Rory Faust

3/8/06

1.) One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the major idea of the section.

     The key idea about the Morality of Jesus presented in this section is love for ones neighbor. Jesus also encouraged selflessness which in turn would lead one to heaven. Jesus's core teachings can be found in his Sermon on the Mount. In his sermon, Jesus restated many old customs of morality in His own way; a way that encourages love of others before self. In his sermon, Jesus also presented the Beatitudes which were not laws forbidding actions like the Ten Commandments, but guidelines for living a good life and getting into heaven. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament and does so with his moral teachings. C.S. Lewis presented in his work Mere Christianity how humans all have an idea of what is right or wrong to do and that we often do not do what we know is right. This is the Law of Human Nature.

2.) List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.

1. First of all, I want to remember The Law of Human Nature presented in C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. Lewis states in this Law that all humans have the thoughts and inner ideas about what they are supposed to or ought to do in a certain situation. All humans experience this and ironically, most humans do the opposite of what they know they should do. The fact that the same ideas of right and wrong are ingrained in everyone points to a source of these ideas. This helps Lewis to prove that there is a being above us or lawmaker and in Lewis's case, God. The fact that we don't do what we should tells us that we have a free will and can make decisions that are either good or bad.

2. Secondly, I want to remember the story of the rich man who asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. (Matthew 19, 16-30) The young man asked Jesus this question and Jesus responded by asking the man if he followed the Ten Commandments. The man siad that he followed the Commandments faithfully but wanted to know what more he could do. Jesus told the man to sell all his possessions and come follow Him. The man heard this and walked away sorrowful, because he had many valuable possessions. We are like the rich man in this story. We often follow Jesus's Commandments, but when something is a real challenge for us, we back down. We are often unwilling to follow Jesus because we think we do not like what it costs. Truly, as Jesus stated, "It will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" as well as easier for a camel to go through the eye of a neddle than a rich man enter the kingdom.

3. Lastly, I want to remember the roles of Jesus and his disciples in our world. Jesus came to earth to guide us and lead us to God's kingdom. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament. He would be the one who saved everyone and taught them the way just as the Old Testament foretold. Jesus's disciples are called to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. Like salt, they were to improve the quality of human existance as well as preserve their lives from destruction just as salt does to food. As lights of the world, Jesus's disciples would be a beacon of light to a very dark and sinful world. It is hard for the disciples to accomplish these tasks, but it is part of their duty to Christ.
   

   3.) Images that remind you of key ideas.

   
   This is a production of what Jesus's Sermon on the MOunt might have looked like.
   Image from "Last Judgment & Resurrection"

   4.) What is a Christian? Are you a Christian? What did your pre-sermon survey reveal? Did you show you know what Jesus taught, believed and try to follow His teachings? If so explain how being a Christian really affects your morality, If not, explain the base of your moral system.

   A Christian is one who believes that Jesus existed, was the son of God, and who also follows Jesus's moral teachings. I am a Christian because I meet these three requirements to be a Christian. I know most of Jesus's moral teachings and am aware that I should follow them in my life, but I find myself avoiding Jesus's teachings sometimes similar to C.S. Lewis's Law of Human Nature that humans do not always follow.

   5.) What can a person do to try to do to make themself a better Christian? If you are a Christian, please personalize this: What can you do to try to do to make yourself a better Christian?

        In order to become a better Christian, I should try to notice the times in my life where I don't act according to Jesus's teachings and then figure out if these are bad habits of mine and if I can fix them. If I am aware of my actions of everyday life and compare them to Jesus's teachings, I will become aware of what I need to do to become a better Christian and then try to avoid my bad habits or wrongdoings in life.
   
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