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March 21, 2021 Sermon Notes

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SERMON NOTES

You Are a People Holy to the Lord
Deuteronomy 6-9
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor

Overview: Moses prepares Israel to enter the Promised Land by reminding them that they are a people holy to the Lord, chosen by God to be His treasured possession. The reason for their special status was not due to their national achievements or potential abilities but rather God’s solitary choice and solemn promise to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants. The reality of their special status was based on God delivering them from slavery and sparing them from judgment. The responsibilities of their special status included love for God and obedience to His Word, as well as separation from the world and recognition of things that would lure them away from the Lord. The result of their special status consisted of blessings from the Lord and victory over evil. The account of Israel’s status as the people of God—from election to preservation, from deliverance to destiny—is reflective of and instructive for the church today.

01. Becoming a people holy to the Lord begins and ends with God’s grace. We are chosen by the grace of God; redeemed by the work of God; and kept by the power of God.

02. Being a people holy to the Lord produces love for God, hatred of sin, humility toward others, and hope for the future. God is at work in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY

1. Note how fearing the Lord and loving the Lord are brought together in Deuteronomy 6. Is there a difference between fearing the Lord and loving the Lord? If so, what is the difference? Can you love the Lord without also fearing the Lord?

2. Note the responsibility of parents in teaching their children about the Lord and recalling the great deeds of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:2, 7, 20-25). In what ways are you passing the faith down to the next generation? Are there any ministry opportunities at Northpoint in which you can help to equip the next generation?

3. What is the basis for God choosing Israel out of all the nations of the earth? How is this doctrine also reflected in Ephesians 1:3-6? Note how frequently Deuteronomy 6-9 reminds Israel not to become proud over their special standing before God. How should the doctrine of election produce humility in us today?

4. According to Deuteronomy 8, God kept Israel in the wilderness for forty years to teach them to trust Him and to obey His word. How has the Lord used adverse circumstances in your life to teach you to trust Him more? How have you learned to depend on the Lord in light of His many blessings in your life?

5. Read Moses’ prayer in Deuteronomy 9:13-29. What can we learn from the way Moses prays for God’s people using God’s promises and relying on God’s character? How does the prayer of Moses point us to the intercessory ministry of Jesus? See John 17 and Romans 8:31-39 for further insight.

For Further Reading: Michael Reeves, Rejoice & Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord (Crossway, 2021)