1. Jesus’ Public Ministry: Building the Kingdom of God

2. “I Have a Dream” Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Delivered on August 28, 1963  Delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.  Delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

4. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics Justice  No segregation  No discrimination  No poverty Equality of all people  Respect and dignity for all people who are made in the image of God (from the Genesis Creation Stories)  People judged “by the content of their character” Unity and Brotherhood and Solidarity

5. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics Opportunity  Employment, education, facilities Freedom Rights  Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Peace, Tranquility, and Harmony  Non-violent civil disobedience Joy and Hope

6. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics Love  Forgiveness Conversion and Repentance

7. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics “The Table of Brotherhood”  A place for all people to gather and to eat For Christians the Table is the Altar  A place of sacrifice An offering of self (time, talents, and treasure) to God  A place to share a meal All are welcome, especially the poor and marginalized

8. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics “The Table of Brotherhood”  A place for all people to gather and to eat The Last Supper  The Eucharist Both a Holy Sacrifice and a Shared, Sacred Meal Blessing and Thanksgiving Nourishment and New Life  The Washing of the Feet Servant Leadership A Challenge to Christians  Welcome all people, hospitality, service

9. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics Not a specific geographical territory Not a national, political, or military kingdom It can occur on Earth It occurs in the Hearts and Minds of people  When the people overcome their biases and prejudices

10. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech  Description of Major Characteristics The dream is a reality; it is a possibility that has been fulfilled and achieved and has already successfully occurred in the world At the same time it has not been fulfilled in its entirety; it is not yet complete

11. The Great Commandment and The Golden Rule The Gospel According to Mark, 12: 28-34 The Gospel According to Luke, 10: 25-28 The Gospel According to Matthew, 22: 34-40

12. The Great Commandment  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  A direct quote from the Book of Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 which contains the Shema prayer that Jewish people are required to recite twice (at dawn and at nightfall) every day  Right relationship with God  Love of God

13. The Golden Rule  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  A direct quote from the Book of Leviticus 19: 18  Right relationship with other people  Love of other people

14. The Parable of the Great Judgment The Gospel According to Matthew, 25: 31-46

15. The Parable of the Great Judgment  Right relationship with God through right relationship with other people  Love of God expressed in deeds of service to help other people in need  “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”  “What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.”

16. The Parable of the Great Judgment  I was hungry and you gave me food  I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink  I was a stranger and you welcomed me  I was naked and you gave me clothing  I was sick and you took care of me  I was in prison and you visited me

17. The Parable of the Good Samaritan The Gospel According to Luke, 10: 25-37

18. The Parable of the Good Samaritan  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”  “And who is my neighbor?” All people, regardless of religious belief, economic or social class, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation

19. The Parable of the Good Samaritan  The Priest and the Levite Display pride and presumption; they sin from their strength, not from their weakness They fail to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and care for the sick  The Samaritan Man Displays unconditional love, mercy, and compassion for a stranger; he displays love expressed through deeds of service to another person; he serves from his weakness He welcomes the stranger, gives clothes to the naked, and cares for the sick

20. The Parable of the Good Samaritan The Two Problems with Unconditionally Loving All People  Nationalism Strong allegiance to a specific nation or an excessive sense of separation from all other cultures  Legalism An overemphasis on rules and regulations or an excessive focus on the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law

21. The Proclamation of Isaiah in the Nazareth Synagogue The Gospel According to Luke, 4: 14-30

22. The Proclamation of Isaiah 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

23. The Proclamation of Isaiah  Bring glad tidings to the poor Good news; the joy of the Gospel; happiness  Proclaim liberty to captives Freedom  Recovery of sight to the blind Healing, comfort  Let the oppressed go free Freedom

24. The Proclamation of Isaiah  21 “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

25. The Proclamation of Isaiah 28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with fury. 29 They rose up, drove him out of town, and led him to the brow of the hill... To hurl him down headlong.”  Why is Jesus rejected by the people of Nazareth? Why were they so angry at Jesus?  Why did the people of Nazareth disapprove of his message? What were they afraid of? Why did they want to kill Jesus?

26. The Proclamation of Isaiah  Why is Jesus rejected by the people of Nazareth? Why were they so angry at Jesus? Jesus compares himself to the great prophets Elijah and Elisha Jesus compares the Jewish people to their close- minded Israelite ancestors who rejected the great prophets

27. The Proclamation of Isaiah  Why did the people of Nazareth disapprove of his message? What were they afraid of? Why did they want to kill Jesus? His message of joy, happiness, freedom, healing, comfort might disrupt every day life The Jewish community leaders were afraid because of the threat that Jesus posed to their power, wealth, security, and comfort Jesus might gain the support of the young members of the community and lead a revolt

28. The Beatitudes The Gospel According to Matthew, 5: 1-12

29. The Beatitudes  “Blessed are...”  A challenge for disciples Called to a life of loving service, humble sacrifice, and certain persecution Only reward is the future hope in and promise of a heavenly reward

30. The Sermon on the Mount The Gospel According to Matthew, 5-7

31. The Sermon on the Mount  Proverbs Short Sayings that are “words to the wise” offered without any story leading up to them Allow the stark and challenging words of Jesus to stand alone without any distraction

32. The Sermon on the Mount  The Beatitudes, Matthew 5: 1-12  On Being Salt and Light for the World, Matthew 5: 13-16  Loving Your Enemies, Matthew 5: 43-48  On Giving Alms, Matthew 6: 1-4  On How to Pray, Matthew 6: 5-8 The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6: 9-15  On How to Fast, Matthew 6: 16-18  On Not Judging Others, Matthew 7: 1-5  The Golden Rule, Matthew 7: 12  The Two Foundations, Matthew 7: 24-27

33. The Lord’s Prayer or The Our Father The Gospel According to Luke, 11: 2-4 The Gospel According to Matthew, 6: 9-13

34. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God (relationship with God) The Kingdom of God Discipleship (relationship with other people) Prayer

35. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  “Our Father” Head of the family, leader, role model, mentor, teacher Desires an intimate relationship with each person Unconditional love, affectionate, caring friend Protects, nurtures, provides shelter and safety Respect, honor Creator Immanent, active in the world For all people All people are part of one family

36. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  What about “Our Mother” ??? A natural complement to “Our Father”  Provide a fuller, more complete understanding of God Not just loving, but also forgiving Not just nurtures, but also nourishes and provides for our basic needs Not just a creator, but also the source of life Not just active in the world, but always present and full of energy Encourages, understands, helps

37. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  What about “Our Mother” ??? For some people, the term “Father” is linked to negative past experiences and hurtful memories  Possibly even the extremes of abuse (physical, emotional) or abandonment  Result -- A negative image of God Addressing God as “Our Mother” enables people to reclaim a positive image of God

38. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  “who art in heaven” Transcendent Omnipresent (all-present) Omnipotent (all-powerful) Omniscient (all-knowing)  “hallowed be thy name” Holy, sacred, revered

39. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God  “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done” The Kingdom is God’s greatest dream and desire for the world and its people A place of love, peace, justice, equality No sin, no pain, no suffering  “on earth as it is in heaven” The Kingdom is already a reality on earth, but not yet fully established (human sinfulness) The Kingdom is perfectly established in heaven

40. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  “Give us this day our daily bread” God gives us each day as a blessing/gift/grace God fulfills each person’s personal and communal needs God provides people with physical and spiritual nourishment Bread is the basic food eaten at all meals  Symbol of friendship, family, and community  Main source of sustenance and life

41. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God  “And forgive us our trespasses” God displays his generous love for us through the forgiveness of our sins God is merciful, compassionate

42. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about Discipleship  “as we forgive those who trespass against us” Called to imitate the example of God by displaying generous love for others through the forgiveness of their sins Called to be merciful, compassionate Reveal God’s holiness through their behavior Express love for God through deeds and actions toward other people

43. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about God & the Kingdom  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” Temptation, sin, pain, suffering, evil, and death are realities on earth Only God can help people resist the temptations they struggle with on a daily basis Only God can help people conquer the forces of evil that exist in the world

44. The Lord’s Prayer  Jesus teaches us about Prayer What is Prayer?  Any form (both verbal and non-verbal) of communication with God Types of Prayer  Adoration, Praise  Petition  Contrition, Forgiveness  Thanksgiving, Blessing

45. Sin and Suffering

46.  What is sin? Any thought or action that prevents the love of God from entering into the world and reigning over the hearts of people; a failure to love A breaking of the relationships with self, God, and others  The Presence of Sin in the World Original Sin Personal/Individual Sin  freely chosen acts that hurt ourselves or others Communal/Social Sin  Natural Evil

47. Sin and Suffering  Natural Evil  God does not intentionally cause Natural events Physical sickness and disease  God did not come to take away suffering, but to help us to deal with it

48. The Parables of Jesus

49.  Short stories  Metaphors (usually similes) that compare the Kingdom of God to common, everyday things  Surprise twist or ending to the parable Keep listeners alert or catch them off-guard  Tease the mind of listeners and force them to stop, think, and reflect on the lessons Jesus was trying to teach

50. The Parables of Jesus  Jesus teaches us about God (relationship with God) The Kingdom of God Discipleship  Appropriate response to God’s offer of the Kingdom  Relationship with other people