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Image by Priscilla Du Preez

Discussion questions

These questions can be used by you alone, with a friend, or your Faith Group to discuss "Only By Grace" from Deuteronomy 7, 9, 10 preached October 11, 2026. This is the fifth of ten messages in the series "Remember and Live: wholehearted faith in a forgetful world" through the book of Deuteronomy. 

Open your group with a prayer. Use these questions as a guide; select the points you want to discuss.

GETTING STARTED  

Before we explore Israel’s story, let’s swap a few of our own about surprising survivors, fresh starts, and kindness we still remember.​

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  1. Which store, restaurant, or product are you surprised is still around? Which one would you bring back if you could?

  2. What’s something you own that keeps going long after you expected it to quit? Does anyone in your household wish it would finally give up?

  3. Have you ever received an unexpected freebie or upgrade? What happened, and how did you react?

  4. What’s something you were hilariously bad at when you first tried it? What, or who, kept you from giving up?

  5. Who’s been especially patient with you while you were learning something? What did they do that helped?

 

DIGGING DEEPER

The broken tablets could’ve marked the end of Israel’s story. Let’s look closely at why they didn’t, and what that reveals about God’s holiness, faithfulness, and grace.​

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  1. Read Deuteronomy 7:6–9. How does Moses explain God’s choice of Israel? How do these verses show that being undeserving of God’s love doesn’t mean being unimportant to Him?

  2. Read Deuteronomy 9:1–6. What two reasons does Moses give for Israel’s coming possession of the land? Why does he repeatedly rule out Israel’s righteousness as the explanation?

  3. Read Luke 18:9–14. What does the Pharisee’s prayer reveal about his confidence before God, even though he begins by thanking God? How does this illuminate the attitude Moses warns against in Deuteronomy 9?

  4. Read Deuteronomy 9:7–17. What details make the golden calf rebellion especially serious? How does the contrast between what’s happening on the mountain and what’s happening in the camp strengthen Moses’ point?

  5. Read Exodus 24:3–8. What had Israel agreed to before the golden calf incident? How does this help explain the significance of Moses breaking the covenant tablets?

  6. Read Deuteronomy 9:18–29. What reasons does Moses give for asking God to spare Israel? How do the other rebellions mentioned here undermine any argument that Israel deserved His mercy?

  7. Read Psalm 106:19–23. How does the psalm describe Israel’s exchange of God’s glory for an idol? What does its description of Moses “standing in the breach” add to our understanding of his intercession?

  8. Read Deuteronomy 10:1–5, 10–11. What do the replacement tablets, the unchanged commandments, and the instruction to continue the journey reveal about God’s response to Israel’s rebellion?

  9. Read Galatians 3:15–18. How does Paul distinguish God’s promise to Abraham from the law given later? How does that distinction help explain why Israel’s failure at Sinai didn’t cancel God’s promise to their ancestors?

  10. Read Romans 3:23–27. What does it mean for sinners to be “justified freely by his grace”? How does Christ’s death demonstrate God’s justice, and why does this leave no room for boasting?

  11. Read Hebrews 10:1–14. What could the repeated animal sacrifices never accomplish, and how does Christ’s sacrifice differ? How does this deepen the sermon’s explanation of forgiveness before Jesus’ death?

  12. Read 1 Corinthians 15:9–10. How does Paul hold together his unworthiness, his identity as an apostle, and his hard work? What does this passage show about the relationship between grace and obedience?

 

​LIVING IT OUT

Grace shapes how we face our own failures and how we speak to people who need Jesus. These questions explore what that looks like when conversations get personal, uncomfortable, or unexpectedly hopeful.​

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  1. Where are you tempted to act as though you’ve earned God’s favor? How does that show up when life disappoints you or your efforts go unnoticed? What would trusting His grace change about your response?

  2. A friend says, “I’m a good person. I think God and I are fine.” How could you explain our need for grace without sounding as though you think you’re better than your friend? What could you honestly share about your own need for Christ?

  3. Someone you love says, “You don’t know what I’ve done. God wouldn’t want me.” What would you want them to understand about Jesus? How could you take their guilt and the harm they’ve caused seriously while offering real hope?

  4. At work or a family gathering, the conversation turns to how terrible “those people” are. What makes it tempting to join in? How could you acknowledge wrongdoing while steering the conversation toward our shared need for mercy?

  5. You’ve spoken about your faith, then lost your temper or treated someone unfairly. What fears might keep you from apologizing? How could an honest apology help you explain the difference between trusting Christ and claiming to have everything together?

  6. A skeptical friend asks, “If God forgives you anyway, why bother being good?” How would you answer in ordinary language? Where have you experienced gratitude for God’s grace making you want to obey Him, and where is obedience still a struggle?

  7. Who comes to mind as someone you’d like to talk with about Jesus? What makes that conversation difficult, and what gives you hope? Identify one natural step you could take this week, and share how the group can pray for you.

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