Take Two-The Power Of a Fresh Start
Celebrate All That Is Yours in Christ
Episode · 40 min · June 22, 2026
About this episode
There will be more to challenge us in this series, but today is all about encouragement. I want you to savor all that is yours in Jesus Christ, to see and to enjoy—perhaps with a fresh perspective—what Christ has done, and what he is doing in your life and in the life of every other Christian.
More from Take Two-The Power Of a Fresh Start
View all- 1Enjoy the Blessing of GodThe book of Deuteronomy records the last words of Moses to God’s people as they were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses had served these people for 40 years. He had led them out of Egypt, given them God’s law and he had endured the long years of wandering in the desert. Chapter 33 gives us the last recorded words of Moses.
- 2The Goodness and Severity of GodWe have severed what God has joined together. Think about what the apostle Paul says, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22—KJV).
- 3Act on What You Know, Leave the Rest to GodGod’s people are on the verge of the Promised Land. Moses is speaking to them for the last time. Deuteronomy is preached in the last month of Moses’ life. We have come now to Moses’ final words. If you knew you were speaking to your loved ones for the very last time, the ones you have invested your whole life in, what would you say? What really matters? What is of supreme importance?
- 4Lead by Learning to FollowToday, we move to a new section of the book where Moses deals with the subject of leadership. It seems right to view this as an application of the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” Your father and your mother are the first figures of authority in your life, and God says that you are to honor them.
- 5Celebrate All That Is Yours in ChristThere will be more to challenge us in this series, but today is all about encouragement. I want you to savor all that is yours in Jesus Christ, to see and to enjoy—perhaps with a fresh perspective—what Christ has done, and what he is doing in your life and in the life of every other Christian.
- 6Love Your Neighbor as YourselfToday, we come to chapter 15, which is an exposition and application of the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” (Deuteronomy 5:12). I want you to see how the root of loving God produces the fruit of loving others. Real self-sacrifice is not produced within us; it has its root in the love of God.
- 7Beware the Subtle Test of SuccessYou are going to enjoy the blessing of God in ways that your parents never knew. It will come to you in three ways.
- 8Tell Your Children WhyIf you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, what will be the impact on your family? If I extend myself in serving the Lord, will it hurt my children? This is a very real question for many parents and grandparents. You love the Lord and you want to serve Him. You want your life to count for Him, but you also have a family.
- 9Love God With All Your HeartIf you have the idea that the Old Testament is all about external rites and rules, then take this in: Love God with all your heart (6:5), These commands are to be on your hearts (6:6). We are talking about a personal, spiritual relationship with Almighty God, formed by faith and characterized by love—and it is right here in the Old Testament.
- 10Cultivate the Right Kind of FearChildren have an amazing capacity of memory. I’m glad that as a child I was encouraged and taught a good number of verses from the Bible, as well as a fair chunk of the hymn book. What you learn when you are young stays with you all your life. If you are learning verses of the Bible in AWANA or at home, you will never regret that you did.
- 11Change the Future By Owning the PastThe book of Deuteronomy begins with a flashback: God’s people are on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, and Moses says, “Let me remind you how we got here…” Moses goes back 40 years: “The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain…’” (1:6), and he tells the story of how the people rebelled against God.
- 12Make a New BeginningThere are three questions I want to answer today: 1. Who is this book for? 2. What is this book about? 3. How does this book speak to us today?
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