In this powerful lesson from the SCUAD Shalom series, we explore "Shalom Bayit" - Peace with Family. This is the third pillar in the series, following peace with God and peace with oneself. The lesson uses the biblical story of Jacob and his family, particularly Joseph, as a lens to understand common barriers to peace within families and how to overcome them.

The lesson identifies three key barriers to shalom in families:

• Control: Projecting our own fears and values onto others.
• Expectations: The demands or hopes placed on us by others.
• Avoidance: The tension created when we feel hurt, often linked to a lack of vulnerability.

Drawing on Jacob's family tree, which starts with Rebecca and Isaac (first generation), includes Jacob and Esau (second generation), and extends to Jacob's children (third generation), the lesson illustrates how these barriers manifest across generations.

This Squad lesson is focused on the Serenity Prayer as a tool for achieving inner peace. The group discusses the prayer line by line, relating each section to biblical passages and personal experiences of overcoming hardship. SCUAD Members share their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to God's will and finding joy amidst life's imperfections. The overall message centers on finding peace with oneself through faith and spiritual practices.

Companion Document: https://nova-scuad.craft.me/yEw7hRZCCepxBG

This lesson discusses Shalom Atzmi, which means “peace with self”. The lesson emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and understanding one's role as created in God's image. For men, this involves acknowledging their inherent worth, accepting responsibility for stewardship of the world and care for women, and recognizing God's strength in their weaknesses. For women, it means understanding their value as "ezer kenegdo," a strong ally and complement to man, rather than seeking validation from societal standards. The lesson also explores the concept of "porneia," which refers to prostituting oneself, either literally or metaphorically, by compromising one's values for personal gain. This can manifest as idolatry, the pursuit of worldly desires, or neglecting one's spiritual growth. Ultimately, achieving Shalom Atzmi requires aligning one's life with God's image and purpose, rejecting the world's often conflicting messages about identity and worth, and recognizing that true peace and fulfillment come from a relationship with God, not external validation. The discussion includes biblical references, personal anecdotes, and practical questions for self-reflection. The lesson ends with a call to examine one's desires, identify areas where one may be compromising their divine image, and seek to live by the Spirit, reflecting the image of God.

Shalom is a Hebrew word that means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. It can refer to peace with God, between countries, groups, individuals, or even within oneself. Shalom is also used as a greeting and farewell. The concept of Shalom is deeply rooted in Jewish thought and Biblical tradition.

While Shalom does not appear in the New Testament, because it was written in Greek, the concept is present. Jesus likely used the word Shalom when speaking about peace, but the Gospel writers translated it to the Greek word "eirene". When reading the New Testament, it's important to understand that "peace" often carries the richer connotations of Shalom.

There are seven pillars of Shalom, each representing a different dimension of peace. The seven pillars are:

• Shalom Elohim: Peace with God
• Shalom Atzmi: Peace with oneself or inner peace
• Shalom Bayit: Peace with your family
• Shalom Qahal: Peace within the church or with believers
• Shalom Olam Ra: Peace in a world of sin, evil, and brokenness
• Shalom Machloket: Peace when we disagree
• Shalom Milchamah: Peace when confronted with violence or war and death

This SCUAD lesson explored the concept of truth and how disciples can determine what is true amidst the noise of today’s society. The lesson uses the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat to illustrate how we must be honest about our agenda, identify our assumptions, reflect on their origins, study our Bible, gather evidence, seek alternative perspectives, interrogate our beliefs and assumptions, consider the implications, and be willing to change our beliefs.

The lesson emphasizes that we must be honest about whether we are truly seeking God's truth or simply seeking validation for our existing viewpoints. We must be willing to challenge our assumptions, even those that come from sources we respect, such as family, culture, or social media. We should actively seek out diverse perspectives, study the Bible, and gather evidence to support or challenge our assumptions.

Being willing to change our beliefs is crucial for spiritual growth. We must embrace uncertainty, accept the need for continuous change and growth, and be willing to acknowledge past errors.

The lesson concludes by reminding us that the greatest truth is love, and that any "truth" that divides us is not worth pursuing. We should strive to find a middle ground where we can agree to disagree while respecting each other's perspectives.

Access the companion document HERE.

This episode discusses the importance of lament in the Christian life.

●Lament is defined as deep grief or sorrow over personal or communal pain, including injustice, sin, and suffering.

●Biblical lament is often expressed through actions like wearing sackcloth and ashes, symbolizing humility and desolation.

●The book of Lamentations uses an alphabetic acrostic structure to convey that lament has a definite beginning and end.

●Lament is a process that can lead to action, comfort, repentance, and reconciliation.

●Communal lament is important, allowing us to grieve and process difficult realities together.

●Examples of lament in the Bible include mourning the loss of loved ones, grieving injustice, and repenting for sin.

●Lament is often avoided because it can feel uncomfortable and make us vulnerable.

●The discussion emphasizes that lamenting is a healthy and necessary part of the Christian life, as it allows us to connect with God and each other on a deeper level.

This episode is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about lament and how to incorporate it into their own life.

Podcast Show Notes Summary: "The Love You Owe: Exploring Hesed Love Principles"

In this episode, hosts Alton Murphy and Andy Yateman explore the concept of Hesed love, a biblical principle centered on mercy, kindness, and covenantal faithfulness. Drawing from scriptures in Leviticus, Matthew, and other biblical texts, they explore how Hesed applies to everyday relationships, conflict resolution, and spiritual growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Meaning of Hesed: Understanding its multifaceted definitions such as mercy, kindness, faithfulness, and loving-kindness.
• Five Biblical Hesed Relationships: Examining how Hesed shapes relationships between individuals, communities, and even toward those outside one’s faith.
• Conflict Resolution Through a Biblical Lens: Practical steps on addressing hurt while staying true to biblical principles, including confronting others with love, setting healthy boundaries, and pursuing forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Real-Life Applications: Alton and Andy share personal stories, including challenging workplace and community experiences where Hesed principles brought healing and understanding.
• Spiritual Growth Through Love: Developing love, forgiveness, and empathy by embracing vulnerability, self-reflection, and proactive reconciliation.

Discussion Highlights: The interactive discussion included insights from listeners who shared personal challenges and victories in practicing Hesed love in difficult circumstances. The conversation emphasized the power of love in action, even when faced with hostility or indifference.

Practical Takeaways:

• Practice assertive and honest communication rooted in love.
• Reflect on personal responsibility before addressing conflict.
• Set appropriate boundaries while keeping an open heart for reconciliation.
• Use prayer, scripture meditation, and journaling as tools for spiritual preparation.

Join us for this heartfelt and insightful exploration of Hesed love—learning how to give the love we owe to others in both our spiritual and everyday lives.

Resources Mentioned:

• Scripture References: Leviticus 19:17-18, Matthew 18:15-22, Colossians 3:12-17
• Downloadable PDF Lesson on Hesed Love Principles (available via episode link).

Next Episode Teaser: Stay tuned for our next episode, in which we continue exploring love principles in practice through the lens of faith, community, and cultural reconciliation.

Overview:

This episode is part of SCUAD’s midweek series focusing on fostering courageous conversations within the church community. Building upon previous lessons on “Courageous Conversations” and “Connecting Through Lament,” this session emphasizes the importance of unity and explores how Jesus exemplified unity through his teachings and actions. The discussion examines how divisive opinions can either bring us closer or create disunity, providing practical steps for electing unity over division.