MARCH 27, Today s Scripture: Deuteronomy 6

Transcription

1 MARCH 27, 2011 OVERVIEW Deuteronomy 5 The Ten Commandments repeated Deuteronomy 6 A call to obey all God s commands Deuteronomy 7 The call to destroy the pagan nations Deuteronomy 8 Review of God s grace and warning to obey Deuteronomy 9 Reminder of Israel s unworthiness Deuteronomy 10 Warnings and exhortations Deuteronomy 11 More warnings and exhortations Deuteronomy 12 Conditions of blessing in the land Deuteronomy 13 How to test for false prophets Deuteronomy 14 Dietary laws Today s Scripture: Deuteronomy 6 BACKGROUND: o Camped at Arabah, east of the Jordan River. o Moses very concerned about God s commands being passed on to the next generation. DANGER PROOFING OUR CHILDREN

2 Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (NIV) 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, [Hebrew The Shema The most famous Jewish confession of faith follows in vs. 4-9] 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 upon 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. [God was saying that spiritual and moral education is best taught, not in a formal setting but informal and in the family] 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. [Most likely this was meant as figurative, not literally taken as the orthodox Jews interpret this.] The dangers our children face: o Forgetting God in prosperity (Vs )

3 Deuteronomy 6:10-13 (NIV) 10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. o Adopting a secular mindset (Vs ) Deuteronomy 6:14-15 (NIV) 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. o Hostility toward God. (V. 16) Deuteronomy 6:16 (NIV) 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. [Massah = testing // This is where the Children of Israel lacked water and the complained to the Lord, blaming Him for their troubles]

4 I have seen young people from Christian homes, develop a chip on their shoulder toward God. o Blaming Him for all their troubles. Though we live in challenging days for parents, I believe we should be filled with hope. We have a lot going for us in these days: Affluent culture not expending all our energy to forage for food. Peace in our country (History Most of our ancestors time was spend hiding form Attila the Hun and his marauding hoard // Or later our European ancestors had to hide from the Vikings) Bible in our language A Bible in every home The ability to read - Literacy rate in some African countries Less than 30% Christian parenting books, videos, and other resources Wonderful children and youth ministries Conversation points to combat the above dangers: 1. The tragic condition of life without God (V. 21a) Deuteronomy 6:21a (NIV) 21 tell him: We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt... [Life without God slavery. Egypt is the O.T. picture of bondage to sin.] BTW, parents who did things they aren t proud of (that would be about 99.99% of us) s want to know, What do I say when your children ask if I ever committed a sin? o Here s my advice: 1. Have a ready answer. 2. Don t dwell on details. 3. Talk about the negative results of that kind of life. 4. Talk about how Jesus gave you a better life. 2. The exclusive nature of salvation (V. 21b) Deuteronomy 6:21 (NIV) 21 tell him: We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. [Not from their own works; Only God could save them from slavery] There are 10,000 distinct religious groups in the world. o Many college professors will be fine with your child believing any of them but evangelical Christianity. Unethical to me with most parents paying for college, that they would attempt to undermine our child s faith. But it s a fact.

5 Me growing up in Calif. During the Jesus People Movement A clear message of One Way. o One Way must be the prominent message in your home (from birth). The nature of salvation, the message of the gospel needs to be discussed often. 3. The faithfulness of God...in past events. (V. 22) Deuteronomy 6:22 (NIV) 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders great and terrible upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. Stressful times...are the best times to communicate this with our children. o I would not recommend saying things like, Why can t God give us a break?, Or Where is God when we need Him? -- Instead recount His faithfulness in the past. Tell stories of how He met your needs in the past, and this gives us confidence for the present....in keeping His promises. (V. 23) Deuteronomy 6:23 (NIV) 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. This conversation point deals with God s integrity and ultimate control over human events. 4. The rewards of obedience to God. (V. 24) Deuteronomy 6:24 (NIV) 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Teach them that God truly values, what He rewards -- o... [Micah 6:8]... To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God. Life Application What conversation point(s) do you need to discuss with your teenager? A plan to open up dialogue: o Take them out to dinner. o Discuss the conversation point(s) in the context of a relationship. This may take some work in rebuilding your relationship.

6 o Don t be defensive or angry when they question your views. They are trying to process what kind of life they want to live. They want to express some level of independence. o Entrust your teenager to God through prayer. This Week s Prayer Father God, I confess I am fearful about the dangers my children face today. I ask You to fill my heart with faith. Remind me that I am not alone in this task of parenting. You are here for me, to guide and strengthen me. Please open doors of conversation to help me to equip my son/daughter to make the right choices. In Jesus name, Amen. For further study - A more detailed copy of this sermon, the Expedition A.B.F. notes, and maps/charts/photos can be found at (Posted by 4 P.M. today) THIS WEEK S STUDY: DEUTERONOMY 15-23