In week four of our journey through the Ten Commandments, we come to a command that goes beyond mere words—it speaks to our very identity. The third commandment warns us not to treat God’s name as empty, false, or a tool for our own ends. It confronts shallow religion that honors God with lips while denying Him in life.

This weekend at Anchor Church, we examined the second commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” Far from a rule against statues alone, it reveals how we often reshape the living God to fit our preferences or cultural trends. Before giving this command, God reminds Israel of His covenant love: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…” (Ex 20:2). Under the New Covenant, Jesus fulfills that rescue, revealing the Father perfectly and empowering us to worship in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24) rather than according to our own imaginations.

This weekend at Anchor Church, we explored the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This isn’t a cold religious rule—it’s a covenant invitation from a rescuing God. Before He gives this command, God reminds His people of their redemption: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." The foundation of obedience is always grace.

This weekend at Anchor Church, we launched our new sermon series on the Ten Commandments by exploring the preamble. Exodus 20:1–2 begins with a declaration that reshapes how we understand the entire law: "And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'" These verses remind us that the Ten Commandments are not cold, legalistic rules. They are words of life, rooted in relationship, rescue, and revelation.

This weekend we turned to Romans 16 for a powerful Mother’s Day message—a passage filled with truth about how God builds His church through the full body of Christ, including faithful, Spirit-empowered women. Paul ends his letter with a roll call of names—many of them women—who helped shape the early church. These women were leaders, servants, mentors, and laborers for the gospel—playing an essential role alongside their brothers in Christ.