Series Big Idea: "Showing how the early stories of Scripture establish God’s Plan of Salvation”

Sermon Big: "Obey fully, love completely, and never forget the Lord’s faithfulness”

Key Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:1-15)

We’re now in Week 10 of our series, The Blueprint of Redemption, where we’ve been walking through the Bible chronologically, seeing how God’s plan to redeem His people unfolds. As we read day by day, I’ve been selecting passages that I believe we need to slow down and focus on. And today, we find ourselves in Deuteronomy 6, a pivotal moment where Moses gives Israel a firm charge before they step into the Promised Land. He’s reminding them of something critical: Obey God, love Him completely, and above all, don’t forget Him once the blessings come.  

But before we get there, I want you to picture something. Imagine a father who worked for years to build a business from the ground up. He sacrificed, struggled, and put in long hours, all so he could pass it down to his children. But after he hands it over, something happens—the next generation doesn't cherish it like he did. They take it for granted. They get comfortable. They don’t realize what it cost. And over time, they lose everything their father worked for.  

Church, that’s what Moses is warning against. The Israelites were about to walk into blessings they didn’t earn, houses they didn’t build, vineyards they didn’t plant, and cities they didn’t establish. But the danger wasn’t the land, it was their forgetfulness! If we’re not careful, we can enjoy God’s blessings but drift away from the Blesser. Let’s see what this very powerful passage has to say. First, we see a call to obey.

(Deuteronomy 6:1-15)

“This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbolC on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. 10 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you—a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, 11 houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 13 Fear the Lord your God, worship him, and take your oaths in his name. 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. Otherwise, the Lord your God will become angry with you and obliterate you from the face of the earth 

I.        A Call to Obey God’s Word (vv.1-3)

Moses begins in verses 1-3 by charging Israel to carefully obey God's Word so that things will "go well" with them in the land. But here’s what we need to see. This isn’t just about rules. This is about relationship.

Look at verse 2. Moses says, “Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God.” The word "fear" here in Hebrew is yare’ which doesn’t just mean being scared, it means deep reverence and awe. It’s the kind of holy respect that keeps you from walking away from God in disobedience. So, Moses isn’t telling them to follow God out of terror, he’s telling them to obey because they recognize His greatness!

Then in verse 3, Moses says, “Be careful to obey so that it may go well with you.” That phrase “go well” comes from the Hebrew word tov, which means goodness, prosperity, and wholeness. Obedience isn’t about restriction; it’s about flourishing! Moses isn’t saying, “Do this because God is trying to control you.” He’s saying, “Walk in obedience because God's way leads to the life you're called to live!”

But here’s where this gets personal. Obedience isn’t just for your benefit; it’s for the next generation. Look at verse 2. "That you, your son, and your grandson may fear the Lord..." Parents, your example of faith will either be something your children follow or something they reject. What are they seeing? Are they witnessing full surrender to God, or are they seeing casual Christianity that turns on and off throughout the week? Moses is laying the foundation; you can’t love God fully if you don’t obey Him fully. Which leads us to the next command.

II.        Command to Love God Fully (vv.4-5)

Verses 4-5 contain what is known as the Shema. The central confession of faith for the Jewish people. So, if Jesus said this was the greatest commandment, then we better slow down and understand exactly what it means.

Verse 4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” That word “hear” is important. It’s the Hebrew word Shema. But it doesn’t just mean "listen.” It means to listen with the intent to respond. It’s the kind of hearing that demands action. When Moses says, “Hear, O Israel,” he’s not just saying, “Let this go in one ear and out the other.” He’s saying, “Take this deep into your heart and live by it.”

Then he declares, “The Lord is one.” This is a powerful statement of God's exclusivity. There is no other God. He alone is worthy of worship! They were about to enter a land filled with idols, and Moses is telling them, “Listen, there’s no room for divided allegiance in your walk with God."

Verse 5 gives the command: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might.” But let’s break down these words:

Heart - In Hebrew thought, the heart wasn’t just about emotions; it represented a person’s will, desires, and intentions. Loving God with all your heart means your highest affections belong to Him.

Soul - This word literally means your entire being. It’s saying your love for God should not be limited, it should consume all of you.

Might - This is an unusual word because, in Hebrew, it means “very” or “muchness.” In other words, love God with everything you have—your time, your energy, your resources, your influence.

Here’s the point. You can’t love God half-heartedly. You can’t say you love Him on Sunday but ignore Him on Monday. Loving God fully means He gets your first, your best, and your all.

And remember, Jesus quoted this very passage in Matthew 22:37. But here’s the difference. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills this command perfectly. Where our love is weak, Jesus' love is perfect. Where our devotion wavers, His never fails. And through Him, we are empowered to love God as we should. Moses has called them to obey and love God fully. But now comes the warning, if they’re not careful, all of this can fade.

III.        A Warning to Never Forget God (vv.10-15)

In verses 10-12, Moses looks ahead and tells them exactly what’s going to happen. He says, “When the Lord brings you into the land... with houses you did not build... and vineyards you did not plant... then take care lest you forget the Lord.”

This is a warning we need to take seriously. Prosperity can be more dangerous than hardship. Why? Because hardship keeps you on your knees, but prosperity can make you think you don’t need God anymore.

The word “forget” here is the Hebrew word shakach, which doesn’t just mean to accidentally misplace something, it means to drift away from something that was once central to you. It happens slowly. Quietly. Over time.

Let me make this real. Remember when some of you were brand new believers? You couldn’t wait to open your Bible. You prayed with passion. You served God with joy. But somewhere along the way, the fire faded. It wasn’t intentional but life got busy, blessings came, and before you knew it, God wasn’t first anymore.

Moses warns them: Don’t let that happen. And here’s why. Verse 15 says, “The Lord your God is a jealous God.” But understand this. God’s jealousy is not petty. It’s protective. He knows that anything we put before Him will ultimately destroy us. And because He loves us, He refuses to share our hearts with lesser things.

So, here’s the question—Has your success made you forget Him? Have you replaced the Blesser with His blessings?

Conclusion:

Are You Loving, Obeying, and Remembering? Let’s make this plain. God has called us to three things today:

Obey Him completely - His commands are for your good.

Love Him fully - Partial devotion is not enough. You must surrender your all.

Never forget Him - Prosperity can lead to spiritual forgetfulness, but we must stay anchored to the Lord.

But even when we fail, Jesus never did. He is the fulfillment of this passage. Where Israel failed, He remained faithful. Where we fall short, He stands perfect. And because of His completed work, we can walk in true love, obedience, and remembrance of our great God.

So, today, let’s renew our commitment. Obey fully. Love deeply. Remember constantly. Because a heart that loves Him fully will obey Him faithfully and never forget Him daily. Amen.

Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Estes, Daniel J. Job. Edited by Mark L. Strauss et al., Baker Books, 2013.Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.

Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.

Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture

Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context

Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Wilson, Neil S. The Handbook of Bible Application. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2000.

Dockery, David S., ed. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.

Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. The Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

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