Lesson Manuscript here:
Franklin Heights Church Connect Groups: https://franklinheights.org/connect/groups/
Review: Last week we looked at how the Covenant relationship with God and his people worked. He was faithful to them, and warned them to stay close to Him in obedience and not to stray into idolatrous disobedience.
Title: Fully Committed
Text: Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Key Verse: Deut. 30:16, “16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God[a] that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,[b] then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”
Introduction: In this week’s lesson we see that [Theme:] Believers are to be characterized by a wholehearted commitment to God.
Intro: Have you ever been in a situation where you ha d a lot of choices? My wife and I visited a bakery in our area and there were so many delicious looking choices. This was a fun choice scenario; but life is filled with major choices, too. [Gospel] Where you will spend eternity is the most important choice to make. Jesus came, lived. A perfect life, died, and rose so that if we will repent from our sin and believe in Him, we may be saved and live SENT for Him. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior please reach out to me. I’d love nothing better than to show you from the Bible how you too could begin your personal relationship with Jesus. God wants us to make the choice to be whole-heartedly committed to Him.
Main Points:
- The Command (Deut. 30: 11-14)
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
- God makes it clear that obey Him isn’t too difficult.
- It wasn’t a major feat to understand God’s directions. He’s made them clear.
- When God is in our hears, in our life, He’s in charge and woven into the very fabric of our being and entire existence.
- He has preeminence and prominence over self.
- II. The Commitment (Deut. 30:15-18)
“15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God[a] that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,[b] then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.”
- Prosperity in the Hebrew context was not limited to financial stability but was more holistic including joyfulness.
- The blessing would include living in, multiplying in, and being blessed in the land. Compare this blessing to the generation from Egypt who missed out.
- Verse 17 warns us with the digression into sin: The heart wants it, the mind focuses on it and off of God, and it’s a quick slippery slope to being head-deep in it. It’s like quicksand.
- It’s usually incremental and dangerous and subtle.
- III. The Challenge (Deut. 30:19-20)
“19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
- A courtroom image is presented with heaven and earth witnessing to God’s generosity in giving His people more than enough opportunity to follow Him.
- More than mental assent, complete commitment was needed.
- He was Israel’s very life. This is the reality that compels us to-whenever we come to God’s Word, not just read, it and gain three tips to a happy, godly life, and move on-but to engage our hearts and souls with the Word and respond in surrendered worshipful prayer and adoration to Him.
Doctrine: Our key doctrine for this week is Man.
Lifeway Explore says, “By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race.”
Gen 3:6-7, “6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[a] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
James 1:14-15, “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Gospel:
Gospel Conversation Transition Statement: “I haven’t dealt with that tough situation, but I have experienced similar tough situations. May I share with you the hope I have found in Jesus?”
Big Takeaway(s):
Believers are to be characterized by a wholehearted commitment to God.
Trust that God gives you all you need to obey Him.
To follow God or not is man’s decision.
Our decision to follow God or not impacts our future generations.
Discussion Questions:
What is one of your big takeaways from God’s Word here?
When you say, “God is your life” what does that mean?
How has following Jesus changed you?
Please share your takeaway within your group and add your takeaway it in the comments.
Caleb Walker 
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