How is the follower of Jesus to understand the words of the Old Testament? How are those words relevant to the New Covenant he is establishing? What might the words of the Lord’s Prayer have conveyed to his initial followers, and why is that historical information essential to the prayer two millennia later? In Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine takes a detailed and colorful overview of Matthew 5-7, collectively known as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Through Dr. Levine’s engaging method of biblical interpretation, readers will come away with a solid understanding of the Sermon on the Mount in its historical and theological context. Chapters include: The Beatitudes The Extensions Practicing Piety Our Father Finding Your Treasure Living into the Kingdom Explore the major topics in the most popular sermon ever delivered and unpack how Jesus makes his points using a solid knowledge of Hebrew Scriptures and moral teachings. The Leader Guide includes session outline for each group meeting with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and ending call to action.

Study guide designed to accompany a Bible study course on the Sermon on the mount.

What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God" in our relationships, values, ambitions, finances and commitments? Jesus' answer to these questions amazed those who first heard the Sermon on the Mount. In this twelve-session LifeGuide® Bible Study, you'll dig deep into his startling and challenging message--the greatest sermon ever preached.

Sermon on the Mount (Precepts for Life Study Guide: black and white version) Early in His ministry Jesus passed through the region of Galilee teaching in synagogues, preaching "the Gospel of the kingdom," and healing every kind of sickness. As news of these miracles spread rapidly to several other regions, people brought their desperately sick relatives and friends to Him. When He healed all of them, a huge crowd began to follow Him. At a strategic point, He headed up a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee to teach them what has become known as the "Sermon on the Mount." Now what exactly did He say that was so important to such a vast audience and to us today? You'll discover what He said in these ten programs: 1. Who the religious authorities in His day were 2. Why you should choose Jesus to be your authority 3. How "sons of God" live in our age of darkness-what they value, how they think, and what they do. 4. What God has planned for His sons both in this life and in the next Throughout this Sermon Jesus presses the point that His Father is creating a kingdom of sons of light to invade, lighten, and conquer darkness for all eternity. Join us in this exciting study to learn all it means to be a son of God, to be all in for God "so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

As well as telling parables and stories, giving teachings on how to discern questions of ethics and human nature, and offering beatitudes for comfort and encouragement, Jesus also spoke words and flung insults that followers then and now have found difficult, to say the least. He instructs disciples to hate members of their own families (Luke 14:26), warns that unending fire awaits some people, says body parts should be cut off if they offend. He calls a foreign woman a ‘dog’, the Jews ‘offspring of vipers’ and his closest disciple ‘Satan’. Preachers often gloss over these or avoid them altogether as they are still so shocking. In The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine sheds vital light on understanding these by exploring how these sayings sounded to those who first heard them. She reveals Jewish modes of expression, humour and the long tradition of Jewish insults and what they mean, and how we might interpret these sayings today within a gospel of love and reconciliation.

Jesus’ final days were full of risk. Every move he made was filled with anticipation, danger, and the potential for great loss or great reward. Jesus risked his reputation when he entered Jerusalem in a victory parade. He risked his life when he dared to teach in the Temple. His followers risked everything when they left behind their homes, or anointed him with costly perfume. We take risks as we read and re-read these stories, finding new meanings and new challenges. In Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor, and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. She shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience. Entering the Passion of Jesus provides a rich and challenging learning experience for small groups and individual readers alike. The book is part of a larger six-week study that is perfect for Lent and includes a DVD, and a comprehensive Leader Guide. The book’s six chapters include: Jerusalem: Risking Reputation The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger Teachings: Risking Challenge The First Dinner: Risking Rejection The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends Gethsemane: Risking Temptation

Let the words of Jesus challenge your assumptions of this earthly kingdom and show you how to strive for and participate in a better one.