Religion

In your weekly course journal, you will reflect on prompts and consider what it may look like to reflect a Christian worldview within Luke. Keep in mind that this is an opportunity to reflect on your growth and understanding and perhaps consider course concepts a bit differently than you have before. In 2 double-spaced pages, consider Luke’s Gospel from a biblical perspective. Choose 2 “threads” of integrating a Christian worldview to write about from the list of options below. Clearly identify which 2 threads you have chosen. Be sure to explain what your chosen threads might look like in theory and practice. Try to use all threads by the end of the course. Biblical Integration “Threads” (choose 2): God-Worshiping: The Christian worldview understands that worshiping God is about celebrating who God is, what God has done and is doing, and what God has created. Christians see worship as a way of life. Idolatry-Discerning: The Christian worldview understands that when other “things” are more important to us than our relationship with God, they become idols. Christians are challenged to identify, understand, and discern the idols of our time and to then respond prophetically. Earth-Keeping: Christians respond to God’s call to be stewards of all of creation. Beauty-Creating: The Christian worldview celebrates God as the #1 Creator and understands that when we create things we show that we are made in God’s image. We offer praise to God by creating beautiful things. Our creativity makes God smile! Justice-Seeking: Christians act as agents of change by identifying and responding to injustices. Creation-Enjoying: The Christian worldview celebrates God’s beautiful creation. Servant-Working: The Christian worldview works actively to heal brokenness and bring joy. Community-Building: Christians should be active pursuers and builders of communal shalom. Image-Reflecting: Christians bear the image of God in their daily lives. All humans are image reflectors. Order-Discovering: Christians find harmony and order in God’s creation.

As we have seen in previous weeks, the Gospels are remarkably similar in many respects, displayed in our harmony study. At the same time, as redaction criticism has shown, each Gospel offers a distinctive portrait of Christ, presenting unique themes, events, and structure. In order to highlight the special contributions of each Gospel, the remainder of this course will look at each Gospel in turn, with 1 week devoted to an overview of each Gospel. First, we will explore Matthew 1–13. To learn about the distinctive contributions of each Gospel is important for any theologian. Read the following resources in order to better understand the first portion of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1–13 Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, pages 261–279, 289–306 Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Sermon on the Mount/Plain (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Ethics of Jesus (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Blessing and Woe (Links to an external site.)” Then, watch the following video lecture: People have many methods of connecting and remembering information. Learning through music is 1 of the most effective ways through which we remember and recall concepts. In this discussion, you will highlight your musical creativity and demonstrate your knowledge of course concepts by contributing to a class playlist of songs that connect to 1 of the articles above in the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. In some way, you will have to do a bit of research to understand lyrics, artist backgrounds, or reasons for writing the song, and social context. You may even find a biblical connection to a song that may or may not have been intended by the artist. In your initial post, offer 1 song entry to the group. It may help to review what has already been offered, as there should be no repetition of titles. As this is a group effort, please be conscious of keeping your choices free from obscenities or offense. Each entry should contain: The song title and artist A short description of the song (lyrics, style, context) A rationale of how it connects, enhances, or contributes to our understanding of one of the articles above.

In your weekly course journal, you will reflect on prompts and consider what it may look like to reflect a Christian worldview within Matthew’s Gospel. Keep in mind that this is an opportunity to reflect on your growth and understanding and perhaps consider course concepts a bit differently than you have before. In 2 double-spaced pages, consider Matthew’s Gospel from a biblical perspective. Choose 2 “threads” of integrating a Christian worldview to write about from the list of options below. Clearly identify which 2 threads you have chosen. Be sure to explain what your chosen threads might look like in theory and practice. Try to use all threads by the end of the course. Biblical Integration “Threads” (choose 2): God-Worshiping: The Christian worldview understands that worshiping God is about celebrating who God is, what God has done and is doing, and what God has created. Christians see worship as a way of life. Idolatry-Discerning: The Christian worldview understands that when other “things” are more important to us than our relationship with God, they become idols. Christians are challenged to identify, understand, and discern the idols of our time and to then respond prophetically. Earth-Keeping: Christians respond to God’s call to be stewards of all of creation. Beauty-Creating: The Christian worldview celebrates God as the #1 Creator and understands that when we create things we show that we are made in God’s image. We offer praise to God by creating beautiful things. Our creativity makes God smile! Justice-Seeking: Christians act as agents of change by identifying and responding to injustices. Creation-Enjoying: The Christian worldview celebrates God’s beautiful creation. Servant-Working: The Christian worldview works actively to heal brokenness and bring joy. Community-Building: Christians should be active pursuers and builders of communal shalom. Image-Reflecting: Christians bear the image of God in their daily lives. All humans are image reflectors. Order-Discovering: Christians find harmony and order in God’s creation.

To help you grow in your understanding, you will demonstrate how accurately and thoroughly you understand Matthew’s Gospel. To begin, consider the insufficient explanation of Matthew’s Gospel below: Definition of Matthew’s Gospel: Matthew’s Gospel was cherished in the early church, since it provided narrative accounts of Christ’s life and ample discourses concerning Christ’s ethical teachings. What do you think about that explanation of Matthew’s Gospel? The above explanation is insufficient in that it offers nothing distinctive to Matthew’s Gospel that is not also shared by the other Gospels. Open a new blank document on your computer and, without referring to course readings or personal notes, jot down a few ideas that come to mind regarding how you might improve this explanation. This should fill about a 1/2 page, single spaced. Next, use course notes, resources, and/or readings to help you further improve the definition. Record where you looked and what you discovered that was useful in your document. In addition, find 1 outside resource that supports your thinking to include in your description of this step. This should fill about 1 page, single spaced. Finally, craft a fully effective explanation of Matthew’s Gospel. This should be no more than 40 words and should contain distinctive elements that are unique/distinctive to Matthew’s Gospel. Begin with this opening in your explanation: “Matthew’s Gospel was cherished in the early church, since it provided…”

As we have seen in previous weeks, the Gospels are remarkably similar in many respects, displayed in our harmony study. At the same time, as redaction criticism has shown, each Gospel offers a distinctive portrait of Christ, presenting unique themes, events, and structure. First, we will explore Mark 1–8. To learn about the distinctive contributions of each Gospel is important for any theologian. Read and watch the following resources in order to better understand the first portion of Mark’s Gospel: Mark 1–8 Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, pages 213–228, 240–257 Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Chreia (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Authority and Power (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Clean and Unclean (Links to an external site.)” After reading and viewing, find or create an image that you think connects to 1 of the articles in the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Post your image/picture. Next, state the article and a 1-sentence description or summary of that article. Finally, explain in 2–3 sentences how the image/picture reflects the concept in the article that you have chosen. For your replies, review what your classmates saw in the unique images they have posted. Then, reply to at least 2 others with the new ideas you have gained from seeing the image they selected and shared. Discuss with one another how the use of these images has helped to shape your thinking and revealed new concepts/connections.

We will explore Mark 9–16. Read the following resources in order to better understand the second portion of Mark’s Gospel: Mark 9–16 Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, pages 228–254 Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Gethsemane (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Servant of Yahweh (Links to an external site.)” Green, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, “Child, Children (Links to an external site.)”—only read “Jesus and children” This assignment is an opportunity for you to choose 2 of the readings that you have engaged above and interact with them in more detail. Choose 1 which was particularly interesting/influential for you and 1 that was somewhat unclear or confusing. In this response assignment, follow these steps: First paragraph: State the reading which was especially interesting and helpful to you. Explain in 1 sentence the most significant/influential idea in that reading. Explain why that idea was especially significant to you (how it helps you better understand the Gospels or apply them to life). Second paragraph: State the reading that was somewhat unclear to you. Explain in 1–2 sentences the concept/idea that was unclear or confusing. Ask the professor the particular question you have about that particular reading.

The Purpose of Nehemiah- Nehemiah

A Voice for Deists, Agnostics and Atheists The following quotes are from Thomas Paine, Deist and founding father of America, who drafted the first Amendment to the U. S. Constitution in 1787: “My country is the world and my religion is to do good.” “I believe in one God and no more . . . . I do not believe in any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. [God guides us by the gift of Common Sense.]  ” “All national institutions of churches . . . appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind and monopolize power and profit.”  First Amendment in the Bill of Rights to the U. S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. In order to better understand where agnostics and atheists are coming from, your instructor has required you to virtually attend a presentation by Ron Reagan, the son of President Ronald Reagan. , watch this FFR commercial -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INIhD9P0Pw  and respond to the following prompts in a minimum of 500 words. 1. On a scale of  1 – 10 gauge your own feelings about what Ron Reagan says. (from a 1 if “he will or should go hell” to a “10” for “I couldn’t say it better myself” or a number in-between.). In a couple of paragraphs briefly explain your rating. 2. Are you tolerant of his position and would defend his right to express it? Do you feel he would be as tolerant of your position and right to proselytize it as freely?3. If you were his friend, would you feel there was mutual respect between you two? In a couple of paragraphs explain how you reached those three conclusions.

Which gifts of the Holy Spirit could be mentioned in the Drum Major Instinct speech and how we can use them in our lives. Using quotes from the speech.

Efforts of Catholic missionaries (Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, etc.) to spread the faith among the conquered Amerindian peoples.