READ | SERMON NOTES
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 is to be taught to all family members. v4-9 is known as The Shema Prayer. It is a classic Hebrew confession of faith spoken daily by pious Jews. The first thing God wanted His people to do, when He gave His laws, decrees, and commands through Moses, was for them to hear carefully and be able to internalise it in their heart and spirit.
Who were the people listening to God’s commands in Deuteronomy 6:1-9? None were 20 years old and above when they came out of Egypt. A whole generation, due to their persistent rebellion against God, except for Caleb and Joshua, was not able to enter the Promised Land. Those who entered were not older than 59 years old.
In considering Christian Discipleship, Kevin DeYoung said it well that “the one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians.” We must be able to hear and live out God’s commands, decrees, and laws. It is a Christlike lifestyle. It must be of effective communication to our children and their children not merely by verbally telling them about God. Effective communication comes out of the heart that is fully persuaded by the truth of God, by someone who has experienced in a real way God’s work in their lives.
From Ephesians 6:1-3, we know that honouring our father and mother is the only commandment that comes with a promise that our life will be blessed. Ephesians 6:1-9 was written very clearly by Paul on how to serve our true master the Lord. Even if we are not in a family, remember we also have our church family. This is an important family for us to exercise our gifts in and to grow in our discipleship.
Who are the audience and beneficiaries of God’s commands in Ephesians 6:1-9? The Christian households and the Church family. All families should learn the important godly, practical principles. Jesus responded to a rabbi in Mark 12:29-31 that the most important commandment is to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength. The second commandment is to love our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus gave the same command to His disciples in John 13:34-35 to love one another as He has loved them so that everyone will know that they are His disciples. The mark of Jesus’ disciples is Love. Discipleship at home or in the workplace is about this key principle. Jesus is to be loved as our number one as Matthew wrote in chapter 10:37-38. Only then will we truly love our parents, siblings, children, and others.
(Sermon notes by Honey Vreugdewater)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- To the question of the most important of all commandments, Jesus in Mark 12:29-31 quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (the “Shema Prayer” – a classic Hebrew confession of faith) and Leviticus 19:18. Before His Passion, Jesus gave a ‘New Command’ to all His disciples in John 13:34-35. From these two instances, what can we see as the bedrock of Christian Discipleship?
- Do you agree that effective communication is the key tool for Christian Discipleship to form and grow in the family and even in all relational contexts? Today, what are some of the many roadblocks stifling the efforts of meaningful communication?
- Please share:
- How adult children can honour their parents? (Eph. 6:1-3)
- How parents, especially fathers, can avoid exasperating their children? (Eph. 6:4)
- How would you manage a Christian subordinate at home or office who consistently underperforms?
- What is your most important takeaway from this sermon?
