Choose life

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:14–15 NLT

No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

References:

Deuteronomy 30:11–20 NIV84

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Background Research:

Theme:

Object Lesson:

Songs:

Outline:

Choose Life: The Simple Choice for Children

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 30:14, Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Summary: In these passages, Moses presents the people of Israel with a clear choice between life and prosperity or death and destruction, emphasizing the importance of loving God and keeping His commands.

Application: This sermon can help children understand the importance of making good choices and recognizing how their decisions can align with God's path for their lives. It encourages them to think about the consequences of their choices and to choose what leads to life and blessings.

Teaching: The sermon teaches children that they have the power to make choices that affect their lives significantly, and it underscores the importance of choosing to follow God’s ways as a path to true life and happiness.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this theme, Christ is seen as the ultimate choice for life. Just as Moses urges the Israelites to choose life, Jesus embodies life itself (John 14:6) and offers salvation, bringing fulfillment to this call for obedience and faithfulness.

Big Idea: Choosing to follow God leads to life and blessings; it is a decision children can make each day.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider examining the context of Deuteronomy and how Moses’ calls to obedience resonate with children's everyday decisions. Look into thematic elements of choice in Scripture that tie in with New Testament concepts of life in Christ. Using Logos, explore commentaries that provide cultural and historical insights into the significance of these passages during Moses' time.

1. Not out of Reach

Deuteronomy 30:14 NIV84

No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

not necessary to search the heavens for it

Not necessary to looked in the Mountains

not necessary to cross the sea to find it

The Word is near you

In mouth

in your heart

Obey it

Maybe highlight how accessible God's commands are; they are not out of reach but are given to us in our hearts and mouths. For children, knowing that choosing right and wrong is something within them is empowering. You could suggest helping them see that God's words are there to guide them every day, and that they have what they need inside to make good choices. This empowers children to see life with God as near and personal.

2. Choose Life's True Path

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

The Cross roads (life and death, blessings and curses)

Choose Life

How do you Choose life?

Love the Lord Your God

Listen to His Voice

Commit yourself to Him

Obey the LORD!

Choose life and live!

You might emphasize the solemn choice presented to God's people, which is echoed in choosing Jesus today. Encourage children to see how their daily choices reflect a commitment to life and the blessings found in following God. This is a simple yet profound choice of choosing to trust Jesus, who provides abundant life. By choosing God, children invite life and blessings into their everyday experiences, reinforcing that knowing Jesus is the best decision they can make.

Sermon