepherd, and he married and had a family. One day, while Moses was out with the sheep, he encountered a burning bush. In this burning bush was God, and God then calls Moses to set the Hebrew people free. He calls Moses to go back into Egypt, approach the oppressive Pharaoh, and demand that the Hebrew slaves be set free. Moses goes, and after 10 plagues and some time, Pharaoh lets the Hebrews go. They cross the Red Sea and begin to wander in the desert, looking for the Promised Land. It is here that God gives Moses the Ten Commandments.

What they say:

The Ten Commandments are God’s stand and foundation for how Christians are supposed to live their lives. The first four commandments are the foundation of how to relate to God:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make for yourself an image.

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord.

4. Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.

The last six serve as a foundation for our relationships with people:

5 . Honor your father and mother.

6 . You shall not murder.

7 . You shall not commit adultery.

8 . You shall not steal.

9 . You shall not give false testimony.

10.You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

Let’s see what Jesus says when asked what the greatest commandment is in Matthew 22:34-40, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Why we have them:

The Law serves a purpose, it shows us what sin is and reminds us that we must strive to avoid sin. God knows that we are prone to sin, and that we are prone to stealing and committing adultery and prone to having other gods before Him. He gives us the Ten Commandments to show us that is what we are prone to do, yet, to be His holy people, we must avoid those things.

The Ten Commandments were given for life. They are God’s rules that are made to protect us so that we may be able to live life freely, without ever having to fear. John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Video Recaps

In the next few weeks we will no longer have article recaps of SkateChurch, but instead we will be having video recaps. Questions? Comments? Suggestions, perhaps? If so let us know in the comments or email us at skatepk@calvaryabq.org. Or post on our Facebook wall.

SkateChurch Recap: In The World Not Of The World (Part 2)

In the World but not of the World

True Godliness & Transformation: RECAP

"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." Romans 12:2 Amplified Version

As the verse above explains, transformation in your life comes with the renewal of your mind. Change in your life always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act; the way you act determines your character.

If you want to see change in your life, change your beliefs first. Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth and it will set you free”. If we are feeling sad, or afraid, or angry we need to ask ourselves what thoughts are causing these emotions. We can change our feelings about the situation by looking to the Bible and what it says about our given situation.

When we saturate our minds with God’s word, we are thinking His thoughts, and we begin to act more like Christ. However, trying to change your behavior without changing your belief is a waste of time. Occupy your mind with the truth, or the enemy will fill it with lies. The holy spirit inside of you is what will give you the strength to overcome old, destructive habits (sin in your life). We cannot do it by ourselves. We cannot do it without Christ.

The Bible calls this ‘change of mind’ repentance. So technically, repentance is not a behavioral change. The change is a result of repentance. Life change happens only AFTER you change your thinking. We have the Word to find out what God thinks, and we must simply accept the way God thinks, even when we don’t fully understand.

True Godliness is:

The opposite of worldliness is godliness or heavenly-mindedness. When we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are born-again by the Holy Spirit and we can see spiritual things (John 3:3 "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"). Through Christ's finished work at the Cross, we are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). He ceases to be the Judge that we flee from but the Father that we flee to. Our center shifts from "I" to "Him." We realize that everything that we have is from Him, every profitable thing that we do must be done through Him and that we should do everything for Him. We realize that we "are complete in him" (Colossians 2: 10). We are in the world but we must not be "of the world' (John

17:16), we must "use this world, as not abusing it" (I Corinthians 7:3 1) and must "set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). We must be willing to be "made all things to all men, that we might by all means save some" (I Corinthians 9:22).

So let’s as Christians be the change in the world, let’s be in the world but not of the

world.

SkateChurch Recap: Temptation

In the World But Not Of The World

Guest Speaker: Joe Cormier

TEMPTATION

So, what is temptation?

It is something that causes a strong urge or desire to do or have something that is bad, wrong, or unwise. You can probably agree that we are tempted pretty much every day. We are tempted at school, at the mall, at skateparks, and pretty much anywhere we go. Drugs, alcohol, and sex are just a few of the things that may tempt us on a daily basis. Sometimes things that don’t even seem bad tempt us. We all have a “gut” feeling when it comes to making these tough decisions. Usually that gut feeling is the Holy Spirit inside of you urging you to do the right thing.

Is temptation a sin?

No, is not. The Bible says in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” It is not a sin to be tempted, it is only a sin to act on that temptation.

Is there temptation in the Bible?

Yes, the Bible begins with a story of temptation in Genesis 3:1-13. Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Verses 1-3 explain that Eve clearly knew that she was forbidden to eat the fruit from the tree, and that she would be punished if she did. Then, in verses 4-5, the serpent claims that if Eve eats the fruit, her eyes would be open and she would be like God. So Satan tempted Eve into eating the fruit (verse 6). After she ate, she shared the fruit with her husband, Adam. In verses 14-19 God punishes Adam and Eve for falling into temptation.

Even Jesus was tempted. Matthew 4:5-7 reads, “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down. For it is written ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lLest you dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, You shall not tempt to Lord your God.’”

How can we deal with temptation?

The best way to deal with temptation is to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! As Christians we are always going to be tempted. Satan is constantly breathing down our neck trying to get us to fall. We also need to help each other by holding each other accountable. Hebrews 2:18 reads, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”

In closing, remember that “Life is not about the number of times you get knocked down, it’s about the number of times you get back up.” No matter how many times you fall into temptation, get back up. Our God is loving and merciful, and He will forgive you time and time again.

Drop In: Skate Outreach 2/12/2011

Calvary SkateChurch Ministry dropped into to the local public skateparks for another awesome day of skating & ministry.

The Drop In: Skate Outreach Crew.

Photo: 10 second timer on Caleb's point & shoot camera.

James Beck Feeble Grind.

Photo: Joe Cormier

The back of the van faces (left to right) Alex showing love with his hands, Warner, Justin, Will, Andrew.

Photo: Caleb Chavez

The group dropped in to three public skate parks in Albuquerque and the surrounding area to show and share the love of Christ with the secular skate culture.They first hit up 2nd street park, AKA 'Bum Park' because of the massive amount of homeless people that hangout there.The second skate park they dropped into was Rio Bravo where the team barbecued hotdogs for everyone and passed out cold water as well as did community service by cleaning the park up and picking up all the trash. Last but not least, everyone stopped at Alamosa Skate Park which was rated one of the top ten skate parks in America by National Geographic. Every park the group went to they handed out SkateChurch invites and skate tracks. The Lord blessed the day with a few receptive skaters who said they would check out SkateChurch. All in all a great day of ministry and skating.

Zach Fudge sliding a wall.

Photo: Caleb Chavez