Deuteronomy 16-17

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | AUGUST 9, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 16-17, which reminds God's people to order every part of life around Him—through rhythms of worship, His definitions of justice and holiness, and humble submission to the authority structures He establishes. Moses emphasizes that God alone sets the standards, seasons, and boundaries for His people, and true freedom is found not in redefining them, but in trusting Christ and living within the life-giving limits He provides.

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Deuteronomy 16-17

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REFLECT

1. As we study the festivals God commanded the Israelites to celebrate, we see their purpose, order, and connection to Christ.  What stands out to you most as you read this passage?

2. When planning our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly calendars, what important events should we prioritize first? Is daily time with God first on our calendar? What about weekly corporate worship or monthly and annual worship events?  

3. Our calendars should not revolve around work, vacations, or hobbies more than our times of worship, both personal and corporate. As you reflect on your personal calendar and priorities, what do you sense God is asking you to change or adjust?

4. We are always called to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. If we knew Jesus was coming within the next few months, how would that change the way we live each day?

5. All authority and power belong to God. He has entrusted us with earthly authority and responsibilities in our homes, workplaces, churches, communities, and other areas of life.  How are we handling those responsibilities?  Are we following God’s instruction, or are we trying to do things our own way and in our own power?

6. God’s instruction to us through His Word does not enslave us; rather, it sets us free.  Living outside His boundaries brings chaos and crisis. How have you seen obedience to God’s instructions bring greater freedom into your life?

Deuteronomy 14-15

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | AUGUST 2, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 14-15, which emphasizes that God's people are called to live differently because they belong to Him, allowing their identity in Christ to shape how they treat their bodies, consume food, handle money, care for others, and order their lives. The sermon highlights that the Old Testament instructions point to enduring principles of holiness, generosity, and Sabbath rhythms, ultimately calling believers to choose God in every area of daily life by living with open-handed compassion, grateful worship, and the confidence that they are chosen and forgiven.

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Deuteronomy 14-15

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REFLECT

1. What areas of your daily life most clearly reflect that you belong to God, and where do you need to grow in living differently from the world?

2. How can you honor God with your body in both your actions and the way you respond to grief, suffering, or loss?

3. In what ways can your eating habits become a reminder that you belong to Christ rather than simply an act of consumption?

4. Is there anything in your lifestyle that has begun to "consume you" instead of helping you honor God? What practical changes could you make?

5. How does viewing generosity—not obligation—as the heart behind giving change your perspective on your finances?

6. When you encounter someone in need, is your first instinct generosity or hesitation? What does that reveal about your heart?

7. Jesus connected a "healthy eye" with generosity. How would you describe your outlook toward others when it comes to sharing your resources?

8. What rhythms of rest, margin, or Sabbath do you currently practice, and how do they help you trust God instead of relying only on yourself?

9. Which of the three areas highlighted in the conclusion—your diet, your finances, or your calendar—is the most difficult for you to fully surrender to God? Why?

10. The message concludes by reminding us that we are chosen and forgiven. How should that identity shape the way you approach every decision this week, whether in your words, deeds, or daily habits?

Deuteronomy 12-13

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JULY 26, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 12-13, which calls God's people to worship Him according to His design rather than adopting the practices of surrounding cultures, emphasizing that true worship flows from wholehearted devotion and ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice. Because God has graciously chosen and saved His people, they are called to respond with lives of complete worship, joyful community, and unwavering faithfulness, guarding themselves against anything that would lead them away from Him.

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Deuteronomy 12-13

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REFLECT

1. In this part of Deuteronomy, God gives the Israelites clear instructions regarding the principles of worship.  He tells His people to tear down shrines – idols.  Are there any idols (people or practices you have placed ahead of God) in your life that need to be torn down?

2. We must worship God as He instructs us to worship.  We don’t get to make worship what we like or prefer.  Have your preferences about worship inhibited your ability to worship Him fully?

3. Our entire lifestyle should be based in our worship of God. Our home-life, work-life, recreational life, relationships, habits, etc. should all reflect our faith in Christ. How does my daily lifestyle reflect genuine worship of God?

4. As we read the ritual sacrifices that God has instructed the Israelites to follow it may seem overwhelming. However, these practices were a foreshadowing of what Christ did for us on the cross. He ended the need for repetition of literal sacrifices and the barrier between us and God. Reflecting on the sacrifice that Christ made for us, what feelings and/or thoughts come to your heart and mind?

5. We are called to be a living sacrifice to God – our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. This is an act of worship to God born out of the gratitude we have for what Jesus did for us. In what ways can you practice being a living sacrifice of worship to God this week?

6. God warns His people about the danger of apostasy – the turning away from or revolting against God. In our society it is easy to listen to the wrong voices and opinions that oppose God’s teachings. We must purge those voices out of our lives. If we don’t, we risk allowing them to cause us not to take sin seriously and adopt an attitude of apathy towards God and His Word. What "false voices" (ideas, influences, people, or priorities) compete for my allegiance to Christ, and how can I guard against them?

Because of what God has done for us through Christ, we owe Him our complete devotion!  We live for Him because He died for us. If your life has not been in total surrender to Christ, may today be the day you chose to respond with your whole heart.

Deuteronomy 11

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JULY 19, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 11. In this chapter, Moses reminds Israel that although God has chosen them, they must continually choose Him through obedient living—in their work, worship, homes, and everyday decisions. Looking back at God's faithfulness and the consequences of rebellion, Deuteronomy 11 presents a clear choice between blessing and curse, a theme that ultimately points forward to Jesus' call to choose the path that leads to life.

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Deuteronomy 11

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REFLECT

1. In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to consistently choose obedience to God, and why?

2. How have you personally seen the benefits of trusting and obeying God, even when it was difficult?

3. Moses reminded Israel to learn from both God's blessings and His discipline. What lessons has God taught you through past successes or failures?

4. The message emphasized that obedience is an "every second" choice, not just a one-time decision. What daily habits could help you continually choose God?

5. Is there an area where you've been tempted to "hedge your bets" by trusting something other than God for your security, success, or peace?

6. How does your home reflect your commitment to following God? What is one practical way you could make God's Word a more visible part of your family's daily life?

7. What does it look like for you to trust God in your work, responsibilities, or finances instead of relying only on your own abilities?

8. Jesus also presented two choices—two roads, two gates, and two foundations. Which of these images speaks most to your life right now, and why?

9. If the "future you" looked back five years from now, what choices would you hope you consistently made starting today?

10. God has already chosen you to be His. What is one specific decision you can make this week that demonstrates you are choosing Him in return?

Deuteronomy 9-10

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JULY 12, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 9-10. In these chapters, Moses reminds Israel that God's blessings are never earned by their own righteousness but are rooted in His faithfulness, mercy, and covenant promises. Moses uses Israel's repeated rebellion—including the golden calf—as a story that exposes their need for God's grace, highlights the power of intercession, and calls them to respond by humbly loving God, caring for others, and allowing Him to transform their hearts.

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Deuteronomy 9-10

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REFLECT

1. Moses reminds Israel that their success was not because of their righteousness. In what areas of your life are you tempted to take credit for what God has done?

2. Have you ever mistaken outward success for God's approval? What helps you distinguish between true faithfulness and visible achievement?

3. Israel repeatedly rebelled even after experiencing God's faithfulness. Are there patterns of sin or disobedience that you continue to struggle with despite God's grace?

4. Moses responded to Israel's failures by praying for them instead of giving up on them. Who in your life needs your prayers more than your criticism?

5. Moses appealed to God's goodness rather than Israel's goodness. How does this shape your understanding of salvation and your confidence in approaching God?

6. Deuteronomy 10 calls God's people to care for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. How can you intentionally reflect God's compassion toward those who are vulnerable or overlooked?

7. What does it look like in your daily life to "cut away the selfishness" from your heart? What attitudes or habits might God be asking you to surrender?

8. When you face challenges or uncertainty, is prayer your first response or your last resort? What keeps you from bringing your concerns to God immediately?

9. Moses used stories to help Israel remember God's faithfulness and their own need for Him. What moments in your life remind you most clearly of God's grace and faithfulness?

10. The message concludes by encouraging believers to let God's instructions live inside them, not just remain written down. What is one truth from Deuteronomy 9–10 that you want to carry with you and put into practice this week?

Deuteronomy 7-8

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JULY 5, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 7-8. Moses warns Israel of two dangers that could lead them away from God: the external influence of surrounding cultures, and the internal temptation of pride. While God promises victory and blessing, His people must remain wholly devoted to Him by remembering that every blessing comes from His faithfulness rather than their own strength. Ultimately, the antidote to both worldliness and pride is to continually remember God's past faithfulness and live in humble dependence on Him.

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Deuteronomy 7-8

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REFLECT

1. What external influences in your life have the greatest potential to weaken or distract your faith?

2. Why do you think God was so concerned about Israel adopting the beliefs and practices of the surrounding nations?

3. In what ways can success, comfort, or abundance become a greater spiritual danger than hardship?

4. Have you ever noticed yourself becoming more self-reliant than God-reliant during a season of blessing? What helped you recognize it?

5. Moses repeatedly says to "remember." What specific ways can you intentionally remember God's faithfulness in your daily life?

6. How does remembering what God has done in the past strengthen your trust in Him for the future?

7. What are some modern-day "idols" that compete for your allegiance and devotion to God?

8. How can you enjoy God's blessings without allowing those blessings to become the source of your identity or security?

9. Which of the two dangers Moses describes—external worldliness or internal pride—do you find more challenging in your current season of life? Why?

10. What is one practical step you can take this week to remain fully devoted to God and cultivate greater dependence on Him?

Deuteronomy 5-6

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JUNE 28, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 5-6, which reminds God's people that the Law was never meant to earn their salvation but to serve as the "house rules" for those He had already rescued. The Ten Commandments reveal a life of reverent love for God and others, while Moses emphasizes that God's Word should be woven into every part of daily life so future generations remember His faithfulness and walk in His ways. Jesus fulfills these instructions by summarizing them as loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbors, calling believers today to wrap their lives in His Word.

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Deuteronomy 5-6

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REFLECT

1. What does it mean to you that God's commands are "house rules" for people He has already saved, rather than requirements to earn His love or acceptance?

2. Which of the Ten Commandments challenges you the most right now, and why?

3. Are there any people, possessions, ambitions, or habits that have begun to take first place in your life instead of God?

4. Moses warned Israel not to forget God's faithfulness. What practical habits help you remember what God has done in your life?

5. God's Word was meant to be discussed at home, while traveling, before sleeping, and upon waking. How could you intentionally weave Scripture into your everyday routine?

6. Jesus summarized God's instructions as loving God and loving your neighbor. How well do your daily choices reflect those two priorities?

7. What areas of your life might reveal that you are living more like a consumer than someone who trusts God—for example, with your time, money, rest, or technology?

8. If someone asked you why you follow Jesus and seek to obey Him, what story of God's grace and faithfulness would you share?

9. In what ways are you intentionally passing your faith on to the next generation or encouraging others to know and follow God's Word?

10. This week, what is one specific step you can take to "wrap your life" in God's Word so that your thoughts, decisions, and relationships are shaped by His truth?

Deuteronomy 4

PASTOR MARSHALL OCHS | JUNE 21, 2026

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Deuteronomy 4. Standing at the edge of the Promised Land, Moses tells a new generation two more stories, one a blessing and one a curse, and warns them not to forget. The pull toward idols, is real, but so is the mercy that says no one is ever too far gone. It all comes down to a single Hebrew word that shapes how God's people are meant to live.

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Deuteronomy 4

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REFLECT

1. Moses reminds the Israelites what happens when they place other “gods” or idols above the Lord. He tells them not to add to or take away from God’s commands, but simply to obey. Has there been a time when your heart needed to be reminded of God’s instruction and called back to obedience?

2. Moses reminds the people that idol worship leads to spiritual—and sometimes physical—death. What consequences have you experienced when you placed something ahead of God?

3. We can learn from the mistakes of others. At times, the choices of parents, friends, or previous generations teach us what to avoid. Have you or your family experienced patterns of hardship because of disobedience to God’s instruction? What have you done—or what can you do—to address them?

4. We are all tempted to drift from what God is calling us to do and allow our priorities to become disordered. Taking inventory of our time, energy, and money can help us examine our hearts. Is God leading you to change any of your priorities?

5. Idols are not always literal statues. We are called not to place angels, a spouse or dating relationship, friendships, possessions, careers, lifestyle, feelings, or anything else above God. The Lord will not share our devotion with another. Because idol worship can be subtle, ask yourself: have you elevated someone or something in your life above God?

6. The good news is that God waits with open arms to extend mercy to us. It is never too late to return to Him. Repent, and ask the Lord to change your heart.

7. Moses reminds the Israelites—and us—to keep the stories of God close to our hearts and to return fully to the Lord. It is one thing to know God’s Word in our minds, but another to allow it to transform our hearts and souls. Whether you are a seasoned believer or a new follower, this story calls us to return to our First Love—Jesus. If you have fallen or wandered away from Him, let today be the day you come home.