15/03 Journey to the Promised Land: God Loves to Love

15/03 Journey to the Promised Land: God Loves to Love 

Written By: James Wakefield

Life Group Notes

God’s people are called to remember His love and respond with whole‑hearted devotion.

Read Deuteronomy  6:1-9

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 comes as Moses prepares the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness.

Verses 1&2:  follow on from the giving of the Ten Commandments in chapter 5.

o   Why are the commandments given?

o   What do you think it means to ‘fear the LORD’?

o   What is meant by ‘so that you may enjoy long life’?

o   In what ways do you think this ‘fear’ and ‘enjoyment’ are and are not connected?

Verse 3: The NIV version of the bible translates v3 using the words ‘flowing with milk and honey’.

o   What do you think this phrase is meant to convey?

Verses 4&5: form part of the ancient and central Jewish prayer called the Shema (which means to hear, or listen). It is used at the beginning and end of the day and often at the beginning and the end of life.

Take time to read out vv4&5 prayerfully. Perhaps pray it several times, slowly.

·        In praying, what were you hearing about God?

·        In praying, what were you hearing about responding to God?

Verse 5: the people of Israel are reminded to love God with all their:

·        Heart (desires)

·        Breath (soul or core self)

·        Strength (action)

Encourage each other with ideas as to how you might love God in these ways. Share the challenges as well.

Verses 6-9: We so easily forget to love God.

·        What do you think it means for commandments to be ‘upon your hearts’?

·        What are the different ways of remembering set out in these verses (e.g. talking)?

·        Share ideas about how you might remember who God is and to love him on a daily basis. Be practical (e.g. post-it notes on the mirror).

Read John 15:9-13

Jesus is speaking to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. As part of His farewell teaching, these verses place love at the centre of discipleship, culminating in His command that they love one another as He has loved them.

Verse 9:  Where does love come from? Why is it important to remember that?

Verse 10: What do you think it means to remain in Jesus’ love? How do we do that (remember the Deuteronomy passage you have looked at)?

Verse 11: We see that Jesus wants us to experience his joy completely. What does that mean? How does that feel?

Verse 12: How are we to respond to Jesus’ love?

Quiet Reflection

Take a moment to be quiet and reflect on the following question:

·        Through reading these bible verses, in what way is the Holy Spirit encouraging you to remember to love God in the week to come?

Prayer 

Use verse 13 to prompt the group’s prayers of loving thanks and worship.