2026 New Year Message

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Deuteronomy 6:1-12

Key Verse: 6:5

1. Where are the Israelites physically located at this point in Deuteronomy (Deut 1:1–5)? List the repeated words or ideas you observe in verses 1-3. What does it mean to “fear the Lord” in this context (2)? Why does Moses emphasize teaching these commands before entering the promised land?
2. How does verse 4 begin, and what kind of response does it call for? What does it mean that “the Lord is one” in Israel’s historical and religious context (4)? What kind of love is being commanded in verse 5? Which area—heart, soul, or strength—do you find hardest to love god with?
3. What does it mean for God’s words to be “on your heart” (6)? What specific actions are mentioned in verses 7-9? How do these instructions turn everyday life into a setting for spiritual formation?
4. Why does Moses warn the people after describing abundance (10-12)? What does “forgetting the Lord” look like in practical terms? What is one practical way you can respond this year to the command to love the Lord fully?