Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP 1 November 2025
Text: Deuteronomy 6
Title: “You shall love the LORD your God”

INTRODUCTION

1. A brief historical review

a) Forty years in the Wilderness

b) Significant victories over powerful enemies

c) The Ten Commandments

2. Great encouragement given

a) To pursue the knowledge of God

b) To determine to obey the Lord

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SHEMA OF ISRAEL

1 Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgements which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,

2 that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

1. Commandments, Statutes and Judgements

Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgements which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess

Deuteronomy 6:1

a) The Inspiration
It came from the Lord their God

b) The Instruction
To observe all the Commandments of God in the Promised Land

2. The desired response

That you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 6:2

a) To fear the Lord their God

b) To keep all His statutes and commandments

c) This applies to all who make up the nation of Israel

d) This would result in a long life in Canaan

3. Every encouragement to respond well

Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’

Deuteronomy 6:3

a) Obedience is required

b) That the nation may be multiplied greatly

c) That the land may be truly blessed “flowing with milk and honey”

THE SHEMA OF ISRAEL

4“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

1. The Shema comes from the word “Hear”

2. This was recited by the children of Israel every day

3. This was to be a strong proclamation:

a) Of their faith in the Lord

b) That they recognised only One God

c) That they would never worship any other deity

4. This proclamation must be uttered with strong affirmation

a) Of a deep love for the Lord

i) God is to be loved with all the heart

ii) With all the soul

iii) With all the strength a person possesses

b) Faith in God

i) It is never just mental assent

ii) It involves the whole being

THE PRACTICE OF FAITH IN DAILY LIFE

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

1. The Commandments, Statutes and Judgements

a) They are meant to be “in the heart”

b) They are to be memorised

c) They are to be kept in the heart

2. They are to be taught to the children

a) A family concern

b) Natural family conversation

3. Creative and Natural reminders may be employed

a) To help remember the commandments of God

b) The apparels worn

c) Household reminders

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To affirm our faith in the Lord

2. To deepen our love for God