Idolatry (Dt 4:15-31)

Deuteronomy 4:16-31; Key Verse: Dt 4:24

"For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

In Deuteronomy, the themes studied so far are Sin (Dt 1:1-46), Leadership (Dt 1:9-18), Faith (Dt 2:1-3:29) and Obedience (Dt 4:1-14). In Dt 4:15-31, Moses warns the Israelites about how grievous the sin of idolatry is.

1. What it does - How enticing it is (Dt 4:15-19).
2. What it results in - How devastating are its consequences (Dt 4:25-28).
3. What to do; what to remember - How to overcome it (Dt 4:20-24, 29-31).

2014 Key Verse Testimony (Dt 15:15)

2014 Key Verse: Dt 15:15a

"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you."

Remembrance. I am tentatively choosing this key verse as as I prepare to preach through Deuteronomy. The three key imperatives of Deuteronomy are love (Dt 6:5), obey (Dt 10:12-13) and choose (Dt 30:19-20). But no one, however godly and holy, can long sustain such imperatives by their sheer resolve and will power with beauty and mystery. (They might do it grumpily, angrily, habitually or legalistically!) We need to remember the grace of God (1 Cor 15:10). Throughout his three lengthy farewell speeches in Deuteronomy, Moses says "remember" or "do not forget" (God's grace), in order to help God's people to live victoriously with God's blessing in the promised land. I pray that 2014 may be a year of remembrance so that the grace of God may compel us to love God (Dt 6:5) and to obey God (Dt 10:12-13) and to choose life (Dt 30:19-20) with hearts that are overflowing with resounding joy and gratitude.

Review. Each year over the last few years, a theme for West Loop UBF was chosen.

Confounding Paradoxes That Are True To Life

Paradoxes common in Christianity (and in life):

• If you die, you live (1 Cor 15:36). If you try to live, you die (Mt 16:25; Mk 8:35; Lk 9:24).
• If you expose your weakness, you experience power (2 Cor 12:9-10). If you conceal your weakness, you loose your power, even if you have might.
• If you give up control, you have authority. If you're authoritarian (Mt 20:25; Mk 10:42; Lk 22:25), you loose control.
• If you listen (Jas 1:19), you're heard. If you demand to be heard, no one listens to you.

How To Be Productive Infographic

Take a minute to browse through the infographic: Get It Done: 35 Habits of the Most Productive People (Infographic). As a cerebral "heady" person, the habits regarding the MIND (right side of the infographic) resonates with me:

• 80/20 rule: Which 20% of your work produces 80% of the result? (Not sports, movies and facebook!)
• Focus on the important (Reading, preparing, planning, reflecting, exercising). Suppress the urgent (Checking sports stats daily, internet cruising, celebrity trivia).
• Idea dumping tips: Always carry paper (or note book). Be descriptive when writing it down. Ask why; think big picture. Don't force it. (First time I heard of "Idea Dump.")
• Learn to ignore. (But, but, this article was good!) No need to respond to everything.
• DO a bad FIRST DRAFT. You can't edit a blank page.

HACKS is pretty good too (third from left):

2014--A Year Of Remembrance; Preaching Schedule

For West Loop UBF, we chose a theme each year over the last few years:

• 2010 was a year of the gospel--the matters of first importance (1 Cor 15:1-4).
  
• 2011 was a year of grace (Acts 20:24)--the primary experience of the gospel.
• 2012 was a year of sanctification (Phil 2:12-13)--the scary/painful part of the gospel.
• 2013 was a year of considering the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27, ESV) or the whole will of God (NIV), or the whole plan of God (HCSB), or the whole purpose of God (NASB). This prompted me to study and preach through Revelation, the last book I wanted to study.
  
• For 2014, it may be a year of remembrance (Dt 5:15; 15:15), as I prepare to preach through Deuteronomy.

Obedience (Dt 4:1-15)

Deuteronomy 4:1-15; Key Verse: Dt 4:1

"Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live..."

Theme: A key to obedience is to hear (Hebrew: shamar).

In Dt 4:1-15, the two parts of this sermon will consider (1) how the people of God are to obey God, and (2) why the people of God should and even want to obey God:

1. How to obey God
2. Why we obey God

Obedience (Deuteronomy 4)

Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Key Verse: Dt 4:1

"Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you."

Obedience. The themes covered so far are Sin (Dt 1), Leadership (Dt 1a) and Faith (Dt 2-3). The theme of Dt 4 is on obedience to the law (Torah). Generally, people think or act as though obedience is needed for their salvation. But biblical obedience is the fruit of salvation, not the means of salvation. Biblical obedience is not commanded of non-believers or non-Christians, but of the people of God--those who have experienced God's saving grace (Dt 1:30-31; 4:37; 5:6, 15; 15:15; 24:18). This is similar to Jesus saying to his disciples that their obedience should be because of their love (Jn 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10).