Sermon Study Guides

The book of Deuteronomy, which means second law or repetition of the law, is a restating of the covenant that God had made with the Israelite people before they entered the promised land. The book of Deuteronomy records a collection of Moses’ farewell speeches to the Israelites during a 40-day period right before they entered the promised land.

Moses gave the people a brief overview of their history, concluding with: “You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:35). We too are shown these things so that we might know that the LORD, Yahweh, is God; besides Him there is no other.

You will find the one true God if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. He is merciful. If you return to the Lord and obey Him, He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the promises He has made.

Remember the Ten Commandments. They were given from God. They are foundational, universal, moral commands for everyone, everywhere. Humans have no authority to diminish or change the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are protection for humanity against itself. They give us a standard of right and wrong. When a society or nation follows them, the people will thrive, and the blessings of God will fall upon them. They don’t show us HOW to get to heaven; they show us WHY we can’t get to heaven.

Jesus is only One who can clean us on the inside. He became sin for us and cancelled the charge against us, nailing it to the cross.

Deuteronomy chapter 6 talks about the importance of passing along the truths and commands of God to our children. We need to pass down the precious foundations of our faith and explain who God is and why we follow Him. We must live out our faith for our children to see and learn.

Warnings (Deuteronomy 18:9-14):

Against child sacrifice: Destroying a child in the womb is detestable to the Lord.

Against divination: Divination is the attempt to gain knowledge through techniques like fortune telling, numerology, astrology, tarot cards, horoscopes, palm reading, and psychic reading. That is detestable to the Lord.

We, as Christ followers, are not to seek advice, future knowledge, healing, spiritual experiences, power, or anything else from psychics, mediums, wicca, spiritists, witchcraft, occult practices, or any source apart from Jesus Christ. These practices promise temporary power, temporary healing, knowledge and control, but they will leave you empty, tormented, and will make you a slave. They are counterfeits from Satan. They will suck the life out of you.

God knows people will turn away from Him and suffer the consequences for it. But remember: if they turn back to Him, He will forgive them, heal them and restore blessings in their life.

The Song of Moses (chapter 32) summarizes God’s message to the people. Songs are a strategic way to help people remember what was taught.

The two main themes in Deuteronomy are:

Remember. Remember the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord. Remember the miracles and power of the Lord. Remember the commandments of the Lord. Remember the consequences of sin. Remember how to return to the Lord. Remember to trust Him. Remember to follow Him. Remember the love of the Lord. Remember.

Choose life! “I set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life!”

Don’t just hear the word of God and forget what was said. Apply the Word of God to your life. Choose to follow God because He is worthy.

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

1. Do you receive instructions as restrictions or as guidelines? Give examples.

2. Share things you have done to remember something? What method works for you now?

UP - PURSUE GOD

1. Read Deuteronomy 5:6-21. What is the purpose of the Ten Commandments? How does Col 2:13-15 bridge law verses love? Are the commandments relevant to you? How?

2. Read Deut 6:4-9. Deut 5:7-11 implies needful compliance. Deut 6:5 says to love God. Discuss what you think God is saying between these passages? How are we to put His words in our hearts? How, why and to whom are we to pass God’s commandments to?

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

1. Discuss this statement: “The Ten Commandments don’t show us how to get to heaven; they show us why we can’t get to heaven.” Which side of that statement do you live out more?

2. Break into groups of 2-3. Share the things that suck the life out of you. What Biblical principles will you use to address these things? Pray for one another.

Personal Reflection

"What is it that you need to remember today about the Lord? How can you choose life today?" What verse reflects your need? Reflect on this daily. Share with your group your experience.

The Word (NIV)

Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (NIV)

6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

7 “You shall have no other gods before me.

8 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

11 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

17 “You shall not murder.

18 “You shall not commit adultery.

19 “You shall not steal.

20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (NIV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Colossians 2:13–15 (NIV)

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

This Week's Writers: Elsa Henderson, Jorel Quemuel, Dave McMillin, Gene Gibbs