Theonomy – Grace Reformed Baptist Church

Deuteronomy 15 – The Case Law for the Irresponsible Needy: How God Teaches Discipline and Liberty

God does not treat every kind of “need” the same way. That theme runs through Deuteronomy 14 and 15, and it matters because the church (and the modern state) often blur categories into one loud idea: “Help them” without any clear biblical method.

In Deuteronomy 15, God gives a specific case law for a particular kind of needy person: the able-bodied but irresponsible. The solution is not a vague donation, and it is not a system designed to create dependence. It is a structured way to bring discipline, work them toward restitution, and ultimately release them into freedom.

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 – God’s Law for the Needy

Deuteronomy 15 teaches a plain, practical, and merciful economy for a covenant people. It draws a careful distinction between two kinds of poverty and prescribes two different responses. One response is charity without expectation of repayment; the other is an interest-free, compassionate loan with the expectation of repayment. Both responses display mercy, but each fits a different need and both honor God’s wisdom about work, stewardship, and neighbor-love.

Deuteronomy 15 — God’s Law for the Needy: Gifts, Loans, and the Year of Release

Don’t Rob God

God gave the Law of the Tithe to Israel. We will discuss the purpose of this law and how it applies to the Christian.

Deuteronomy 14 – Dietary Laws – Theology of Holiness

In this VLOG, Pastor Ben discusses the theology behind the dietary laws given to Israel; and how that theology applies under the New Covenant.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 – The Law of the Tithe

The tithe law is not a relic of an agricultural past to be filed away with the rest of ancient ceremony. It is a deliberate, emphatic command that shapes how a people acknowledge God as owner and provider. The tithe law confronts our assumptions about money, tests our allegiance, and orders the church’s life so ministers and the needy are cared for. This is not abstract theology; it is practical worship translated into how we use what God entrusts to us.

The Tithe Law: Worship, Stewardship, and the Care of God’s People

Deuteronomy 14:1-21 – Dietary Laws – Theology of Holiness

God gave Israel the dietary laws to keep them separate from the gentile nations. Underlying the dietary laws is the theology of holiness. In this sermon, we will look at how these laws were necessary for the Old Covenant, but no longer required for the New Covenant. From a redemptive history perspective, the distinction between Jew and Gentile is not relevant. Under the New Covenant the distinction is made between those who are in Christ and those who are not in Christ. Christ has come to remove the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile; therefore, the dietary laws are no longer necessary.

Deuteronomy 13 — God’s Case Law Against the Family

Deuteronomy 13:5-8 Outline What this passage is about and why it matters Deuteronomy 13:5-8 is not a quirky antiquated law about domestic cruelty. It is a case law designed to teach a single, urgent principle: when someone seeks to turn your heart away from the one true God, that effort is idolatry, and idolatry is…

Deuteronomy 13:5-8 – Case Law Against Family Members

In this Sermon, we will look at the Case Law of God against family members who would try to subvert the faith of Covenant Members.

Deuteronomy 13 — Case Law Against an Apostate City

Introduction: Harsh Law, Greater Mercy Deuteronomy 13 confronts a hard truth: idolatry is not a private matter. When a whole city turns from Yahweh, the problem is systemic. The law Moses gives for that circumstance—utter destruction—sounds brutal until we see its purpose. It is designed to stop treason in its tracks and to prevent the…

Deuteronomy 13:12-18 – Case Law Against an Apostate City

In this Sermon we will look at God’s Law concerning Israelite cities that apostatize and turn from the one true God.