Religion Sermon on the Mount Test

What is the major theme of the Sermon on the mount?

Interior conversion that leads to putting one’s discipleship into practice.

The Sermon on the Mount demonstrates that God does not just care about our words and actions, but…

God also cares about our hearts.

Did Jesus come to abolish the law, or to fulfill it?

Jesus came to fulfill the law.

Who does Jesus say are blessed in the beatitudes?

People who are not typically considered blessed by the world - the poor in spirit, they who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness.

What six examples does Jesus say it means to be a Christian? What is the higher standard that Jesus holds us to?

• you must not murder (higher standard- do not hate others)

• you must not commit adultery ( higher standard- don't lust for others)

• you must not divorce (higher standard- be faithful to your partner)

• you must not take idle oaths or swear( higher standard- mean what you say)

• you must not seek revenge (higher standard- love your neighbor, the golden rule)

• you must love your enemies (higher standard- don't hate; don’t hold grudges- love your enemies)

What does Jesus teach about matieralism and money?

You cannot serve both God and money; store up treasure in heaven.

The Golden Rule

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

What is a parable?

A short story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson, placing two things side by side to compare them.

`Why does Jesus tell parables?

Jesus tells parables to illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of God.

What is the Kingdom of God?

How God reconciles creation to himself through Jesus.

What are the characteristics of the kingdom of God?

-the Kingdom of God is made up of love and mercy

-the Kingdom of God is United by the holy spirit

-the Kingdom of God is a gift from god-it is not earned

-the Kingdom of God is for everyone

-the Kingdom of God is here now

-the church is the seed and beginning of god’s kingdom

How many parables are there in the New Testament?

37

How many of Jesus’ parables deal with God’s love for humanity?

5

What does it mean when Jesus says that God “ knew the number of hairs on their heads?

God knows everything aboout us and loves us anyway

What is hypocrisy?

Hypocrisy is being judgmental about the sins for others while you sin yourself.

How does Jesus feel about hypocrisy?

Jesus hates hypocrisy because it makes us think we are better than others and keeps us from loving our neighbor.

What are some examples of parables? What is the lesson Jesus teaches through them?

• Good Samaritan - We should love our neighbor, and our neighbor is not always the person we expect

• Prodigal son- God rejoices when we repent of our sin and welcomes us back without question

• Lost sheep- God cares just as much about a sinner who finds God as he does about somebody who is already following him

• Unforgiving servant- god hates hypocrisy- if we are shown mercy, we should show mercy to others

• sower- different people receive the Gospel in different ways, but the Kingdom of God still grows

What is christology?

the study of the meaning of the divine person of Jesus

What is a high christology vs a low christology?

a high christology views Jesus as divine and his miracles as real, a low christology vies him as just human, and his miracles are not real

What is the typical Christian christology?

Jesus is fully God and fully human

What is a miracle?

a powerful sign of god’s kingdom worked by Jesus; usually contradicting the laws of nature

What are the four types of miracles? What are some examples of each?

healing miracle- Jesus restores a blind mans sight

nature miracle- Jesus walks on water

exorcisms- Jesus casts out demons into a heard of pigs

raising from the dead- Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead

Somebody who does not believe that Jesus actually performed miracles would be called a

skeptic

a skeptic might explain jesus’ miracles as

symbolic, but not real

Jesus healing people’s minds like a psychiatrist

Jesus not actually healing people, but people recover on their own

What do the gospels tell us about jesus’ miracles?

they reveal gods power and are signs of the coming of gods kingdom

what is jesus’ first miracle in the gospels? where does it happen?

Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding at cana

what are the five elements of miracle accounts int he gospels?

-introduction

-display of faith

-jesus’ response

-result of the miracle

-reaction to the miracle

How do jesus’ moral teachings challenge our expectations about God and being good? what might this mean in practice? what does this mean to you?

-jesus flips expectations -when we think people are less, Jesus calls them blessed

-jesus goes further than just technically fulfilling the law-he doesn't just care about our actions- he cares about our hearts

-jesus pushes us to love our enemies as well as those who love us

-jesus pushes us to think beyond the material world to the spiritual world-instead of valuing material things, we should value our relationship with god

Why is it important that Jesus taught with parables and didn’t just say his message? What is one example of a parable that makes a complex message clear? How does Jesus make the message clear in that parable? 

• Jesus taught with parables because they are clear and easier to understand

• Jesus cared about communicating with people in terms they understand, and the people in Jesus’ era were not necessarily well-educated

• Parables challenge Jesus’ followers to use their imaginations and look at reality in a new way

• Pick and explain one of the parables we discussed in class.

What do miracles teach us about the power of God and the Kingdom of God? Give an example of one of Jesus’ miracles and what it teaches us about the Kingdom of God. 

• Miracles reveal God’s power

  • God’s power is present in human history

  • Jesus has mastery over Satan and the forces of darkness

  • Jesus can forgive sins

  • Miracles reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God

• Miracles are signs of the coming of God’s kingdom

  • Jesus witnesses to God’s love and compassion

  • God’s kingdom is here

  • The miracles were a response to people’s faith in Jesus

  • Miracles demonstrate how God loves and includes everybody!