09 Jun W2 | Actionable Faith

Posted at 17:12h in July, Topics 2024 by

REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES

Mark 12:29-31 | Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (ESV)

OBJECTIVE

To help one another create an action plan to perform Shema and be accountable with one another.

CONTENT

ACTIONABLE FAITH

  • In Mark 12:29-31, Jesus articulates the greatest commandment, urging us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is what we are commanded to do and we shouldn’t stop with our understanding of it, but follow it up with actions. Jesus’ greatest commandment challenges us to embody love in all aspects of our lives, serving as a guiding principle for how we relate to both God and our fellow human beings. 
  • While loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind has often been discussed, loving God with all of our strength is often overlooked. Shema, as discussed in the previous week, involves both listening to God and also our obedience. While some actions of love can be simple to obey, others may require having faith in God, as we often call: taking that leap of faith.
  • Having faith entails more th​​an just belief; it involves proactive preparation for what is to come. The story of Noah from the biblical narrative serves as a powerful illustration of this concept. Despite the absence of rain and the incredulity of others, Noah demonstrates his faith by diligently constructing the Ark as instructed by God. His actions exemplify a readiness to embrace the divine opportunity, even before it manifests in the physical realm. Ultimately, the story of Noah encourages us to align our actions with our beliefs and trust in divine timing.
  • An experience like Noah’s may depend on which season of life we are in, but that is not the only way to show our love for God. We can also share the gospel to others and obey Jesus’ second commandment.  In Mark 16:15, Jesus issues a clear directive for believers to spread the gospel throughout the world. This command reflects the essence of Christianity, emphasizing the importance of sharing God’s love and guiding others toward Christ. By introducing individuals to the gospel, we offer them the opportunity to experience God’s love firsthand and find direction in their lives through Christ. Sharing the gospel isn’t merely an obligation; it’s an expression of love and compassion, as it offers others the chance to discover the transformative power of faith and the depth of God’s unconditional love.

COMING UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN

  • Open up the discussion by asking if anyone has performed Shema (Listen and Obey) before, and encourage them to share the impact it had.
  • Take time to think of any command that God may have put in your hearts. Examples can be: Getting out of your comfort zone, starting a new challenge, loving a certain someone, etc.
  • If there is nothing that you can think of, consider what you have been praying for recently. What can you do in order to prepare for whenever God presents the opportunity for that breakthrough in the future?
  • If none of the above applies to you, last but not least, think about those you usually meet everyday (in the workplace, strangers, etc), and consider simple actions that can be done to share the gospel. The goal is to introduce God by spreading love so that they may want to know more about the goodness of God. 
  • When trying to share the gospel, always learn your Bible, remember it, and always be ready. So, whenever someone is curious, you are ready to answer their questions and build on their interest! Don’t forget that this is an act of love.
  • Remember that the key to fulfilling God’s command is to start, however small. Start stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself.

Make sure that there is accountability between members.
This action plan will be followed up next week, so make sure that members do as they have planned throughout the week.

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTION

  • Share an experience of yours performing Shema. How did that experience change or affect you?
  • Pray for each other for faith, strength and courage to perform Shema.

REFERENCES