Deuteronomy 02: Shema

Redemption Church KC Sermon Podcast

1. As Tim expanded upon and reframed our understanding of quite a few words in this week’s sermon, how are you left feeling? What impact on your own sense of “understanding” the Bible are you experiencing?
If our English translations and, as a result, our understandings of crucial words and concepts such as love, listen, heart, soul, strength, and Jehovah are incomplete, flawed, or misguided, what does that mean for us as people who look to the scripture as a primary resource in our lives of faith?
What might it look like for you or for us to wrestle and engage with the reality of these apparent disconnects? How do we stay honest with ourselves about the gaps in our own understanding while also acknowledging that we can probably never become aware of all of them?
2. In examining some of these critical Hebrew words in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Tim started with the word “shema” itself. In short, the meaning of the word is “hear, listen…obey.”
He also talked about a word often translated into English as love: “ahavah.” Tim taught that this word’s meaning is not only affection, but specifically affection paired with action.
With both these of these words, Tim gave numerous examples of familiar passages in which they’re used in the Old Testament.
Recall (or look up) a few of these verses (list below) as a group, and reconsider their meanings in light of these more nuanced definitions.
Are there places where what your understanding of these verses shifts significantly with your new understanding of the words “Shema” (translated as hear, listen) and “ahavah” (translated as love)? How does it impact your understanding to know that both these words include with them a sense of active response?
Psalm 27:7
Exodus 19:5
Deuteronomy 7:7-8
Deuteronomy 4:37
Deuteronomy 10:18
Jeremiah 31:3
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
3. Tim also contrasted the idea of love in a sentimental sense with the idea of a love that inherently includes action. He talked about the relevance of this difference not only in how we love God, but also in how we love our neighbors, immigrants, orphans, and other groups of people that are often outcast in our society.
What does it mean to love these people with sentimentality? What’s different about loving them with “ahavah,” with affection AND action? How does this look in our everyday lives? How does it look in your everyday life?
Now consider some of the other relationships in your life. What’s the significance of affection paired with action when it comes to loving your co-workers? Your spouse? Your friends? Your families? Your neighbors? Does this idea shift anything for you? Why or why not?