Q9 - What does God require in the First, Second, and Third Commandments?

NEW CITY CATECHISM QUESTION
Q- What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?
A- First, that we know God as the only true God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry. Third, that we treat God's name with fear and reverence.

ICEBREAKER QUESTION
If you were to go to a stranded island and could only bring one thing with you (other than people) what would you bring?

ACTIVITY
Have everyone in your family make a list of things that are important to them. Draw pictures or write down things in your life that take up a lot of your time, energy, and even money. Talk about it as a family and write down some things that are common to all of your lists.

READ EXODUS 20:3-7
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

WATCH TEACHING VIDEO
DISCUSS
  1. What are some things in your life you may try and put before God?
  2. Why is it important that we keep God first in our lives and that we respect his name and character?

PRAY
  1. Thank God for all that he has given you.
  2. Ask God for help to not put the things given to you before him and for help in making him first in your life. 

OPTIONAL FAMILY ACTIVITY
Supplies: You will need a cup of water, markers,  and some rocks for each person (If you don’t have rocks you can use other things that are small and kind of heavy, or go outside and collect rocks as a family first).

Fill each person’s cup with water and put their cups on plates or trays (the water will spill out of the cup during this activity so just make sure the cups are somewhere that can maybe get a little wet).

Explain to the family: The cups represent our hearts and the water that is in the cups represents how God fills our hearts.Then, have each person write or draw on their rocks things that take a lot of their time or attention.  
Talk about what everyone wrote or drew on their rocks and then slowly put them in the cups.
The water in each cup will overflow. Talk about what happened to the water.
Ask: How is this like what happens in our hearts with God? How can we keep our hearts full of God?