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Bible 10: Kingdom. January 27, 2014. The Kingdom of God is…. ____ _____ __ _____ _________ ____, _____ ____ ___ _____ ____ __ ____. The _____ of _____ _________ will, where ____ ___ wants ____ is ____. The range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done.
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Bible 10: Kingdom January 27, 2014
The Kingdom of God is… • ____ _____ __ _____ _________ ____, _____ ____ ___ _____ ____ __ ____. • The _____ of _____ _________ will, where ____ ___ wants ____ is ____. • The range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done.
What does this mean? • The rangeof God’s effectivewill, where what God wants done is done. • Range - the area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale • Effective - successful in producing a desired or intended result • Will - A desire, purpose, or determination, especially of one in authority • What then is the “Kingdom of You”?
Kingdom of God Refresher Kingdom = Basilea = Empire Early 2nd Century Simon Ben Kosiba – Son of Kosiba Simon Bar Kochba – Son of the Star Simon Bar Kozeba – Son of Lies
Kingdom of God v1.0 ‘He who takes upon himself the yoke of the Law, from him shall be taken away the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of worldly care.’ - Rabbi Nhunya ben ha-Kanah In other words, devotion to Torah, studied and practiced within Jewish community offers a safe alternative to revolution. And the code ben ha-Kanah used for revolution is the phrase ‘the kingdom,’ or ‘the kingdom of God.’” - N.T. Wright, The Meaning of Jesus
Jesus’ Central Message: • The Kingdom of God/Heaven • Matthew (Kingdom of Heaven) – 48x • Mark – 17x • Luke – 34x • John – 3x • 102 direct appearances (Kingdom) in the Gospels alone • Born again – 2X • Salvation/Saved – 36X (rarely in instruction) • Love – 89X (60% of which appear exclusively in John)
Matthew: Kingdom of Heaven? • What religion/race was Matthew? • To what religion/race was Matthew originally writing? • If Matthew was a Jew writing to Jews… why would he use the phrase Kingdom of Heaven instead of Kingdom of God?
The Gospel of the Kingdom vs.The Gospel of the Atonement • Context – this is an interview of Dallas Willard • Read once through: • Write a “?” next to unfamiliar or confusing words/phrases. • Underline or highlight key ideas in each paragraph • In partners work through the “?” words • Read again carefully with the information you now have.
Homework • Study for Scripture Quiz on Block Day – Matthew 5:1-20. • In Jesus: The Greatest Life of All, read “Making the Most of Life” pages 43-45 and answer prompts (7 questions total).
Bible 10: Kingdom/Gospel January 28, 2014 Take out your homework
Charles R. Swindoll • Judging by your homework from last night… is he a • Gospel of the Atonement or • Gospel of the Kingdom guy? • Discuss in your table groups of 3-4 and come up with a consensus.
Vampire Christianity - What is it? • We just want a little bit of Jesus’ blood
Competing Gospels • The Atonement (Conservative) Gospel: “Jesus died to pay for our sins and if we will only believe he did this then we will go to heaven when we die.” It makes the atonement the whole story. We trust something Jesus did, but not necessarily who he is. Source: http://www.soulshepherding.org/2013/05/dallas-willards-definitions/
Competing Gospels • TheSocial Gospel: “Jesus is committed to liberating the oppressed and we should do likewise.” It usually promotes total inclusiveness of all beliefs and practices except oppressive ones. In practice this becomes another version of the American dream. Source: http://www.soulshepherding.org/2013/05/dallas-willards-definitions/
Competing Gospels • InGospel of Sin Management the Christian message is thought to be essentially concerned only with how to deal with sin: with wrongdoing or wrong-being and its effects. Life, our actual existence, is not included. The only thing made essential on the right wing of theology is forgiveness of the individual’s sins. On the left it is removal of social evils. Transformation of life and character is no part of the redemptive message. Source: http://www.soulshepherding.org/2013/05/dallas-willards-definitions/
Competing Gospels • Consumer Gospelis the good news that we can engage in church functions regularly without ever engaging in discipleship to Jesus. Source: http://www.soulshepherding.org/2013/05/dallas-willards-definitions/
In your table groups • Come up with a definition of “the Gospel” that you think would be consistent with Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God.
In your table groups • Come up with a definition of “the Gospel” that you think would be consistent with Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God.
Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom • The availability and opportunity to live in God’s Kingdom today and forever by putting your confidence in him. • “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” • “Re-thinkhow you’re living your life… because the kingdom is available.”
In small groups of 2-5 (comfy people) • Which, if any, of the “Gospels” have you accepted? • Explain why this is the case to your friends. Gospel of the Kingdom or… Consumer Sin Management Social Atonement
Homework • Study for Scripture Quiz – Matthew 5:1-20 • If you didn’t do last week’s Threaded Discussion… I’ll extend grace to you since last week was weird and you’ll only get deducted 25% as long as you complete it by tonight.
Bible 10: Sermon on the Mount January 29-30, 2014
Matthew 5:1-20 – Scripture Quiz • Who came to Jesus on the mountainside when Jesus began teaching? • What do the poor in spirit get? • What will inherit the earth? • Who will be filled? • What will peacemakers be called? • If you are persecuted and people say false evil things about you, who was persecuted in the same way before you? • Salt that loses its saltiness should be thrown out and _________. • What cannot be hidden? • Jesus did not come to _________ the Law or Prophets but to fulfill them. • Who will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven? • Whose righteousness must you surpass?
Review: • What is the Kingdom of God? • What is Vampire Christianity?
How does Jesus’ Sermon start? • Blessed… What in the world does that mean? • Happy, Fortunate, Lucky, etc. • A list of to-do’s? – “You should really…!” • Shame? – “You’re a sinner!” • Declaration… you are lucky!
Who is blessed? • The Poor in Spirit • Spiritually poor; the unspiritual • The Kingdom is available to them • Those who mourn • They will be comforted • The Meek • Opposite of self assertive; permitting injustice to be inflicted. • They’ll inherit the earth • Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness/justice • Those who long to see righteousness/justice but do not have it • They’ll receive it
Who is blessed? • The Merciful • Being merciful is absorbing a loss of some sort • They’ll be shown mercy • The Pure in Heart • The perfectionists • They’ll see God • The Peacemakers • The meddlers that get in each other’s business • They’ll be called children of God • The Persecuted • These people are lucky… really? They’re in good company
Your own beatitudes • Who in our society would typically be considered un-blessed or un-lucky? If Jesus were to make a declaration about them, what might he say? • Ex. Blessed are the stressed out, for they shall find peace. • Who do you look down upon? Realistically, is the Kingdom of God any more or less available to them than you?
of the earth • Preservative of the earth • Keep the earth from rotting • Yummy flavor of the earth • Make the earth delicious • Cultural mandate
Light of the world • Lamp on a stand • No undercover Christians • So that all can see • Purpose is sight • “your good works and glorify your Father”
Homework • In a paragraph of no less than 5 sentences give 2-3 examples of how you can be salt or light in your immediate context. What aspect of salt or light are you embodying in those acts?
Bible 10: Sermon on the Mount January 31, 2014
Small group discussion • In what ways do you think UCA, your family, or your friends are in need of salt or light? • Preservative (deliverance from sin) • Taste (invitation in to God’s good amazing world) • Vision (guidance or truth telling) • How might you be able to be a part of bringing that to your school/family/friends?
The Law and Prophets • Abolish • Misinterpret • Fulfill • Properly interpret • Jots and tiddles, iotas and dots, strokes and letters • Yod or Keraia
Theologically, which of these groups did Jesus most agree? • Sadducees • Pharisees • Essenes • Zealots • Tax-Collectors, Prostitutes, Sinners
Read through the rest of chapter 5 • As you read, think about Jesus’ interpretation of the law. See if you can find some common threads in his interpretations.
Bible 10: February 3, 2014
Silently read Matthew 5:21-48 • Group 1: 5:21-26 – Murder • Group 2: 5:27-32 – Adultery and Divorce • Group 3: 5:33-37 – Oaths • Group 4: 5:38-42 – Vengeance • Group 5: 5:43-48 – Love and Hate Be Experts What was the original command and what is the new interpretation? How does Jesus’ interpretation elevate or internalize the previous command? Why do you think he teaches this? How can we be obedient?
Bible 10: February 4, 2014
Recap of Yesterday’s Discussion • Group 1: 5:21-26 – Murder • Group 2: 5:27-32 – Adultery and Divorce • Group 3: 5:33-37 – Oaths • Group 4: 5:38-42 – Vengeance • Group 5: 5:43-48 – Love and Hate Be Experts What was the original command and what is the new interpretation? How does Jesus’ interpretation elevate or internalize the previous command? Why do you think he teaches this? How can we be obedient?
Bible 10: February 5-6, 2014
Matthew 6 silent reading • Questions to ask while you read: • Are the ideas connected/linked or are they disjointed? • How does this text harmonize with the previous chapter?
Practicing righteousness before others… • Wait… aren’t we supposed to be the light? • Don’t be like the Pharisees… • They have received their reward in full • What does this mean?
Give in secret • Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing? • Is this a new law? Do we need to keep good deeds secrets? • Describe your first time riding a bike • “Look at me I’m riding a bike”
How to pray… 3 ways • Like the Pharisees • Like the Pagans • Like Jesus wants you to
Pharisees • Intro to the Tallit • 4 tassels on the corners (Numbers 15) • Meant to remind God’s people of the covenant • Also meant to help in concentration by shutting out the rest of the world • If misused, Tallit can become a sign of showmanship • Gk: Also called a “tameion” = Inner Room/Closet • Pharisees would go out into the street corners and pray to be seen by other people.
Pharisees, BUT YOU… • Go into your prayer closet (tameion) • Do this in secret • Prayer is for communication with God… not to make a point to others.
Praying like the pagans • “Heap up empty phrases” or “Heard because of their many words” • Excessive complimenting and flattering to get what you want