Jesus announced the immediacy of the kingdom of God and invites us today to learn to join in that rule
by apprenticing ourselves to him. He invites us to Òjoin the conspiracyÓ by
taking up the lifelong journey of following him. This course, which will include
homework, will help us listen clearly to Jesus and to right now take following him seriously, and in doing so, to
live the fresh richness of GodÕs eternal life.
KirkWood class 2004
Outline
- Introduction,
overview, and organization Ð Sept 12
- Our
contemporary culture contrasted to the idea of the kingdom. Ð Sept 19
- How
the gospel of the kingdom has been reduced to systems without Jesus as
Teacher. Ð Sept 26
- Foundational
ideas of Jesus that people often miss, which keep them from understanding
what he taught. Ð Oct 3
- The
availability of the kingdom to ordinary people who then become salt and
light. - Oct 10
- The
kingdom heart of goodness as the kind of love that is in God; further
introduction to the Sermon on the Mount; dealing with irritation with
oneÕs associates; what fulfillment of the law would look like in daily
life. Ð Oct 17
- Dealing
with sexual attraction; unhappiness with marriage partner; wanting
someone to believe something; being personally injured; having an enemy.
Ð Oct 24
- Warning
against false securities: trying to impress others and relying on
material goods or wealth. Ð Oct 31
- Warning
against trying to manage and control people by judging, blaming and
condemning them or pushing good things on them; how a simple request
promotes the community of prayerful love. Ð Nov 7
- Warning:
failing to do what Jesus calls us to do in his teachings. Ð Nov 14
- Routine
obedience from the heart; how the apprentice of Jesus naturally behaves;
how to be come a disciple of Jesus. Ð Nov 21
- cont.
- Foundational
issues for a curriculum for Christlikeness. Part 1 of the curriculum:
Enthralling the Mind with God. Ð Dec 5
- Part
2 of the curriculum: Acquiring the Habits of Goodness. Ð Dec 12
- What
future eternal life will be like?