Big Idea

Moses tells us that we have everything we need to make a change today.

For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 ESV

The will is our resolve to maintain control over the deepest part of us.
We must read the Word of God so we can bend our will to match God’s.

Repentance is not just feeling bad about something; it is turning around and going the other direction. Repentance is doing the right thing today.

Ice Breaker

Think about your New Year resolution (if you have not made a resolution, think about a change you are trying to make this year). How are you doing with it?
Share with the group if you have blown it in your resolution, or if you have been successful share what has helped you. Discuss as a group why change so hard.
We all want things to change, but it’s tough, and the bigger the change the harder it is. We need to think differently about it.

Today, we will study Moses’ charge to Israel in his farewell speech. Their journey is at a crucial crossroads. Israel is getting ready to cross the Jordan river after failing in this same spot 38 years earlier. Israel did not trust God, therefore, they did not enter the land. Will they change?

Next Step

What is one area you want to change?
How can you be known in that area?
Some is better than none.

Additional Discussion Questions

There are 3 levels of change: intellectual, emotional, and willful. All three levels are important in the process of change, but the will is our resolve to maintain control over the deepest part of us. Our will can be illustrated by the image of a locked box with chains around it. Our will can be so guarded! God wants that! He wants that deep place of my will. He says: “Trust me, I’ll take care of you. You have nothing to fear.”

If God is not allowed into our wills, we won’t love people well at all. Discuss as a group your personal journey with will–what you deeply want. Share a time you would not let God have your will. Share a time that, perhaps after much struggle, you did surrender your will.
Being known is vulnerable, and at times we want to be but shame or fear shouts to hold us back in isolation. Take some time to resist that feeling as a group. This can be scary, so take a step together according to the level of trust that has been built. Consider contacting group members privately outside of group instead of one large discussion.
We often delay change: “I will wait until I get out of college” or “until I have kids”, or “once the busy life of raising kids is behind me”. Share with the group what you may currently be delaying.
Discuss this principal:

“If God is not allowed there (into the lock box of our will), we won’t love people well at all.”

Do you agree or disagree? Also, reflect on the times you tend not to love well and examine your will in these stories. Was God kept on the outside of your will?