Time is short—this an inescapable truth. While we have made many advances in technology, modern medicine, transportation, and so much more, there is nothing we can do to prolong time. The truth is that this world is not our home, and ultimately, one day, we will take our last breath on this earth and enter into eternity with Christ forever if we have placed our faith in Him. Time is passing by more quickly than we could ever realize. The question is, how will we spend our time? Today we will look at Scripture and talk about what Jesus said the most important thing we can do with our time is: Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
What is something that you hate about getting older?
1. When you plan out your day, how do you decide what is a priority and what is not?
2. Read Mark 12:28-34. Why is Jesus' summary of the most important commandments a perfect explanation?
Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Mark 12:28-34
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
3. Looking at the four areas God calls us to love Him, with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, define each of those areas in your own words.
4. Read John 3:16-21. Define God's love for the world described in these verses in just one word.
John 3:16-21 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
John 3:16-21
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
5. When you look at Jesus' command to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, is there an area that you have neglected? If so, what is that area?
6. Is there anything in your life, based on your words and actions, that is more important to you than God? What is that area?
7. Are you holding back anything from God? How can you lean into God and grow your trust in Him?
You have discussed the area in your life, your heart, soul, mind, or strength that you have neglected. Talk to your group about that area of your life and share how you can focus this week on it, and ask them to help you stay accountable.
Jesus' teaching that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being is really a commandment to stay away from idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything ahead of the place of God in our lives. This teaching to avoid idolatry goes back to the Old Testament when God spoke to Moses on a mountaintop and gave him commands to give to the people of Israel. Let's take some time to look back at what Scripture teaches about idolatry, then reflect on what it might be teaching us today.
Read Exodus 20:1:1-3.
These first three verses in Exodus reveal God's first commandment He told Moses to share with the Israelites.
Read Exodus 20:4-7.
These verses in Exodus 20 record the second commandment God told Moses to share with the Israelites.
Read Exodus 32:1-8.
These verses share what the Israelites were doing when Moses came down from the mountain to share God's commandments with them.
Unfortunately, this idolatry became a pattern among the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament. They often found themselves turning from God to other idols, whether physical or metaphorical. But idolatry did not end in the Old Testament. God continued to call His people throughout the New Testament as well.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-14.
These verses from Paul warn readers against the idolatry that Israel's people fell under in the Old Testament.
Now that we have taken a deep dive into what Scripture teaches about idolatry, let's look at our own lives.
End this meeting praying. As you pray, tell God you are sorry for the times you have given into idol worship without even realizing it. Ask God to reveal to you all when your affections, worship, and loyalty shift from God to something or someone else. Next, pray for each group member to have the courage to turn away from the idols in their lives so that you all can live in a way that honors God.
Wallpaper available for download in the Sagebrush App.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
