SEPTEMBER 17
LIVING WHOLE
In order to be ready for the future we must allow ourselves to be restored holistically.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
- What is something you are religious about (even if it’s something silly)?
- What are your biggest priorities in life and why?
- What stood out to you from the message?
4. Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25. After being freed from 400 years of slavery in Egypt and wandering in the desert for another 40 as a result of disobedience and disbelief, a new generation is gearing up to cross the finish line into God’s land and blessing. Moses explained the Law to this new generation and gave them a plea to be faithful to the covenant God made with them and not forget who they are. In this chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses is instructing them on how they are to conduct themselves so that they might live long and prosper in the land they are about to occupy.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about God?
- What do you learn about humanity?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
5. Read Matthew 22:34-40.
- Why do you think Jesus considers this the greatest commandment and that the second one He gives is just as important? How do they fit together?
6. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 again.
- Do you tend to compartmentalize your love for God and obedience to Him? Are there areas of your life: your thoughts, your finances, your relationships, your body, your passions, your time, etc., that you are hesitant to submit to Him? If so, why is that?
- In what ways have you experienced growth in centering your life around love and obedience to God? How have you seen your life change as a result?
- If we want God to be at the center of our lives, we must begin at the level of our habits. What new habits can you start practicing that will help move God deeper into the center of your life? (See the next steps section for a practical tool called a Rule of Life to help you implement these and consider using it as a next step for your group).
KEY SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”
Matthew 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
PRAYER
Pray through Deuteronomy 6:4-5, known at the Shema, which means “hear” in Hebrew.
Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Pray for God to be the only God in your life. Confess ways that He has not been at the center or your life, and invite Him to lead your life in deeper ways.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart.
Your heart includes your thoughts, desires, affections and will. Pray for your heart to be completely devoted to God.
With all your soul.
Your soul includes your entire physical being- your life and your body. Pray that your soul would be completely devoted to God.
With all your strength.
Your strength is your “muchness”, that is, every moment, opportunity, capacity and influence. Pray that your strength would be completely devoted to God.
TAKE A NEXT STEP
- Create a Rule of Life using the workbook from Practicing the Way: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5852ec829f7456cfcc0e1c5a/t/5e17be5d7cba366ace1df6e1/1578614383140/ptw_ruleoflife_workbook_.pdf
- For further study on the Shema, check out the word study series at Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/shema-series/
FOR THE PARENTS
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
This week, kids hear about how God is the master artist and how His creation reflects that! We will be looking at Days 4 and 5 to see how God created the sun, moon, stars and creatures in the sea and sky.
THE BIBLE: Genesis 1:31
THE MESSAGE: Learning about God’s creation can gives us a better appreciation for our world. Not only do we have a responsibility to take care of it, but we have to train our eyes to see the beauty that is around us. When we see the same things day after day, they can sometimes lose their significance. Challenge yourself to wake up each day and see the wonder of God’s creation in your home, on your walk or drive to school, and in just being with Jesus.
THE BIG IDEA: God gives us rules to help us be more like Jesus.
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation starter that isn’t, “So . . . how was church?”
- What did God create on the fourth and fifth day?
- How many birds can you name?
- Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- How many fish can you name?
- Do you think God had fun creating all the birds and fish?
- What’s one thing you can thank God for today?
REMEMBER THIS
God’s greatest creation is YOU!
Genesis 1:31, in case you want to work on them together.
Preschool: “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
Elementary: “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
NEXT WEEK
Next week, we’ll explore how God created days 6 and 7!