Spiritual Self-Assessment
0. Intro
Share where you are in your spiritual life. For example, where would you put yourself on a line graph in spiritual growth and maturity, and why? In what ways are you growing? In what ways are you not growing or declining?
1. Read Deut. 6, focusing on v4-9.
The portion of v4-9 is often referred to by Jewish people as the shema (= hear in Hebrew),
which all serious Jews memorize. For an opening activity, as a group you all can memorize the shema,
which will make it easier to refer to the passage in your Bible study.
(Actually, Jewish people memorize it in Hebrew, no matter what country they live in, but for our purposes English or Chinese will suffice).
This passage is more than just a plan for a good devotional and worship life and family life. It is
a standard for spiritual prosperity, growth, and success (cf. v18-19, 24). Furthermore, it is
a yardstick, a measure, a set of criteria, against which to measure your spiritual life, for assessing the quality of your spiritual life.
You can also compare the shema with Matthew 22:34-40. Both passages say the same thing, in slightly different words. Almost like a poetic merism*, Moses and Jesus both are commanding us to love God with all our being, with all our essence.
*Merism is a literary and poetic device in which both parts of something together stand for the whole thing; e.g., the Psalms speak of Gods protection being present by day and by night, which means at all times.
2. Consider (in modern terms) how we are to love and worship God with:
3. Measures
Now consider how well you measure up in each of these categories. What specific problems do you find in each area? How do you measure up to this standard in areas like the following and share specifically.
(These categorize serve as a preview to the rest of this semesters Bible studies).
4. Salvation
Now consider your salvation. How are you in terms of
5. Barriers
What barriers are there in your relationship with God? Are they connected with aforementioned problems in your spiritual life?
Do you have barriers like these? Share specifically.
6. Goals
Focus on a few major problem areas, and in discussion with your group set some goals for spiritual growth
in light of the standard for spirituality that is set forth in Deut. 6.
In consultation with the group, decide on some goals that are specific, attainable,
and have with them specific ideas of how to accomplish them.
Avoid general, vague, or lofty goals; focus on specific, concrete goals
and a means for attaining them.