Church family,
It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since we opened our Bibles together and began our journey through the book of Deuteronomy. Week after week, we have stood with the children of Israel on the plains of Moab and listened as Moses prepared a new generation to enter the land God had promised them.
When we began this study, my desire was never simply that we would learn more about an Old Testament book. My prayer was that the truths Moses gave Israel thousands of years ago would challenge us to examine our own walk with God today.
Throughout our study, we have seen the faithfulness of God, the seriousness of His Word, the consequences of disobedience, and the blessings that accompany a life surrendered to Him.
Our theme for this journey has been: A Call to Faithfulness
And as we reached the closing chapters of Deuteronomy, one statement seemed to capture the heart of the entire book:
Deuteronomy 30:19–20
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him...
Choose life.
Those words were spoken to Israel, but the principle behind them speak directly into our lives today.
God had been faithful. God had spoken clearly.
Now Israel had a decision to make.
- Would they trust Him?
- Would they obey Him?
- Would they follow Him?
- Would they choose life?
Remember What God Has Done
Deuteronomy 1–4
Deuteronomy begins with Moses looking backward.
Before Israel could move forward into Canaan, Moses wanted them to remember where they had been. He reminded them of God's leading from Mount Sinai. He reminded them of their failure at Kadesh-barnea. He reminded them of the wilderness years. He reminded them of battles won, prayers answered, lessons learned, and the continual faithfulness of God.
Some of those memories were wonderful. Others were painful. But all of them were important.
One of the dangers facing Israel was that once they entered the land, built houses, planted vineyards, and enjoyed prosperity, they might forget the God who had brought them there.
That warning is just as necessary for us. We must never become so accustomed to the blessings of God that we forget the God who gave the blessings.
Faith Baptist Church has much to be thankful for. God has answered prayers. He has saved souls. He has changed lives. He has provided for His church. He has led us through difficult seasons and allowed us to experience seasons of tremendous blessing.
We must remember. The God who was faithful yesterday is worthy of our trust today.
Respond to the Word of God
Deuteronomy 5–26
The largest section of Deuteronomy contains Moses' instruction concerning the Law of God. The Ten Commandments are repeated. Israel is instructed concerning worship, family, leadership, justice, giving, relationships, possessions, and everyday life.
What becomes obvious throughout these chapters is that God was never interested in simply occupying one portion of their lives. He wanted all of them.
One of the great passages of Deuteronomy declares:
Deuteronomy 6:4–5
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
God desired more than outward religious activity. He wanted their hearts.
That remains true today. It is possible to attend church, carry a Bible, sing the songs, know the language, and yet allow our hearts to drift away from God.
Deuteronomy has reminded us that biblical truth is intended to produce biblical living. God's Word is not simply something we study — it is something we obey. It should affect our homes, our marriages, our parenting, our finances, our relationships, our priorities, our worship, and our decisions.
The question is not just, "What does the Bible say?"
The next question must always be, "What am I going to do about what God has said?"
Recognize That Choices Have Consequences
Deuteronomy 27–30
As Israel approached the Promised Land, Moses placed two very different paths before them.
There was obedience and disobedience. There was blessing and cursing. There was life and death.
God did not hide the consequences from them. Their decisions mattered. That is ultimately what brings us to the great statement of Deuteronomy 30: Therefore choose life.
I believe this is one of the greatest lessons we can carry away from our year in Deuteronomy: the direction of our lives is shaped by the choices we make concerning God and His Word.
- Every generation has to choose.
- Every family has to choose.
- Every church has to choose.
- Every individual has to choose.
Israel could appreciate the faith of Moses, but they could not live on Moses' faith. They could remember what their parents had experienced, but they still had to decide whether they would personally follow the Lord.
The same is true for us.
You cannot live on your parents' faith. You cannot live on your pastor's faith. Our children cannot live on our faith.
At some point, every person must determine: I will follow the Lord.
That is why Moses' words carry such weight:
Choose life. Choose obedience. Choose truth. Choose faithfulness. Choose the Lord.
Remain Faithful to the End
Deuteronomy 31–34
The final chapters of Deuteronomy bring us to the end of Moses' life.
After forty years of leading God's people, Moses prepared Israel for a future without him. Joshua would become their leader. Israel would cross the Jordan. Battles would be fought. The land would be divided. A new chapter in Israel's history was about to begin.
Moses gave his final instructions, taught Israel a song, pronounced blessings upon the tribes, and eventually climbed Mount Nebo. From there, God allowed him to see the Promised Land. Then Moses died.
There is something moving about reaching the end of Deuteronomy and looking back over the life of this man. Moses was not perfect. Deuteronomy itself reminds us of his failures. Yet his life teaches us something desperately needed today:
Faithfulness is not simply beginning well. Faithfulness is continuing with God and finishing well.
I want that for my life. I want that for our families. And I want that for Faith Baptist Church.
I do not simply want us to have moments of faithfulness. I want us to be a faithful church.
- Faithful to Scripture.
- Faithful to the Gospel.
- Faithful in worship.
- Faithful in discipleship.
- Faithful in reaching our community.
- Faithful in teaching our children.
- Faithful in supporting missions around the world.
- Faithful until the Lord returns.
Choose Life
If I could summarize our entire year in Deuteronomy with one challenge, it would be those two words: Choose life.
Every day presents us with opportunities to make that choice.
- Choose to love God.
- Choose to obey His Word.
- Choose faith over fear.
- Choose holiness over compromise.
- Choose gratitude over complaining.
- Choose forgiveness over bitterness.
- Choose worship over distraction.
- Choose service over selfishness.
- Choose truth over the changing opinions of culture.
- Choose to teach God's Word to your children and your children's children.
- Choose to remain faithful when following God becomes difficult.
And when you fail, choose to get back up and return to the God who has never stopped being faithful.
Church family,
we have spent a year studying Deuteronomy, but my prayer is that Deuteronomy will continue working in us long after this series has ended.
May we remember what God has done. May we respond to what God has said. May we recognize that our choices have consequences. May we remain faithful to the end.
And as another generation watches our lives, may they see men and women who did more than talk about faithfulness. May they see a church that lived it.
There are many things about tomorrow that we do not know. We do not know every opportunity that will come before Faith Baptist Church. We do not know every trial we will face. We do not know every door God will open or every challenge we will encounter.
But we know the God who goes before us. The same God who faithfully led Israel through the wilderness is still faithful today.
So as we close the pages of Deuteronomy and continue forward together, I pray that the words of Moses will remain in our hearts: I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.
Faith Baptist Church, may that be our decision. May that be the testimony of our homes. May that be the legacy we leave the next generation.
Let us choose life.
We invite you to watch or listen through the full series at the link below.
Called to Faithfulness — Study of Deuteronomy

He Loved the People
In this concluding message from our study through Deuteronomy, we are reminded of a powerful truth: man’s failures are many, but God’s faithfulness is always greater. As Moses looks back on Israel’s history, he points to a God whose covenant love never let His people go, who knew them by name, upheld them through their enemies, and continued His work even after Moses was gone. Ultimately, Deuteronomy leaves us looking beyond Moses to the greater Prophet who was to come—Jesus Christ, whose love was demonstrated perfectly at the cross. As we reflect on Israel’s story and our own failures, may we remember where God has brought us, hear and obey His Word, teach His truth to the next generation, choose life, and rest in the faithful love of the God who continues to carry His people.

















