Shema, Pt 1: What is Shema?

(This is a continuation of a series I'm posting during our study of the book of Romans at Creekside, as we encourage families to memorize the "Shema" together. Even though this is primarily focused on elementary-aged kids, there's no reason why you couldn't begin teaching your preschoolers. Learn more here.)

"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9*)

This is the statement of faith, from the Old Testament, known as the "Shema". The word "Shema" comes from the first word of the passage, literally meaning "to hear". But the implication is that we are not just to hear, we are also to act. So "shema" could mean "listen and obey".

You know that joy you experience, when you have a teaching moment with a child and they receive and understand what you say? That's shema.

I think God must feel the same joy every time we listen to Him - His Word, His voice in our hearts, and do what He says. Shema.

The trouble is this: as sinful humans, we are not inclined toward shema. We are inclined to do the opposite. To ignore. To disobey. I bet you've experienced that with your kids too.

We can only truly shema with God's help, and we can only live out the commands of the Shema with God's help.

So, as you begin your own look at the Shema, ask God's help in this journey: to guide you, as you live out the commands - to love God with all of your being, to commit yourself to His Word, to teach His Word to your children, all day, every day. I'm praying for you too.

As a family:

• Once this week, open up your Bibles together. Locate Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and show it to your kids. Remind them that the Bible is God's Word, like a letter for us. Highlight or underline the words. Tell your kids that we call this part the "Shema"; tell them what "Shema" means. Read the Shema out loud, and talk about each part. What does it mean to love God with all your heart? Your soul? Your strength? What does it mean to write them on the doorposts and gates?
  
  
• Make something together to go on your table, so you remember to read it and talk about it throughout the week. I made this "table-sitter" out of a few scraps of paper I had lying around - taping the edges of 3 pieces together to form a triangle. It doesn't have to be elaborate! Let your child write out the words, or decorate it with stickers. Make it fun. Do it together.
  
  
• Put your table-sitter on the dining room table, the bathroom counter, or your child's nightstand - wherever you'll see it and have a moment to say it together or talk about it. Try to say the Shema together a few times throughout the week to get comfortable with the words.

(*This is the NLT version, which we use with kids in 1st-6th grades at Creekside. It's a paraphrased translation. Check out the NIV version here.)