Lesson 3 (Apr 9-15), The Sermon on the Mount

Principles and Standards

1. Does God expect us to live up to the standards in the Beatitudes or are those just ideals?
2. Was Jesus merely describing the Kingdom of heaven or expecting us to replicate it on earth?

The Sermon Versus the Law

1. Is the Sermon on the Mount compatible with the Ten Commandments?
2. Was there any salvation by grace in the Old Testament or only by works?
3. Is salvation by grace unique to Christianity?

The Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees

1. Why do we doubt that Scribes and Pharisees will make it to heaven?
2. How much could sin and guilt offerings in the Old Testament accomplish if the spirit was not right?
3. What do Old Testament authors imply by referring to such thing as circumcision of the heart?

The Principle of the Kingdom

1. What did Jesus mean when he instructed humans to be perfect as His Father is? Does "perfect" mean sinless?
2.  Is it really possible to actually love one's enemies?
3. Is it practical to turn the other cheek to one who slaps you?

Receiving the Words of the Kingdom

1. Why is the discourse known by the location (sermon on the mount) rather than by the theme?
2. Why did Jesus teach so much about the kingdom of heaven in earthly terms? Couldn't that limit our understanding?
3. How can I know if my foundation is on a rock or sand?