In my congregation, we make an honest attempt to include a reading of the Ten Commandments twice a month. This was my attempt to make this portion of our worship service participatory and prayerful by having the congregation respond with a positive interpretation of each of the commands. — Matt Gritter
The Lord said,
“I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves.
Do not put any other gods in place of me.”
O Lord, we trust you and confess that every precious gift we hold comes from you.
“Do not make statues of gods that look like anything in the sky or on the earth or in the waters. Do not bow down to them or worship them. I am the Lord your God. I am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I judge the descendants of those who hate me. But for all time to come I show love to all those who love me and keep my commandments.”
O Lord, we worship only you and wonder at all the ways you exceed our expectations.
“Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.”
O Lord, we offer you our mouths as instruments of your grace and peace.
“Observe the Sabbath day. Keep it holy, just as the Lord your God commanded you. Do all of your work in six days. But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the Lord your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen, your donkeys and your other animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities. I want your male and female servants to rest, just as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. The Lord your God reached out his mighty hand and powerful arm and brought you out of there. So he has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”
O Lord, our time is in your hands, help us to rest in you.
“Honor your father and mother, just as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long time in the land he is giving you. And things will go well with you there.”
O Lord, keep watch over our relationships, give us the gifts of patience and kindness.
“Do not commit murder.”
O Lord, we offer you our hearts, that we may be examples of your love.
“Do not commit adultery.”
O Lord, our bodies are yours, grant that we may use them in ways that are pleasing to you.
“Do not steal.”
O Lord, we offer you our hands as tools of justice and faithful service.
“Do not give false witness against your neighbor.”
O Lord, we thank you for our voices and feed our desire to proclaim the truth.
“Do not long for your neighbor’s wife. Do not long to have anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long to have your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey.”
O Lord, we offer you our possessions and our positions in this world, help us to take joy in your gifts with all thanksgiving and praise.
(Adapted from Deuteronomy 5:6-21, NIRV)
- used in worship on Sunday, December 14, 2008, at Trinity Christian Reformed Church
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Thank you. This is a wonderful addition to my growing collection of responsive readings of the 10 Commandments. I appreciate how the congregation’s responses are in the form of prayers.