Remember the Wilderness

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Deuteronomy 8.

overview

Deuteronomy 8 is Moses’ plea for Israel to remember God’s faithfulness in the wilderness and to avoid the spiritual dangers that could come while living in the abundance of the Promised Land. Moses reminds them that the wilderness was never just about surviving – it was about God forming humility and dependence in his people. In a strange way the wilderness was a blessing, as the scarcity of things prompted the Israelites to continually call and rely on God.

question 1

Share how some of your own wilderness seasons have formed your character and your faith. What are some changes that you have stayed consistent with?

discussion

Moses warns that forgetting God – or "spiritual amnesia" – is our greatest spiritual danger. We often cling to God through prayer and church attendance in tough times, but drift away when life returns to normal. When life is abundant – bills are paid, health and career are thriving, and loved ones are stable – we can quietly begin to feel self-sufficient, as if we no longer need God. While an abundant life is a blessing that can instill gratitude and worship into our lives, making it our ultimate security causes us to forget God our Provider and become prideful thinking we have it all under control. We forget how quickly our circumstances can change.

question 2

What are some things that have helped you to stay consistent in prayer, humility, gratitude, and worship? What helps you get back on track when you start to lapse in these areas?

Read Matthew 4:1-4. Jesus knew the importance of living by God’s Word. Andrew compared God’s Word to a key on a map – it has the symbols, colors, and markers to help the user understand and find their way. In trials, we need to know the way, but in abundance we start to believe we know the way. What we need in all times is silence before God and the wisdom and conviction from his Word to help us daily understand and find our way through this busy and noisy life. Silence is probably one of the least practiced spiritual rhythms among believers because it requires us to turn off all devices, sit still, and listen. Silence before the Lord can be the most restorative rhythm as it will calm our thoughts, our nervous systems, and give us opportunity to hear God speak to us. 

question 3

Talk about the obstacles or aversions you have to practicing silence. Does anyone currently practice silence and if so, would you share the benefits?

weekly application

Make a decision to add more silence to your life by setting a timer for 15 minutes and quieting your thoughts. When thoughts pop into your head (and they will) ask the Lord to take them from you and find your way back to silence. This is a discipline that if you practice it will get easier and you will notice the benefits.