Deuteronomy Sermons

I AM SPECIAL BECAUSE GOD HAS CHOSEN ME

AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S COVENANT REQUIREMENTS PREPARES ISRAEL TO CROSS THE JORDAN AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED LAND

QUALIFIED LEADERS SHARE THE LOAD AND ADJUDICATE JUSTICE

ISRAEL’S DISOBEDIENCE FLIES IN THE FACE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND ASSURANCES

IN THEIR JOURNEY TO THEIR OWN PROMISED LAND, ISRAEL MUST RESPECT THE SOVEREIGN LANDS OF EDOM, MOAB AND AMMON

GOD GRANTS VICTORY AS HIS PEOPLE FIGHT THE BATTLES TO POSSESS THE PROMISED LAND

RESOLVING ISSUES OF REWARD, RESPONSIBILITY, RULERSHIP, AND RATIONALIZATON PREPARED GOD’S PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR MISSION OF CONQUEST

LIFE IN THE LAND DEPENDS ON COVENANT FAITHFULNESS AS THE UNIQUENESS OF ISRAEL RESPONDS TO THE UNIQUENESS OF THEIR GOD

MOSES IMPLEMENTS A LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE NEWLY ACQUIRED TRANSJORDANIAN TERRITORY THAT COMBINES MERCY AND JUSTICE

PROCLAMATION OF THE LAW IN PREPARATION TO CROSS THE JORDAN

THE EXPOSITION OF ISRAEL’S COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP BEGINS WITH THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

COVENANT COMMITMENT MUST BE WHOLEHEARTEDLY LIVED OUT AND PROPAGATED TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

BOTH PROSPERITY AND HARDSHIP CAN TEMPT GOD’S PEOPLE TO FORGET THE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE OF REDEMPTION –

SO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH HISTORICAL INSTRUCTION

ELECTION DEFINES OUR IDENTITY AS GOD’S TREASURED POSSESSION (INVOLVING COUNTLESS BLESSINGS) AND ORIENTS US TOWARDS HOLINESS (REQUIRING THE PURGING OF GOD’S ENEMIES)

REMEMBERING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN TOUGH TIMES (THE WILDERNESS) SHOULD GUARD AGAINST FORGETTING GOD IN PROSPEROUS TIMES SO THAT WE OBEY RATHER THAN PERISH

DESPITE ISRAEL’S HISTORY OF PROVOKING THE LORD TO ANGER, COVENANT PRIVILEGES PERSIST

TIMES OF TRANSITION REQUIRE A RENEWED PLEDGE TO TOTAL ALLEGIANCE TO THE GOD OF THE COVENANT

CHOOSING OBEDIENCE, LOVE AND LOYALTY TO GOD ENSURES THE BLESSING OF POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND

ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND PROVIDES THE TRANSITION TO CENTRALIZED WORSHIP ALONG WITH THE FREEDOM TO EAT MEAT LOCALLY

THREE HYPOTHETICAL ATTEMPTS AT SPIRITUAL SEDUCTION DENOUNCED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN COVENANT LOYALTY

GOD’S PEOPLE MUST MANIFEST THEIR DISTINCTIVE OF HOLINESS IN AREAS OF DAILY LIVING (e.g. DIETARY LAWS)

OFFERING TITHES AFFORDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOYFULLY CELEBRATE A COMMUNAL FEAST IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

THE SABBATICAL DEBT AND INDENTURED SERVANT RELEASES GRANT A NEW START FOR ISRAELITES WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES

THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS SACRIFICES AND ANNUAL CELEBRATORY FEASTS REFLECTED THEIR JOY IN GOD’S DELIVERANCE, PROVISION AND ABIDING PRESENCE

RIGHTEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF JUDGMENT PURGES THE EVIL FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS

TRANSITION TO A MONARCHY WILL LEAD TO ABUSE OF POWER UNLESS THE KING SUBMITS TO THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD

GOD’S PEOPLE MUST RESPOND TO DIVINELY APPOINTED LEADERS WITH MATERIAL SUPPORT AND SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

REFUGE MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE IN CASES OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER BUT PREMEDITATED MURDER REQUIRES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

THE LAW ENSURES BOTH PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE INTEGRITY OF JUDICIAL WITNESSES

GOD’S WARS MUST BE FOUGHT:

– IN DEPENDENCE UPON GOD’S STRENGTH,

– WITH COURAGE AND NO DISTRACTIONS,

– ACCORDING TO GOD’S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND

– WITHOUT COLLATERAL DAMAGE

THE DEFILEMENT OF GOD’S HOLY LAND BY AN UNSOLVED MURDER MUST BE ADDRESSED VIA RITUAL ATONEMENT

POTENTIALLY COMPLEX OR TROUBLESOME SITUATIONS REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF GOD’S WISDOM TO MAINTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE PROMISED LAND

THE COVENANT PEOPLE OF GOD MUST MAINTAIN THEIR HOLY DISTINCTIVENESS AND FUNCTION AS LOVING NEIGHBORS AS THEY LIVE OUT GOD’S PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

THE EXAMINATION OF FIVE CASES THAT PROMOTE SEXUAL FIDELITY AND PROTECT AGAINST ABUSE

THE PRESENCE AND FAVOR OF A HOLY GOD DEMAND THAT ISRAEL GUARD THE SANCTITY OF THE WORSHIP ASSEMBLY AND THE MILITARY CAMP

GOD’S LAWS ENSURE THAT ISRAEL REMAINS DISTINCT FROM HER SURROUNDING PAGAN NEIGHBORS IN TERMS OF PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS

THE PROHIBITION OF REMARRIAGE IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS PROTECTS THE DIGNITY OF THE FORMERLY REJECTED WIFE

YOUR HISTORY OF BEING REDEEMED FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT SHOULD MOTIVATE YOU TO SHOW COMPASSION, DIGNITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

MISCELLANEOUS LAWS REQUIRE ISRAEL TO ENFORCE GOD’S FAIR STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHILE INFLICTING SHAME ON THOSE WHO OFFEND

THE INITIAL PRESENTATION OF FIRST-FRUITS AND OF THE THIRD-YEAR TITHE CELEBRATED GOD’S PAST FAITHFULNESS AND CALLED FOR CONTINUED BLESSING AS THE PEOPLE FULFILLED THEIR COVENANT OBLIGATIONS

COVENANT RENEWAL REINFORCES ISRAEL’S COMMITMENT AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE TO OBEY GOD’S LAWS

COVENANT RENEWAL CEREMONY UPON ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND TO CHARGE ISRAEL WITH CONTINUED OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAW WHILE RECITING SPECIFIC CURSES FOR DISOBEDIENCE

COVENANT BLESSINGS ATTACH TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD CONDITIONED ON OBEDIENCE

COVENANT CURSINGS (THE REVERSAL OF GOD’S BLESSINGS) ATTACH TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD CONDITIONED ON DISOBEDIENCE

THE PERSPECTIVE OF HISTORY SHOULD MOTIVATE COVENANT LOYALTY

THE TWO CONTRASTING CHOICES ARE CLEAR – CHOOSE LIFE

DURING ANY CRISIS TRANSITION TIME, WE NEED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ONGOING PRESENCE AND ULTIMATE LEADERSHIP

REJECTING THE ROCK OF ISRAEL RESULTS IN GOD FORSAKING HIS PEOPLE – BUT NOT UTTERLY

GOD’S JUDGMENT (AS REFLECTED IN MOSES’ SONG AND HIS OWN DEATH) IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS

TRIBAL BLESSINGS AS THE LAST WORDS OF MOSES PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT IN COVENANT RENEWAL AND CONQUEST PREPARATION

DESPITE THE UNIQUE SIGNIFICANCE OF MOSES’ MINISTRY, HE MUST DESIGNATE JOSHUA AS HIS SUCCESSOR AND DIE WITHOUT ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND