Yesterday, I had the privilege of sharing some of the core truths found in Deuteronomy 24-26 with our Community Bible Class. The lesson focuses on God’s values, on our God-given rights in light of those values, and especially on our imperishable inheritance.
The one-hour teaching video is here (under Lesson 11) : https://ward.church/on-demand/curriculum/#/series/49/sermons/989. The lesson follows this outline:
- Review and Introduction
- Goals for Humanity at Creation
- God’s Values (from 1 Peter 1)
- The Audience of Deuteronomy
- Marriage: Divorce (24:1-4)
- Which of God’s values are highlighted here?
- “Miscellaneous Laws” (24:5-25:4)
- What are humans prone to?
- Prioritizing work over family and human relationships (24:5)
- Prioritizing profit over human life (24:6, 10-15)
- Enslaving their brothers (24:7)
- Disease (24:8)
- Prejudice (24:9)
- Greed; taking advantage of or neglecting the weak (24:10-25:4)
- Forgetfulness (24:18, 22)
- Over-punishing wrongs (25:1-3)
- What does God value and call us to value?
- What are humans prone to?
- Marriage: Levirate Marriage (25:5-10)
- Which of God’s values are highlighted here?
- “Miscellaneous Laws” (25:11-19)
- What are humans prone to?
- Overreaching (25:11)
- Dishonesty (25:13-16)
- Oppressing the Weak (25:17-18)
- What does God value and call us to value?
- What are humans prone to?
- Call to Respond (26:1-19)
- How was Israel (and how are we) called to respond to the reality of our God-given freedom and inheritance?
- Go to the LORD on His terms (26:2)
- Declare the LORD’s faithfulness in keeping His promises to all generations of His people, including you (26:3, 26:6-10)
- Worship the LORD with joy (26:10-11)
- Care for the weak among you, as you’ve been cared for (26:12-13)
- Keep God’s laws faithfully (26:13-14, 26:16)
- Call on God to continue being faithful (26:15)
- How did Israel respond to all “These Words”? (26:17)
- How did & does the LORD respond? (26:19)
- How was Israel (and how are we) called to respond to the reality of our God-given freedom and inheritance?
After the teaching time, the class breaks into small groups to discuss further. These questions focus especially on applying the lesson material to our daily lives. This lesson’s questions are included below.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
- Has anyone ever kept a promise to you in a way that really meant a lot to you? Share a story with the group.
- Based on today’s lesson, can you summarize the whole Bible in one sentence?
- Look back at the values of God we focused on today (1 Peter 1). Now, consider the members of your small group who are with you today. What’s one of God’s values you can see being lived out by someone in your small group? How so?
- Romans 15:4 tells us, “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” What’s one specific truth from today’s lesson that you received as instruction / encouragement for you personally?
- From today’s passages, what do you think is most important for us to understand about marriage?
- When we looked at the “Miscellaneous Laws” included in Deuteronomy 24:5-25:4 and in 25:11-19, we listed a number of things humans are prone to. Take a moment to review those lists. Then, consider:
A. Which of these human tendencies are you most prone to lately?
B. Based on your answer to A, which of God’s values needs to grow in
your heart and life?
- The LORD tells Israel and us how to respond to our God-given freedom, rights, and inheritance. Which of those responses (from today’s outline) comes most naturally to you? Which ones are more of a challenge? In both cases, how so?
- Comparing God’s words in Deuteronomy with our world today, in what specific ways are we as a group moved to pray for our families? Our church? Our communities? Our nation? Our world?
Close in prayer (especially for your members’ answers from #6 and #8).
Detroit, Reformed. 
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