Almost Home

In this historic message marking the final gathering of the congregation before moving into their permanent church home, Chuck Swindoll draws a powerful parallel between the church's transition and the Israelites standing on the brink of the Promised Land. Just as Israel had wandered for 40 years and was poised to cross the Jordan into Canaan, the church stands ready to enter a new season of ministry. Swindoll warns, however, that with new territory comes new dangers—specifically, the temptation to forget God amidst the abundance of "cities we did not build" and "vineyards we did not plant" [5–6, 15–16]. To prepare the people for this transition, Swindoll calls for a return to the basics. Citing legendary coaches John Wooden and Vince Lombardi, he argues that greatness is found in mastering the fundamentals. For the believer, these fundamentals are found in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6. Swindoll outlines Moses’ four-part strategy for spiritual survival in a pagan culture: Hear the truth continually, Love the Lord fervently, Teach the young diligently, and Fear the Lord greatly. He emphasizes that as the church moves from a simple "wilderness" existence to a complex new phase, the primary danger is not external persecution, but internal erosion of faith [9–14, 23–24]. The heart of the message focuses on the transfer of faith to the next generation. Swindoll reminds parents and grandparents that "God has no grandchildren, only children," meaning faith cannot be inherited automatically—it must be embraced personally. He challenges families to move beyond formal sermons and embrace "teachable moments" during the natural rhythms of life—sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up. The sermon concludes with a reminder that God brought His people out of bondage for the specific purpose of bringing them in to a life of stewardship and obedience [48–51, 68–69].

Message Key Facts:

• The "Basics" Analogy: Swindoll illustrates the importance of fundamentals using two sports legends: John Wooden, who taught elite UCLA basketball players how to put on socks to prevent blisters, and Vince Lombardi, who began a season with professional athletes by holding up a ball and saying, "Gentlemen, this is a football." Swindoll applies this to the church returning to the foundational truths of Deuteronomy [9–14].
• The Danger of Canaan: Swindoll notes that while the Israelites were "almost home," they were entering a polytheistic culture known for obscenity and idolatry. He compares this to modern parents sending children off to university; without a strong foundation, the surrounding culture can erode their distinctives [16–18].
• The Shema: The text centers on Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one." Swindoll notes this remains the most basic confession of faith for Jewish people today, emphasizing God's uniqueness and unity [21–22].
• "No Grandchildren": A critical insight offered is that "God has no grandchildren, only children." There is no automatic transfer of faith from parent to child; each generation must be "sharpened" (the meaning of diligently teach) to grasp the truth for themselves [48–49].
• Teachable Moments: Swindoll argues against formal lectures in the home ("Leave the sermons to me"). Instead, he advocates for the natural transmission of truth as described in Deuteronomy 6:7: when walking, sitting, and lying down. He shares a personal example of "bedtime theology"—lying in bed with his children to debrief the day and drop in seeds of truth [51–57].
• The Parker Illustration: To illustrate loving God with "all your might," Swindoll shares a story of his grandson, Parker. While helping carry firewood, Parker hugged Swindoll’s leg and said, "I love you with all my heart and might, Bubba." Swindoll notes that this type of unmasked, total affection is what God desires from His people [42–44].
• Brokers of Truth: Citing David Wells’ book No Place for Truth, Swindoll describes preachers and believers as "brokers of truth." In a culture where theology is disappearing and worship is becoming self-centered, knowing the truth is the only way to avoid the bondage of ignorance [33–36].
• The Purpose of Redemption: Swindoll highlights Deuteronomy 6:23: "He brought us out... in order to bring us in." Salvation is not just an exit from sin (Egypt) but an entrance into a life of purpose and inheritance [68–69].

Message References:

• Deuteronomy 6:4: The Shema: "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one".
• Deuteronomy 6:5: The command to love: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might".
• Deuteronomy 6:7: The method of teaching: "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house... walk by the way... lie down... and rise up".
• Deuteronomy 6:10–12: The warning regarding prosperity: "Then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt".
• Deuteronomy 6:23: "He brought us out from there in order to bring us in".
• John 8:32: "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (referenced regarding the need to hear truth continually).

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll