“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9
The Ten Commandment Project is a powerful tool to help believers and the church reach out to children and youth in our world and culture. By the power and promise of God’s Word, it can really make a difference.
This project is used to both share the good news of Jesus Christ and to disciple them with one of the most fruitful and powerful teaching tools in all of the Word of God. In our world which seems to be set on fire by the kingdom of darkness, the genuine answer is the powerful water of the Word of God (John 4:14; John 7:37-39; Ephesians 5:26; Isaiah 55:1).
The Ten Commandments are found in full in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5. They share God’s moral law, His great wisdom, and provide insight for living a life that honors God.
My wife Birdie and I have had the privilege of helping to lead this project in our community for a few years, and it has been both an exciting and rewarding journey. Should God call you to do this too, you’ll see how fun and beautiful a process it is.
The American Family Association is interested in helping to cast a vision for other believers, churches, and groups that would be interested in doing the Ten Commandments Project or a similar one in their own community. Just contact me at jparker@afa.net or call my number in the last paragraph.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.” Proverbs 9:10-11
“Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a Light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
How it works
Here is the basic approach we have used to lead this project: We take around a six week period of time to meet once a week with a group of children and/or youth. We have worked with children from elementary grades through high school in various venues like local churches and Boys and Girls Clubs. Those clubs have been a key venue in two different cities within Mississippi.
We ask each child or youth to memorize the short form of the Ten Commandments as seen below. Upon memorizing all of them, each child will receive a free t-shirt with them printed on the back. (The shirt is a great witnessing tool also.)
The Ten Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any graven images.
3. You shall not use God’s Name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
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 tell lies.
10. You shall not covet.
When a youth is ready to recite the Ten Commandments from memory, he or she does it before their peers. Some may get all ten on the first try, but typically, most have not done it on the first try. Also when a youth is standing before his or her peers attempting to recite all ten, they are actually drilling each other on the Ten Commandments.
During the six weeks, we take the time to teach the youth the meaning and importance of each commandment. We use movie clips and music videos as critical teaching tools to help to teach the truths behind each of the Ten Commandments. The video tools actually help to draw them into a discussion about insights behind each commandment.
It’s been a very fruitful and rewarding journey since we began this project a few years ago. We see it as a great way to begin to plant the life-changing Word of God in the hearts of our children. Also, its clearly a proactive way to both carry out the Great Commission among our youth and to fight and protect them against many of the tragic ways and tools the enemy uses to try to pull them into darkness.
A project such as this helps the Church to be on the offense. The Ten Commandments become a tool to do spiritual battle with the kingdom of darkness as a culture grows darker. Satan is behind the school shootings, abortion, youth dying from drugs, and or youth being incarcerated for stealing or breaking other commandments. Our children and youth desperately need to hear the gospel and to be discipled in the powerful Word of God.
Remember, if this interests you, AFA is interested in helping you and/or your church. We can be reached at jparker@afa.net or call Pastor Joseph Parker, (662) 844-5036, ext. 381. We hope to hear from you.
Editor's note: To see the back of the T-shirt and a local newspapers write up, click here.
