Shema - Soul and Strength

Message Notes:

Passage focus for today’s message: 

•Deuteronomy 6:5 — You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

•Key words: soul and strength

Soul = Hebrew “nephesh”:

•Overly influenced by Greek philosophy

•“Ghost in the Machine”

•Some kind of spiritual essence separate from the body

•But actually, from a Biblical perspective — soul / body are united; cannot separate 

•“You don’t have a soul, you are a soul.”

“Nephesh” in the Bible:

•When Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, his “nephesh” was placed in iron shackles. (Psalm 105:18)

•Jacob’s family consisted of thirty-three “nephesh.” (Genesis 46:15)

•A murderer is called a “nephesh-slayer” (Numbers 31:19)

•A kidnapper is called a “nephesh-thief” (Deuteronomy 24:7)

So, “loving God with all of your soul” is:

•with all of your physical life

•with your entire being

•with all of your capabilities

•with everything you are

“Me’od” in the Bible:

•(Not strength, but) “very or “really.”

•When God looked at the sixth day of creation, He said, “It was ‘me’od’ good.” (Genesis 1:31)

•In the story of Noah, the floodwaters kept rising and became “me’od” powerful over the land. (Genesis 7:18)

•When Cain killed Abel, he was “me’od” angry. (Genesis 4:5)

•When Saul became king of Israel, he was “me’od” happy. (1 Samuel 11:15

Putting “nephesh” and “me’od” together — these words emphasize “everything you are and have.” (Life; Body; Mind; Resources) (Time; Talents; Treasure)

Discussion Questions:

Try to describe what a “Luke-warm” Christian life looks like? What are the distinct differences from that to a fully-committed one?

Where are you on the scale of "Ice Cold Christian" to "Faithful & On-Fire"? 1 being "Ice Cold," 5 being "Luke-warm," 10 being "On-Fire."

Why? How would you change for the better?