Twenty Study Lessons Prepared by Dr. Andrew Corbett © 2007, Dr. Andrew Corbett Legana, Tasmania, Australia Dr. Andrew Corbett is the pastor of Legana Christian Church and the President of ICI Theological College Australia. ii Jesus Christ taught and how this understanding can shape our lives. This series is designed to take you through the New Testament. In this first module, we explore what Christ taught in the Beatitudes and His sermons and discover how these The teaching of Jesus Christ has commands form the basis for shaped human history. Most of Christian commitment and Western Society’s Laws have drawn behaviour. These studies are their inspiration from this set of designed to promote authentic Christ teachings which we will refer to as honouring lives. That is, by the commands of Christ. These understanding and considering the commands have become so application of Christ’s commands to ingrained in our society that they are His followers, it is expected that you now figures of speech: Do unto will be able to live lives that are others…Turn the other cheek…Go more authentically “Christian”. the extra mile…are all citations from Each study lesson is assessed the commands that Christ gave. through group discussion questions, Today the word “Christian” is multiple-choice questions, and loosely applied to buildings, written responses. This assessment businesses, certain ethnic races, a set should help you to live the kind of of moral guidelines, and even a type life Christ expects of His followers. of music. Yet this use of the word is often without any reference to what it’s founder taught. It should be Dr. Andrew Corbett beneficial to discover exactly what iii CONTENTS Study Title: Page: Lesson: 1. What It Means To Follow Jesus’ Commands 3 2. The Beatitudes Jesus Commanded 7 3. The Influence Jesus Commanded 13 4. The Love For Others Jesus Commanded 17 5. The Love For Enemies Jesus Commanded 23 6. The Love For The Needy Jesus Commanded 29 7. Handling Money The Way Jesus Commanded 33 8. The Golden Rule Jesus Commanded 41 9. The Obedience Jesus Commanded 45 10. The Faith Jesus Commanded 49 11. The Preaching Jesus Commanded 53 12. The Kingdom Living Jesus Commanded 57 13. The Religion Jesus Commanded 61 14. The Endurance Jesus Commanded 65 15. The Fruitfulness Jesus Commanded 69 16. The Communion Jesus Commanded 73 17. The Spiritual Power Jesus Commanded 77 18. The Unity Jesus Commanded 81 19. The Pastoring Jesus Commanded 85 20. The Commission Jesus Commanded 89 iv For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 After a while, most Christians figure out that the Old Testament is about Law and the New Testament is about Grace. Some Christians then go on to assume that Grace means “no commandments!” (since there is no “Law” in the New Testament). Under the Old Covenant there were 10 Commandments, but how many are there in the New? The number might surprise you! (A clue: it’s more than 500!) But even more shocking is the discovery that not only did Jesus Christ issue commandments for His followers – but how many commandments He gave us. And what He commanded he meant to be taught, studied and obeyed… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 1 What it means to follow Jesus’ commands “To drive the point home I often put this challenge: I do not of a denomination or local church in existence that has as its goal to teach its people to do everything Jesus said. I’m not talking about a whim or a wish, but a plan.” Dallas Willard, THE GREAT OMMISSION, page 61 2 What Jesus Commanded Study 1 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:38 You can’t be born a Christian. You can’t simply call yourself a Christian. You don’t become a Christian because you attend a Church or wear a cross. A Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ. 1. What does it mean to follow Christ? 2. What did Jesus mean when He said that His followers must “take up his cross”? (Note Matthew 16:24) 3 What it means to follow Jesus’ commands One of the first things that a would-be follower of Christ must do is clearly taught in the New Testament and yet it was the one thing that Christ could not do! 3. In preparing people to be ready to follow Christ, what was the preliminary message of John Baptist? (Matthew 3:2) 4. How does this compare with Christ’s first message to all those who would follow Him? (Matthew 4:17) Some people feel they could never change or “clean up their act” enough in order to begin following Christ. These people haven’t yet apprehended God’s grace. 5. How does Acts 11:18 and 2Timothy 2:25 correct this idea that repentance is merely human effort? Repentance is impossible without the grace of God. Grace from God enables a person to repent. To receive the grace of God begins with recognition of our need for it. 6. How do we begin to follow Christ? (Romans 10:13; Acts 2:21) You may feel that you are not right with God, but want to be. You don’t have to clean up your act or become a better person- you just have to acknowledge your need for God and His forgiveness. You are just one prayer away from beginning to have peace with God! 4