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 range of God’s effective will, 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, 2014Take 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• The Social 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• In Gospel 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 Gospel is 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-think how 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 Quiz1. Who came to Jesus on the mountainside when Jesus began teaching?2. What do the poor in spirit get?3. What will inherit the earth?4. Who will be filled?5. What will peacemakers be called?6. If you are persecuted and people say false evil things about you, who was

persecuted in the same way before you?7. Salt that loses its saltiness should be thrown out and _________.8. What cannot be hidden?9. Jesus did not come to _________ the Law or Prophets but to fulfill them.10. Who will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven?11. 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

1. What was the original command and what is the new interpretation?2. How does Jesus’ interpretation elevate or internalize the previous command?3. Why do you think he teaches this?4. How can we be obedient?

Be Experts

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

1. What was the original command and what is the new interpretation?2. How does Jesus’ interpretation elevate or internalize the previous command?3. Why do you think he teaches this?4. How can we be obedient?

Be Experts

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

Praying like the pagans"Inasmuch as thou dids't heed my vow, and grant me fair glory at Mantinea, bear witness I have been not ungrateful. I have offered to thee a white sheep, spotless and undefiled. And now I have it in my mind to attempt the pentathlon at the next Isthmia at Corinth. Grant me victory even in that; and not one sheep but five, all as good as this to-day, shall smoke upon thine altar. Grant also unto me, my kinsmen and all my friends, health, riches and fair renown."

• Greek prayer to Athena

Instead pray like this:Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

When you fast…Like the Pharisees• Disfigured faces• Gloomy• To be seen by others

Like Jesus wants• Anoint your head• Wash your face• Do it in secret

When you…•Pray, Fast, Give….

• Insert other things that Christian people do…•Do not do it to be seen by others… •Do it to be seen by your Father in heaven.

If you do it to be seen by others… then we know where your treasure lays

Matthew 6:19-24• Where do you store your treasure?

• Heaven – The broader scope picture of the KoG?• Earth – very short term where rust and moth

destroy?• You cannot serve two masters

• 2 masters will eventually pull you in opposite directions.

• Money is probably the most common competitor.

Matthew 6:25-33• Do not worry or be anxious

• Our world is riddled with anxiety• Be a non-anxious presence in an anxious world.

• This does not mean to be reckless or stupid.• Consider the birds and the lilies.

Homework• Study for Friday Assessment on Matthew 5-6.• Study your note-sheets.• Know the text well.• Know what we discussed in class.