Promised Land Living: “I Want That!”

Sometimes, certain movie quotes become part of our everyday language because they capture a common experience or feeling so perfectly. For me and Amy, about 10 seconds of a scene from Napoleon Dynamite have shaped more of our conversations than we care to admit:

“I want that!”

Now, neither Amy nor I are longing to own a model wooden ship. But we can relate to that raw, American desire to acquire more and better things. The Tenth Commandment, however, forbids us from letting our desire to acquire run rampant at the expense of our neighbor. The corresponding laws in Deuteronomy 25-26 establish further boundaries. If we are honest, this command prohibiting ungodly desire seems difficult to evaluate, let alone obey. But what if this command is as much promise as prohibition? And what if that promise was the very real possibility of living with a satisfied soul?

Maybe it would cause us to say “I want that!” about something far more significant than a wooden ship.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)

Date: June 12, 2016 // Title: Promised Land Living: “I Want That!”

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:21 // 25:5 – 26:12

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
The 10th Word, or 10th Commandment, regarding coveting, is unlike the others because it moves beyond the external and focuses on our thoughts, attitudes and desires. While desires are normal and natural, they can also run rampant and cause devastating effects in our lives and the lives of others. If we obey this command, we will live with a satisfied soul in authentic contentedness, not desiring another person’s life, body, job, or stuff. Deuteronomy 26 gives us three specific ways to become content when we are threatened by run-away desire. In fact, many rabbis believe that by obeying the first 9 Words, we will actually find that our reward is a life of the satisfied soul and will result in a full circle as it awakens in us a desire for God.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
The way we find a satisfied soul and a true love of God is by remembering all the ways He’s loved us.

SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes

Picture (what is the story saying?): Quickly review the couple of examples of desires gone wild from Deuteronomy 25. Chapter 26 gives three solutions for rampant desires. What does it mean to “bring your basket”? What does it mean to “tell your story”? What does it look like to “love your life”?

Mirror (where am I in the story?): Where have you seen rampant desire in your own life? How might media affect your desires? When do you feel most susceptible to comparing your life to others? Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” How have you experienced that truth in your life? When are you most satisfied?

Window (How does the story change how I see the world around me?): It’s easy to look at other’s “Facebook” life and not remember that they also have a “behind the scenes” life as well. How does this passage shape how you view other people’s lives?

BE IT – Practice

Change UP // Bring Your Basket 5 minutes
In a posture of worship, spend time as a group thanking God for the things that you see Him doing in your life. Look for the fruit of His work and verbalize your gratitude.

Change IN // Tell Your Story 15 minutes
What’s your story with God? Pair up, preferably with someone who doesn’t know your story, and spend time bragging on God and what He’s done for you in the past.

Change OUT // Love Your Life 5 minutes
Commit to looking for the evidence of God’s handiwork in your own life this week. Find time to praise Him and notice the splashy, as well as the subtle ways that He’s blessing you. Then notice how that focus affects how you view others. Are you able to rejoice with their blessings? Find ways to appreciate and notice how God is working in their lives.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.