The Foundation of Christian Morality

Jesus

Jesus 1. Where is Jesus traditionally said to have been born?

a. Bethlehem b.  Nazareth c.  Jerusalem

2. The story of Jesus' birth is traditionally called what? a.  The Nativity b. Christmas c. The Great Night  

3. Was Jesus brought up as a: a. Christian b. Jew c. Muslim

4. Where did Jesus begin his preaching career? a. Galilee b. By the rivers of Babylon c. Nazareth

5. How many disciples did Jesus have? a. 10 b.  16 c.  12

Jesus 6. Jesus was called the Messiah. What does this title mean?

a. Anointed One b. Favored One c. Mysterious One  7. The Sermon on the Mount contains which famous collection of

Jesus’ teachings? a. The Great Command b. The Shema c. The Beatitudes

8. The 'Last Supper' took place during which Jewish festival? a. Passover b. Purim c. Tabernacles

  9. Who 'betrayed' Jesus?

a. Peter b. Thomas c. Judas

10. Pilate gave the crowd a choice between releasing Jesus and who? a. Simon of Cyrene b. Barabbas c. Haman

The Attitude of Jesus 

Jesus has changed the moral perspective

from

What Should I do ?

to

How are people hurting?

Assignment

Textbook p. 23 Group Talk. Choose 5 of the passages and after reading through them, state the moral message that they contain.

Apply the message to situations that exist today.

Love

What is LOVE?

I love you

Love God and Love of Neighbor

Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and the first commandment. And a second is like it: “You should love your neighbor like yourself.”

Love God and Love of NeighborPlease read the Gospel of Luke 7:36-50 and answer the following

questions:

1. What challenges did Jesus communicate to Simon the Pharisee and

the woman with bad reputation? 

2. Imagine that you were the woman who came to Jesus; write down

your thoughts after you left Simon’s house.

3. One of the most important points in this short story is the changing of

perspective in our relationship with others. Jesus changed the attitude

from how big are your sins to how big is your love. Jesus invited us

to change our attitude toward others. He invited us to look at others

not from the perspective of their sins, shortcomings or wrongdoings

but from the perspective of their love, caring and compassion.

How significant is the change of perspective to you? How does it

affect your personal life and your relations with others?

Love God and Love of Neighbor

Please go to p. 27 read

the passage from the

Gospel of Matthew 25:

31-40After reading the

passage answer the

questions for review 1-3

on p. 27Homework

p. 25 questions “For Review “ 1-4

The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall

possess the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they

shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst

after justice: for they shall have their

fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall

obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they

shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they

shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution

for justice sake, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven.

Commandments:You shall not – demandYou shall not – lawYou shall not - command

Beatitudes:Blessed – happy Blessed – invitationBlessed – an attitude

The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they

shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the

children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice sake, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Please rewrite the Eight Beatitudes in today's language

ServiceAnother fundamental

value that Jesus is concern about is service.

The foot washing story, where Jesus is washing the Apostles’ feet is shocking, yet it sends a message – “whoever wants to be first must be servant of all”.

The Kingdom of God

God’s reign or rule

people serve one another

share their goods with one another

refuse to retaliate with violence against others (peace)

The Kingdom of God

Two dimensions of the Kingdom of God

It is happening NOW

It will be fulfilled later, in Heaven

The Kingdom of God

The idea of the Kingdom of Godplaces all experiences in theframework of God’s graciousaction, since it trusts that God isstill working in our lives.

It helps us to become morecompassionate, to notice thosethat Jesus noticed. To act asJesus acted, to pay attention tothose that Jesus paid attention to.

The Kingdom of God

When we love the unlovable forgive the unforgivablebring peace to violent

situations feed the hungry serve the sick help the foreigner

we are all going about the

business of building up “the

Kingdom of God”

Assignment -Project

Do research on someone who has recently (in the last hundred years) made a positive contribution to the world.

Make a PowerPoint presentation that includes ◦ the person's story: his/her life ◦ the way he/she influenced and changed the world to be a

better place ◦ finally describe your reasons for choosing that person.

In a short presentation share your research project with the rest of your class.

Due date October 29

Questions

Please go to p. 30-31in your textbookand answerquestions “ForReview” 1-6 and“Group Talk” q. 1-2on p. 31

The Hard Sayings of Jesus

Teachings such as the Beatitudes and The Last Judgment parable overturn common held values and priorities. The Gospels are loaded with many “hard sayings “ of Jesus.

The Hard Sayings of Jesus

Luke 6: 27-42

“Love your enemies…”

“…do good to those who hate you…”

“…bless those who curse you…”

“…pray for those who mistreat you…”

The Hard Sayings of Jesus

From the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other one as well…”

“…From the one who takes what is yours, do not demand it back…”

The Hard Sayings of Jesus

The hard sayings create a tension in anyone who attempts to take them seriously.

Jesus and the Law

Jesus is criticizing the attitude of legalism.

It is an attitude of strict observance of laws, regardless of circumstances and possible harm to people involved

Jesus and the Law

On the other hand, Jesus criticizes minimalism.

It is an attitude of doing only the least that is required by law in our moral life

Jesus and the Law

Jesus invites us to exercise “moral muscle” – pushing ourselves to take extra steps in making our world a better place.

Review Jesus changed the perspective from What

Should I do? to How are people hurting? What is the meaning of love according to

Jesus?What is the difference between the Beatitudes

and the Ten Commandments?What is Jesus’ understanding of service?What is Jesus’ understanding of the Kingdom

of God?What is the meaning of legalism?What is the meaning of minimalism?

Questions

Please go to your textbook and answer questions “For Review” p. 36 questions 1-6p. 37 questions 1-2

Dilemmas A madman who has threatened to explode several bombs in crowded areas has been apprehended. Unfortunately, he has already planted the bombs and they are scheduled to go off in a short time. It is possible that hundreds of people may die. The authorities cannot make him divulge the location of the bombs by conventional methods. He refuses to say anything and requests a lawyer to protect his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In exasperation, some high level official suggests torture. This would be illegal, of course, but the official thinks that it is nevertheless the right thing to do in this desperate situation. Do you agree? If you do, would it also be morally justifiable to torture the mad bomber's innocent wife if that is the only way to make him talk? Why?

Dilemmas

In the novel Sophie's Choice, by William Styron, a woman is arrested by the Nazis and sent to the Auschwitz death camp. On arrival, she is "honored" for not being a Jew by being allowed a choice: One of her children will be spared the gas chamber if she chooses which one. In an agony of indecision, as both children are being taken away, she suddenly does choose. They can take her daughter, who is younger and smaller. Sophie hopes that her older and stronger son will be better able to survive, but she loses track of him and never does learn of his fate. Did she do the right thing? Years later, haunted by the guilt of having chosen between her children, Sophie commits suicide. Should she have felt guilty? Why?

Dilemmas Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognizes that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy's cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold -- he doesn't want to get his good clothes wet either. "Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid," Smith says to himself, and passes on. Does Smith have a moral obligation to save the boy? If so, should he have a legal obligation as well? Why?

Dilemmas You have a brother. You know that someone has been seriously injured as a

result of criminal activity undertaken by him. You live in a country where the police are generally trustworthy. Are you morally obliged to inform them about your brother's crime?

Strongly obliged Weakly obliged No obliged

 

 A charity collection takes place in your office. For every $10.00 given, a blind person's sight is restored. Instead of donating $10.00, you us the money to treat yourself to a cocktail after work. Are you morally responsible for the continued blindness of the person who would have been treated had you made the donation?

Responsible Partly responsible Not responsible

Someone you have never met needs a kidney transplant. You are one of the few people who can provide the kidney. Would any moral obligation to provide the kidney be greater if this person were a cousin rather than a non-relative?

Yes No

Dilemmas You can save the lives of a thousand patients by canceling

one hundred operations that could have saved the lives of a hundred different patients. Are you morally obliged to do so?

Yes No 

 A situation arises where you can either save your own child from death or contact the emergency services in order to save the lives of ten other children. You cannot do both, and there is no way to save everyone. Which course of action are you morally obliged to follow?

Save your own children Save ten other children