Learning Objectives

• Understand the great love of God for mankind.
• Realize that man is commanded to love God completely.
• Express the fullness of Christ’s love as we do a loving thing this week.
• Share the love of Christ to someone who does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Start Up:

John 3:16 expresses how great the Father and Son’s love for mankind is. In your group, feel free to share how you have experienced or encountered the love of God afresh this week.

Word:

1.  Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Verses 1-3 are Moses’ declaration as to why he was teaching the Israelites God’s law and why they should obey it. Verse 4 is the SHEMA, the basic statement of Israel’s faith. It begins with the truth that YAHWEH is One and that He is the Only One God. It is followed by Israel’s creed on how Israel should love God.

What does verse 5ff teach the Israelites as to how they should love God?

 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul … might: this is a way of commanding the people to love God completely, wholeheartedly, without any reservations; it is a love that includes emotion, intellect, will. Love is not about liking and affection but is about total devotion and commitment to God.

For the Hebrews the heart generally refers to the activities of the mind rather than to emotions. The soul refers to the emotions (see also 4:29). In some languages, however, the functions of heart and soul will be thought of as identical. Might refers to physical strength. In some languages it will be necessary to dispense with the figurative language completely and say, for example, “You must love the Lord your God in all that you think and with all your strength,” or “… with all your strength and thinking,” or even “… completely.” The quote in Mark 12:30 adds “with all your mind,” which is not in the Hebrew or the Septuagint. However, the meaning is the same as “heart,” and in many modern languages “heart and mind” will be identical. In summary, this command means that the people should love God completely—with their whole being.¹  Loving God with their all being is also about obeying all His commands.

++ This section of the SHEMA follows the section of the Decalogue (Deut 5) as declared to the new generation of Israelites before they entered the Promised land. The Decalogue (Ten Commandments) was recited for them to know God’s command.

2.  In Matthew 22:34-40, why do you think the Pharisees had to test Jesus with that question?  How did Jesus respond to them?

As Pharisees, their concern for their testing was to find out if Jesus was contradicting the Law. Jesus answered them with the whole Law. The greatest commandment is the summation of the first five commands of the Decalogue while the second commandment is the summation of the other half.

Going Further:  Read Deuteronomy 5. Review the contents of the Decalogue. How does the first five teach us to love and obey God? How does the last five teach us to love others?

3. Matthew 28:19-10 is often called the Great Commission.  What is the Great Commission? Can the Great Commission be accomplished apart from the Great Commandments (1 and 2)? What should propel the believer in accomplishing Jesus commission of making disciples?

Get Real: In your GG, ask everyone to write the names of at least 3 friends whom they care about who have yet to know Jesus.  Pray for divine appointments for all to share the love of Jesus. Also pray that the Lord, go before you and prepare the heart of your dear friend.

(GG leaders should take time to review “What It Takes To Be A Christian” using the bookmark that was given away during the service.)

Prayer Items:

• Teach us to love You dear Lord.
• Teach us to love others as You love us.
• Usher us to the divine appointments You have set for us.
• Lead us in boldness and courage to share Your great love!