Sermon Sketch for Sunday, March 23

Hello New Life
Choosing the life that is
within your reach.

Readings:
OT - Dt. 30:11-20
NT – Romans 10:4-11

1. The Choice is at Hand

A. It is not beyond our reach
- Dt. 30:11-14 “the word is near you”
- Mark 1:14b-15 "The kingdom of God is near…”
- 1 John 1:1-3a “we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard..”

B. It is not beyond our understanding
- Luke 8:8b-11a "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you…”

2. The Choice is Ours

A. The choice is about life and death.
- Deut. 30:15 “I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.”

B. The choice is more than spiritual or religious; it is about all of life.
- Deut. 30:16 “I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways…”

C. The choice is a choice of the heart.
- Deut. 30:17-18 “if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away…”
- Acts 2:32-38 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart…”

3. The Choice Is Compelling

Dt. 30:19-20
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A. That we and our children may live.
B. That we might love the Lord
C. That we might listen to his Voice
D. That we might hold fast to Him
E. That we might have life.
F. That we might be saved.

Romans 10:8b-11
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."