THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 8:11-19

Main Themes: Stewardship; Dangers of Prosperity; Forgetting God
(See background information below.)

Guide for Point of Light Groups

1. Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:

   Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.

2. Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as Reckless Love.

3. Opening Question: Why do people forget about God? Which one of the answers given is the one that would affect you the most?

4. Introduction: Read the background information below.

5. Word: Read Deuteronomy 8:11-19 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)

   1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

   2. Tell in your own words what Moses is telling the Israelite people.

   3. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

6. Discussion: Discuss the questions below together. (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. Use them however you see fit and in whatever order you think best.)

7. Digging Deeper: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.

8. Prayer Time:

   • Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.

   • Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.

9. Looking Ahead:

   • Assign group members to do different parts of the meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).

   • Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
     

Background Information

Moses has led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. God has saved them, delivered them from their enemies, done many miracles, sustained them, and guided them, and now the people are about to enter the promised land and prosperity and abundance. They have the good life ahead of them. Moses therefore instructs the people in God’s commandments prior to them entering the promised land. These verses are a warning to the people. They are warned that once they have all they need, to beware of the temptation to forget God.

Key Verse:

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 8:11-19

Discussion Questions

1. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

2. Put yourself in people's position as they hear this warning from Moses. How do you think they felt? What were they thinking? Can you relate to them?

3. What did you learn about God from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

6. What will you take away from this discussion?

7. What will you do with what you have learned? (Make sure everyone answers this)

Digging Deeper Questions

1. Discuss why in times of need people tend to seek after God. Discuss why when people do not have need but all is going well, they forget about God. Have you seen that in your life? Lives of those you know?

2. What are some things we can do and habits we can have to keep us from forgetting about God and obeying Him?

3. Discuss verse 17 and why that is a dangerous attitude to have.

4. Discuss verse 18, what it means, and how it applies to your life today.

5. Why is it important to understand that everything comes from God and He owns it all. What practical applications will that have in your life?