CHAPTER 7 : THE

PERSON AND
PREACHING OF JESUS.

Date: 19/01/2015
Time: 11.15 a.m.
Class Group: 1A

IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE
FOLLOWING CONCEPTS:

The Kingdom of God in :

(a)Parable
(b)Miracle
(c)Table Fellowship
(d)Discipleship

Vocation
Mission

TODAYS LEARNING
OUTCOMES.
At the end of this lesson , students should be
able to :
(i) Illustrate what the Kingdom of God is
And
(ii) Distinguish what a parable is and be able to
discuss examples of parables.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF

GOD
When we read or think about a Kingdom , we
immediately think of a place or a piece of land.
However, the Kingdom of God cannot be found on a
map. It is instead found inside people when they
show kindness or love towards others as it is a way
in which someone lives out his/her life.
Key Definition:
The Kingdom of God: Is a way of living based on Jesus message
of truth, justice, peace and love.

For centuries the Jewish people had waited for a Messiah to

guide and protect them. They expected a king , one who
would set up a new Jewish Kingdom and free them from
roman rule. Jesus of Nazareth was a simple man, the son of a
carpenter. He announced to people that the kingdom of god
was close at hand and that he was establishing it. Jesus
imagined a world where we would be full of love for each
other, would show justice towards our neighbour and would
have peace in our time.
Activity:
Read the following extract from Matthew 20:1-6 to find out how the
Kingdom of God can be described.

MATTHEW 20:1-16
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
20For the kingdom of heaven is likea landowner who went out early
in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay
them a denarius[a]for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3About
nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the
marketplace doing nothing.4He told them, You also go and work in
my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right. 5So they went. He
went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did
the same thing.6About five in the afternoon he went out and found
still others standing around. He asked them, Why have you been
standing here all day long doing nothing? 7Because no one has
hired us, they answered. He said to them, You also go and work in
my vineyard. 8When evening came,the owner of the vineyard said
to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning
with the last ones hired and going on to the first.

The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came
and each received a denarius.10So when those came who were
hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them
also received a denarius.11When they received it, they began to
grumbleagainst the landowner.12These who were hired last
worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal
to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heatof the
day. 13But he answered one of them, I am not being unfair to
you, friend.Didnt you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your
pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as
I gave you.15Dont I have the right to do what I want with my own
money? Or are you envious because I am generous? 16So the
last will be first, and the first will be last.
9

Literacy Library:
Denarius: A small silver coin
Vineyard: A place where grapes are grown.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN

PARABLE
What is a
?
Parable

A parable is a simple story wit a moral or spiritual meaning. They

are easy to understand and remember. Jesus used parables as in
biblical times, people learned through the spoken word such as
through stories or conversation. Jesus was using a way of learning
that the people were already familiar with in order to teach them
this new and difficult concept of the Kingdom of God.

Key Definition:
Parable: A parable is a short story told by Jesus to teach people about the
Kingdom of God. The story is based on earth with a message about heaven. It
is a story with a meaning.

PARABLES
In general, parables are used to teach us a lesson about life. Jesus
used parables for different reasons:
1. To command attention from the disciples
2. To challenge and encourage their growth in faith
3. To use stories to explain difficult ideas so that they could
understand. E.g. stories about fishermen and tax collectors.

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD

SAMARITAN
(LUKE 10:25-37)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO4qSAhI1sIarable
(i)Which of these three men proved to be the mans true
neighbour?
(ii) Why/ Why not?
Literacy Library:
Samaritan: The Samaritans were Jewish people from the province of Samaria.
Saducee: The Saducees were a religious group who accepted only the written
Law of Moses as the word of God.

THE PARABLE OF THE

PRODIGAL SON
(LUKE 15:11-32)

Literacy Library.
To squander : to waste

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNW-dZ8GOm0
(i)What is the main message of this parable?
(ii) What role does the father play? Do you think he is fair to both
sons? Why/Why not?
(iii) What do you think would have happened to the son if his father
had not welcomed him home?
(iv) Do you think that the parable of the prodigal son is relevant to
life today ? Why/Why not ?

THE PARABLE OF THE

MUSTARD SEED
(MARK 4:30-34)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Again he said,What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,or what parable
shall we use to describe it?31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of
all seeds on earth.32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all
garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.

30

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they
could understand.34He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
33

Activity:
(i) What is the story of the parable of the mustard seed about?
(ii) Write a modern day version of this parable.

RESOURCES USED:
Department of Education and Skills: Junior Certificate Religious Education Syllabus:
Section B Foundations of Religion Christianity:
http://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/c0c1f394-79c8-4455-bea5c9e014a9945d/JCSEC22_religion_syllabus.pdf

Textbook: A Question of Faith (3rd Edition), Lori Whelan and Niamh Mc Dermot. EDCO.

Whiteboard & whiteboard markers

Duster

Overhead projector

Laptop

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO4qSAhI1sIarable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNW-dZ8GOm0

Worksheets

PowerPoint

Google Images: http://www.google.ie

http://www.tes.co.uk

http://www.pdst.ie.