Bible Reading
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
[33:14]Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
[40:06]Luke 18:18-27 “And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.”’ And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’”
[29:08]Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
[50:52]Observation questions
- What blessings does Deuteronomy 6 say Israel would receive without building, filling, digging, or planting them?
- In Luke 18, what does the rich ruler claim about his obedience, and how does he respond when Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and follow Him? [29:23]
- What reasons does Ephesians 2:8-9 give for why no one can boast about salvation? [40:06]
- According to Romans 6:17-18, what change has taken place for those who were once slaves of sin? [51:09]
Interpretation questions
- Why would entering a land full of provision create a special danger of forgetting the Lord? What does this reveal about the connection between comfort and spiritual pride? [40:49]
- Why does Jesus answer the question “Then who can be saved?” by saying that salvation is impossible with man but possible with God? [31:08]
- How does the rich ruler’s sadness reveal that his wealth had become more than a possession to him? What does his response show about the true condition of his heart? [31:45]
- How can serving Christ be called freedom when Romans 6 describes believers as slaves of righteousness? [51:29]
Application questions
- What possessions, accomplishments, savings, relationships, or sources of security most tempt you to say, “I did this myself”? How could you more deliberately recognize God’s provision in those areas? [41:14]
- The rich ruler wanted eternal life, but he did not want to surrender the thing he trusted most. Is there an area of life where following Christ feels costly because it threatens a source of comfort, control, or identity? [32:03]
- God’s grace leaves no room for boasting. When you tell the story of your faith, do you tend to emphasize your own choices and efforts or God’s mercy and intervention? What would it look like to make “But God” more central in that story? [44:02]
- Holy fear of God means reverence for the Creator rather than a cringing refusal to come near Him. What habits or attitudes would help you approach God with greater humility, worship, and seriousness? [47:47]
- Self-reliance, comfort, safety, wealth, and influence can become modern gods. Which of these false securities is most likely to compete for your heart, and what is one practical way to resist giving it God’s place? [49:37]
- Christ has brought His people from slavery to sin into the freedom of righteousness. Where are you tempted to return to old sinful patterns, and how does Christ’s goodness give you reason to keep serving Him? [53:08]
- God’s goodness should become part of the regular story of the home and church. What specific story of God’s provision, rescue, or faithfulness could you share with your family, friends, or another believer this week? [01:08:39]
