1. Try to describe, in your own words, the main point of this sermon.
2. Is it wrong for us to desire glory? Is it inherently selfish to desire that the good that we do will be noticed and appreciated? Is God selfish for desiring glory?
3. Do you think that whether a person desires to be noticed and appreciated depends on people’s personalities and temperaments? Or do you think that everyone desires such recognition? Why?
4. What does “you shall have no other gods before me” mean? In what ways do we bring other gods before God? Why is this insulting to God? Why is it bad for us?
5. When Luther says that we never break commandments 2-10 without also breaking commandment number 1, what does he mean? Can you describe a time when this has been true for you?
6. Are God’s “smoke and thunder” and God’s “smoke and smiles” in competition with one another? Does one “outweigh” the other? Why or why not?
7. What is the summary of the 10 Commandments? What is the summary of the summary? What does this mean?
8. What would change in your life if you treasured God’s glory?
9. What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? Who is going to help you?