Sunday School Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:6–20
Theme
Recognize God’s provision, remain humble, and live in wholehearted obedience so that prosperity does not breed pride or forgetfulness of the Lord.
Passage
Deuteronomy 8:6–20 (NIV)
6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him; 7 for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna in the wilderness, something your ancestors did not know, to humble you and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. 19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed if you forget the Lord your God.
##Objectives
By the end of the session, students will:
Identify the main message: blessings from God require humility and faithfulness.
Understand how prosperity can lead to forgetfulness and pride if God is not central.
Recognize practical ways to “remember the Lord” daily.
Apply the passage to their own lives with age-appropriate examples.
##Suggested Bible Background (Teacher Prep)
Context: Moses teaches the new generation as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The chapter contrasts God’s generous provision with the danger of pride and forgetting Him.
Key terms: “observe,” “humble,” “test,” “ covenant,” “remember.”
Central warning: Prosperity can become a trap if gratitude and dependence on God fade.
Icebreaker / Opening Activity (10 minutes)
Activity: “Blessings Balloon”
Give each child a balloon. Write on the balloon something they are thankful for (family, a home, food, friends, Bible, etc.).
As they pop the balloon (or unroll a banner) reveal a short confession: e.g., “I’m grateful for __, but I sometimes forget to thank God.”
Discuss: When things go well, do we still thank God? How can we remember Him daily?
Bible Exploration (25–30 minutes)
1) Read the Passage (5 minutes)
Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 8:6–20 aloud.
Alternatively, read in segments and summarize aloud.
2) Key Discussion Points (15 minutes)
Question 1: What blessings does God promise in verses 7–9?
Expect answers: water, food, abundance, land, safety.
Question 2: Why does Moses warn about forgetting the Lord in verses 11–14?
Pride, self-sufficiency, forgetfulness after prosperity.
Question 3: What does God do to humble and test His people (verse 16)?
He leads through wilderness, provides manna, tests hearts.
Question 4: What is the warning in verse 19–20?
If you forget God or chase other gods, you will be destroyed.
Question 5: How can we “remember the Lord” in times of blessing (verse 18)?
Acknowledge God as the source of ability and wealth; live in covenant obedience; practice gratitude and generosity.
3) Life Application Prompts (10 minutes)
Prompt 1: Think of a recent time when something good happened. How did you respond to God in that moment?
Prompt 2: List practical habits to remember God daily (see “Practical Ways” below).
Prompt 3: What is one area where you might be tempted to trust your own strength instead of God?
Object Lesson (Optional, 10 minutes)
Object: Two jars labeled “Self” and “God.”
Show a bag of candy representing blessings. When you claim “I did this,” drop candy into the “Self” jar. When you thank God or give to others, put candy into the “God” jar.
Message: Prosperity can fill the heart with “self” unless we continually honor God. The “God” jar grows when we remember Him.
Kids’ Activity Options
Activity A: “Reflect and Remember Cards”
Provide index cards with prompts:
“One way God provided for me this week: _”
“One way I can thank God today: _”
“One person I can bless with what I have: _”
Have kids fill out, then share in small groups.
Activity B: “Memory Verse Craft”
Pick a verse such as Deuteronomy 8:18.
Create a small craft (canvas, poster, or badge) with the verse and a simple illustration reminding them to rely on God.
Memory Verses (optional)
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV): “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (paraphrase for younger kids): “Don’t think your own strength did this. Remember God gives you the power to do good things.”
Prayer Time (5–7 minutes)
Lead a prayer focusing on:
Gratitude for God’s blessings.
Humility: asking God to keep us from pride and dependence on Him.
Fidelity: committing to obey God’s commands and remember Him in every good thing.
People in need: pray for those without basic provisions and for missionaries who teach about stewardship.
Closing Challenge (one-minute takeaway)
Challenge each child to pick one practical habit for the week to help them remember God in times of blessing:
Start a daily “gratitude moment” (thank God for one blessing).
Put an offering or a small act of kindness aside as a reminder to bless others.
Recite Deuteronomy 8:18 daily or place it where they will see it.
Optional Extension Activities (for older kids or longer sessions)
Bible Study Link: Compare Deuteronomy 8 with Luke 12:15–21 (parables about greed and the folly of riches without God).
Service Project: Create care packages for needs-based organizations, reinforcing the message to use prosperity to bless others.
Journaling: Have students keep a 7-day journal of “Remembering God” moments, noting how He provided and how they responded.
Quick Reference Summary Table
| Section | Focus | Key Questions / Activities |
|—|—|—|
| Context & Theme | God’s provision; danger of pride | Read, discuss purpose of warnings |
| Blessings Promised (vv.7–9) | Strawberry fields of provision | Identify blessings; gratitude prompt |
| Warning Against Forgetting (vv.11–14) | Self-sufficiency vs. dependence | Why remembrance matters; roots of pride |
| Humbling Tests (v.16) | Wilderness as training | How does God humble us? |
| Source of Wealth (v.18) | God gives ability; covenant | Remember God as source; respond in obedience |
| Consequences (vv.19–20) | Destruction for forgetting God | Final warning and call to faithfulness |
| Application | Daily remembrance | Pray, gratitude, generosity, obedience |