In this sermon, Erin, the teaching pastor at Riverwood, shares an important message about the most important commandment according to Jesus. He begins by recounting his experience playing the game Settlers of Catan and how sometimes we can get caught up in the details and forget the main goal. This, he says, also happens in life and relationships, including our relationship with God. We often focus on all the things we're supposed to do and forget the basics.
Erin then turns to Mark 12:28-31, where a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the most important. Jesus responds by quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, emphasizing the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Erin breaks down each aspect of this commandment and explains how it applies to our lives.
When Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart, he is referring to our emotions and affections. Erin reminds us that our emotions are not evil or bad, but they should draw us closer to God. He shares a personal story of a man named JD who experienced a radical transformation in his life after encountering God's love.
Loving God with all our soul means making him the center of our identity. Erin challenges us to examine our priorities and consider what comes to mind when someone asks us who we are. He encourages us to attach our identity to being a child of God rather than to external factors like our job or hobbies.
While Jesus didn't explicitly mention loving God with our mind in the passage, Erin explains that it is implied in the other aspects of loving God. Our thoughts and intellect play a crucial role in our relationship with God. He encourages us to ask questions, seek knowledge, and submit our thoughts to God's truth.
Loving God with all our strength means giving our best to him in our daily activities and also in our toughest moments. Erin reminds us that we don't have to rely on our own strength, but rather surrender to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.
As Erin concludes his sermon, he emphasizes the importance of putting God first in our lives. He shares JD's story as a powerful testimony of how God's love can transform even the most broken and lost individuals. Erin encourages his listeners to examine their own relationship with God and consider how they can prioritize their love for him in their daily lives.
In the next few weeks, Erin will continue this sermon series on relationships, exploring how we can have good relationships with ourselves and others. But it all starts with our relationship with God. Let us make him the priority in our lives and experience the transformative power of his love.
