Bible Teaching Ideas: The Ten Commandments And Ten Fingers

Start with your hands together in prayer. This reminds us that God heard the prayers of the Hebrew people when they were in slavery in Egypt and freed them (Exodus 3:7, 20:2). The commandments are a way for us to show our gratitude for God’s love in our lives.

1. “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me.” Hold up one index finger for the number one. We worship one God.

2. “You shall not worship idols.” (Idols, false gods, are not only things like statues, but also anything we place our ultimate trust and allegiance in, for example money or possessions.) Hold up two fingers. Should we worship more than one God? No, two is too many! One of them must be an idol, and we should not worship it!

3. “You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.” Use three fingers which stand for the three persons of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ” Be careful how you use the name of God. God wants us to use His name in loving, caring ways, as we pray and as we talk about Him, not in swearing or in anger.”

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Hold up four fingers; fold your thumb under to let it rest. The thumb has the right idea. It’s the Sabbath, and the thumb is following the commandment to take a day of rest.

5. “Honor your father and your mother.” Hold up all five fingers on one hand as if you are taking a pledge, to honor your parents.

6. “You shall not kill.” Pretend the index finger on your second hand is a gun, shooting at the first five fingers. God’s sixth commandment teaches us not to do what has become too commonplace in our society.

7. “You shall not commit adultery.” Hold one hand out flat. The five fingers and hand becomes the floor of the church. Two fingers on the other hand are the man and the woman to be married, standing in the church, making promises to each other. This commandment calls for couples to keep the marriage promises they make.

8. “You shall not steal.” Hold up four fingers on each hand, for the eighth commandment. If you stretch out your fingers slightly, these become the prison bars, which hold someone who has been arrested for stealing.

9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Hold up all five fingers on one hand and four on the other. Fold you second thumb under and turn your hand around, so the thumb is hiding. It is secretly going around telling the other fours fingers on that hand, lies and rumors about the five fingers on the other hand. It is “bearing false witness,” as it talks behind people’s backs, spreading gossip, criticizing others without talking directly to the people involved.

10. “Do not covet what belongs to your neighbor.” Hold out your hands, palms up, and wiggle all ten fingers to show that they’ve got the “gimmies.” (Give to me) Your fingers are saying, “Gimmie what belongs to you.”