No Other Gods
Exodus 20:1-3 | Leader & Student Information

Tyler Bowles • Associate Pastor
September 30, 2026

2 Minute Read
Week 2 Devotional
Scripture

Lesson Summary

Before giving Israel the first commandment, God reminded them that He had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Their obedience was a response to His rescue. The LORD alone was their God, and they were to worship Him without giving their allegiance to another god beside Him or instead of Him.

God deserves our whole heart because He alone is the true God. Elijah’s confrontation with Baal showed the difference between the living God and a powerless idol. Psalm 115 reminds us that idols cannot hear, act, or save—and that what we worship shapes us.

We may not bow before statues, but possessions, popularity, friendships, or success can still take God’s place. These can be good gifts, but they cannot give us the life and lasting satisfaction that God provides. Jeremiah compares turning from God to leaving a fountain of fresh water for a broken container that cannot hold water. God calls us to worship Him alone because He is our greatest treasure.

Three Main Ideas

  • God saves: Israel’s rescue depended entirely on God.
  • God calls us to obey: Obedience follows salvation; it does not earn it.
  • God sets His people apart: God’s people belong to Him and are called to show His goodness to others.


Small Group Questions

Understanding the Passage
  1. Why does God remind Israel of their rescue before giving this command? How does that help us understand why we should obey Him?
  2. Read Mark 12:28–30. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. What would that look like in your everyday choices? How should loving God affect the way you treat others?
  3. Read Matthew 4:8–10. What was Jesus being asked to put before God? When might you be tempted to disobey God to gain something you want?
  4. What we trust and worship shapes us. How might making popularity, possessions, or winning most important change the way someone treats other people? Do you recognize any of that in yourself?
  5. Why is a broken water container a good picture of things we expect to satisfy us instead of God? What is one practical way you can turn toward God this week?
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From this Author: Tyler Bowles
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October 11, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
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Tyler Bowles

Associate Pastor

September 13, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
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Tyler Bowles

Associate Pastor