See the general introduction to these questions at the
beginning of the questions for Part I.
A Divine Counselor says that “the most enlightening and
spiritually edifying of all revelations of the divine nature is to be found in
the comprehension of the religious life of Jesus of Nazareth, both before and
after his attainment of full consciousness of divinity” (33.2).
How does your comprehension of Jesus’ religious life reveal the divine
nature to you? Suppose we want to focus on “the religious life of
Jesus.” What aspects are we going
to emphasize, and what sense are we going to make of the material thus assigned
to the background?
Sometimes the guidance we need in a particular situation is given by seeing how Jesus responded to a similar situation. Do your best to identify situations and responses as you read—and attempt to generalize, to discern the lessons.
1.
Note the many statements of the purpose of Jesus’ bestowal.
Review them as you have time to do so. (596.3; 1308.4; 1324.1; 1331.4;
1417.5; 1510.1; 1512L; 1541.1; 1558.7; 1597.2; 1663.5; 1675c; 1683.1; 1710.4;
1711.5; 1712.2; 1749.1; 1750.3; 1850L; 1904.1; 1964.3; 1965a).
How is Jesus’ mission like that of Melchizedek?
2.
Can Jesus’ sole concern—unbroken communion with the Father
(1326.1)--be ours as well?
3.
Why did Jesus need to avoid “all entanglements with the economic
structure and the political commitments of [his] day”?
(1329.5)? Why may similar
warnings be given to those who would be religious teachers today?
4.
Why is the counsel against forming an organized cult given (1330.1)?
Are there implications for the fifth epochal revelation as well?
1.
Why was this particular time and place selected for Jesus’ bestowal
(1332.2)?
2.
Explain the idea that one must first know God in order to find him
(1336.2). Isn’t it the other way
around?
3.
What is the nest of issues about sorrow, death, and sin called “the
human problem” (1337.last)?
4.
Who have been the seven outstanding human teachers
(1339.0)?
5.
For what purposes is it helpful for readers of The Urantia Book to
know the New Testament?
6.
What is the significance of the author’s remark of having in many ways
“served more as a collector and editor” of human writings than as “an
original narrator” (1343L)?
1.
Consider this paper as a case study in information management.
The management of an epochal revelation is, to a significant degree, an
exercise in managing information. Who
tells what to whom, and with what restrictions?
What were the motives of the superhuman and human communicators?
What were the results of the way they managed information?
Note the full cast of characters: Gabriel, the messenger to Joseph,
Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, the strange religious teacher
(1317), the Chaldean priests, the believer in Herod’s court.
2.
What does it mean that Joshua will “inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on
earth” (1346.5) in the light of some of the definitions of the kingdom and the
spiritual achievements of some humans of earlier ages?
3.
What is the import of the fact that it was already clear that Jesus’s
own people “will hardly receive him” (1347.3)?
1.
The series of papers beginning with this one and culminating with
Paper 129, The Later Adult Life of Jesus, show the normal progress of a human
being from birth to full maturity and readiness for Adjuster fusion.
Read these papers as a blueprint of how coping with the problems of
ordinary life moves you through the psychic circles.
The questions on this paper are to be used for the whole series.
List the various aspects of growth mentioned in this
paper. Consider these aspects in
your own personal history. To what
extent to you need to pursue these aspects further—to make up for
developmental gaps, or just to continue interests well begun earlier?
What could you do to further activate these potentials in yourself
(or promote them in others)?
3.
Note Jesus’ habit of having a little talk “with my Father in
heaven.” What kind of
relationship does it take to do this? Is
this the ideal starting point for us all?
4.
Study the story on 1365.4 telling of Jesus’ decision procedure.
Note that he expressed his conclusion along with the main reason that
seemed to be decisive. Is Jesus’
procedure a pattern for our deciding, especially when we are uncertain of the
answer to our prayer for guidance?
1.
What are the physical, intellectual, and religious acquirements of
manhood—and womanhood (1368.2)?
2.
Study Jesus’ three-year process of reconciling the tension between his
own highest sense of duty and the duty to obey his parents (1372.6-1373.0).
Jesus refused to give up on either duty.
And out of four virtues—loyalty, tolerance, friendship, and love—he
formed a concept of group solidarity. In
this light of this story: what is a concept?
How does it differ from an idea? What
ingredients go into a concept? What
does it take to form a concept? How
does the concept Jesus formed apply to tensions you face?
3.
What is the place in this narrative of the beauties of nature as
highlighted, e.g., at 1374.5?
4.
What do you think is the import of why Jesus was named after Joshua
(1375.1)? What does the text offer
no comment on the matter?
5. Note
Jesus’ “affectionate pity for the spiritually blind and morally ignorant
multitudes” (1376.1). Beholding
such multitudes, what would a natural reaction be?
Try to let the spirit upstep your feelings toward such people (realizing
the differences between Jesus’ situation and our own, now that the Spirit of
Truth has been poured out on everyone).
6.
Note the structural marker at the end of the paper (1376.4) about the
stage of Jesus’ life now completed.
1.
Consider this paper as a study in questioning.
What are the tensions about religion that are manifest there?
What provides the occasion for questioning?
2.
How would you describe Jesus’ inner struggle to find answers?
3.
How does Jesus manifest the social art of questioning?
What growth do you have to achieve before being able to engage in such
Jesusonian questioning?
4.
Write down a list of questions that you could imagine being ready to ask
in certain situations in which you can imagine yourself.
5.
Explore the ethical principles behind Jesus’ way of making adjustment
when different kinds of duties came into potential conflict.
1.
What was Jesus’ test for “every institution of society and every
usage of religion” (1388.last)? How would present institutions and usages measure up?
2.
Consider Jesus’ thoroughness in thinking through the forest of problems
associated with his project—his lifework (1390-91).
What problems do you face in designing your project?
Are you prepared to think them through painstakingly?
3.
Notice that (to some extent, not completely: 1386.1) the term
“adolescent” [Latin, “becoming adult”] is reserved for after the
time of “dangerous and difficult” transition from childhood and “the
consciousness of approaching manhood with its increased responsibilities and
opportunities for the acquirement of advanced experience in the development of a
noble character” (1394.1). How do
the authors’ statements about typical stages of development give perspective
on what teens go through today?
4.
Note that—even after the visitation of the celestial messenger calling
him to begin his mission (1376.2)--Jesus did not go through an agonizing search
for the will of God when his father Joseph died.
He “rightly reasoned” that his duty was to remain at home (1389.8).
What problems can sturdy moral reason solve today that are otherwise much
debated?
5.
Imagine that you were invited to read some selections, as Jesus did, as
part of a religious service (1391#4). Consider
making a list of scriptural quotations that express your main mission.
(Jesus used Isaiah 61.1-3, Amos 5.14-15, Isaiah 1.16-17, Micah 6.6-8, and
a collage from second Isaiah: 40.18, 40.22; 40.26, 40.29, 41.10, and 43.10-11.)
6. Does Jesus resolute dealing with financial problems inspire you when you need to compromise by postponing idealistic goals to confront immediate needs?
7.
Note another stage marker at the end of this paper: the career of
“the Nazareth lad” is over.
1.
Jesus made key decisions to protect his mission.
Compare and contrast the dramas over the issues of political involvement
(section 2) and marriage (section 5).
2.
Why are Jesus’ parenting techniques (section 4) so successful?
3.
Jesus organized his intellect “by the force of his own decisions”
(1389.4). How do decisions organize
the intellect?
4.
How did Jesus manage to present teaching by using scripture without
having to comment on it (1399.7)?
5.
Look for the lessons on thinking in the discussion of Jesus’
concentration and patience. How are our concepts of those qualities enhanced by the
description (1400.7-1401.0)?
6.
Study the definition of adulthood on 1405.4.
Item by item, recall examples in your life—or develop them.
7.
List the areas of knowledge you already have.
Classify your knowledge. How
can you organize it for service (1405.6)?
8.
Note again the closing paragraph of the paper, remarking that Jesus is
“now” a full-grown man.
1.
How did Jesus withdraw from family responsibilities?
2.
By what methods did Jesus help win Jude to family responsibility
(sections 6-7)?
3.
Is there any sense in which Jesus can be an example to us in leaving his
glory behind (1408.4)?
4.
What were the elements of Jesus’ technique of conversation with Stephen
(1411.5)? Was he eager and hasty?
Did he reveal any great epochal fact?
5.
Why the repeated emphasis on the bestowal purpose(s) (1331.5; 1407.2;
1417.6)?
6.
Discuss the ethical issues behind Jesus’ “white lies” regarding (a)
his reasons for not returning home at night (1410.4) and (b) his “detaching”
the episodes of his life (1413.2-4).
7.
Notice the phrase “evolutionary revelation” (1408.5; cf. “revelational
evolution 2094.14). Normally we think of these terms as involving separate
categories. What does it imply to
combine them?
8.
It was evident to some farseeing and forward-looking people that “any
uprising of the Palestinian Jews would be equivalent to national suicide”
(1414.1). In this light, was
Jesus’ refusal to get involved in political issues an act of political
responsibility?
9.
What does the term “spirit” mean at 1415.2?
10.
Note the stage marker at the end of the paper: before beginning his
public ministry, his adult life has two phases—one phase at home, and one
“home-detached” phase (1418.6).
1.
Why are we given so many details about financial management?
2.
What are the advantages of broad and balanced socialization (1420.7;
1424.3)?
3.
Note that during his time building boats at Capernaum Jesus spent five
nights a week at “intense study.” What
study—in addition to The Urantia Book—would help you with your
project?
3.
What increasingly effective methods of communication with the Thought
Adjuster have you discovered (1425.3; 2089)?
4.
“There was something special and inspiring” associated with [Jesus’
life] for every world in Nebadon (1424.1).
Does it seem, then, that a study of Jesus’ life introduces us to these
worlds? Imagine starting a
conversation: What about Jesus’ life was especially addressed to your native
world?
5.
Notice the stage marker at the end of the paper.
Jesus has completed the essentials of the mortal life.
If we can live our lives by the same means, if he is “the new and
living way from man to God,” then how can we live the rest of our day so
as to make something approaching the progress that Jesus would make if he were
engaged in the sorts of challenges that we face?
1.
Give examples of how Jesus developed friendships that led to spiritual
teaching that had significant repercussions.
Tell these stories. Can we
not do likewise?
2.
What does Jesus here call “the supreme experience of living”
(1431.1)?
3.
How can we make friends (1439.1)?
4.
How does Jesus mobilize the faith of Fortune (1437-38)?
5.
How does Jesus help Ezra to know God (1440.3)?
6.
Outline the teaching in the Discourse on Reality.
7.
What teachings are given in this paper about evil?
8.
What happens if we run away from duty (1428)?
9.
What might we consider if we find ourselves being dominated by a person
who does not practice the ways of truth (1430)?
10.
Why is Jesus in no hurry to become a public teacher (1436.5)?
11.
What about Christian preaching made Christianity attractive to those
Jesus had taught?
1.
What are the values of such a collection of scriptures?
2.
What do you find most illuminating in each?
3.
Consider making a collection of gems from each tradition you read.
4.
Study Ganid’s summary. Did
anyone during Jesus’ life gain a better grasp of his teaching?
1.
Where are we to seek the standard of true values (1465#1)?
What other candidates for standards exist?
Why are they inadequate? What
are the problems of asserting a divine standard?
2.
How did Jesus instruct the religious teachers in Rome (1456.0)?
What truths do you find in religious teachers today?
How can you “embellish and illuminate” it?
3.
What advice is given for scientists and religionists today (1457.3)?
4.
What are the different levels of discrimination between good and evil
(1457#2)? Why does Jesus discuss
the perspectives of the universe ascent? In
what situations is it appropriate for us to do so today?
5.
What concept of truth does Jesus present (1459)?
How does it compare with the corresponding part of the Discourse on
Reality (1435.3; cf. 2094.2)? What
are the associated teachings on faith?
6.
What were Jesus’ techniques of personal ministry (1460#4)?
Study these as carefully as you can.
How did he relate to overburdened, anxious, and dejected mortals? How did he help them?
7.
Think of people whom you meet regularly and what you could imagine saying
to them comparable to Jesus’ remarks on 1461 and 1474#4.
8.
What is the distinction between “personal ministry” (section 4) and
“social ministry” (1465#6)? Why did Jesus engage in both?
9.
What does Jesus say about those not hungry for truth (1466.2)?
10.
What is Jesus’ analysis of Buddhism (1466-67)?
11.
How could someone so full of truth be so broadminded, fair, and tolerant,
free of feelings of resentment and reactions of antagonism (1467.4)?
12.
What does your enlightened and reflective imagination of spiritual
teaching and leading wholeheartedly and unselfishly want to do and be (1467L)?
1.
What is Jesus’ policy of non-resistance to attack (1469)?
What is the all-powerful truth of the friendly universe that he insists
on believing (1470.0)? How can you
make sense of this truth, given appearances to the contrary (1946#3)?
2. What
is the pattern for the partnership between human parents that Jesus reveals
(1471.2)?
3.
How does Jesus explain the conditions of the Corinthian prostitutes
(1472.6)?
4.
How may we elevate the drudgery of service to a fine art (1475.2)?
In what sense is serving others serving God?
5.
Imagine things you might say to those you encounter in daily life, things
comparable to what Jesus said in his personal work in Corinth.
6.
How easy and successful are our human attempts at talking with the
Thought Adjuster (1475.4)?
7.
How does Jesus reveal the cosmic truth of eternal life (1474-75)?
8.
What are Jesus’ key teachings on science(1476#5)?
What is the secret of a unified philosophy (1477.3)?
9.
Can you recognize your soul, as distinct from your mind, on the basis of
what Jesus teaches in 1478#6)?
10.
What factors unify the mind (1479#7)?
11.
What is the value of the Hebrew proverb at 1481.1—“Whatsoever your
hand find to do, do that with all your might” (1495.4)?
12.
Note the stage marker: “the mission of Joshua the teacher” ends.
What does this phrase mean here, given the fact that Jesus continued to
teach?
1.
What aspects of his bestowal does Jesus come finally to approve after his
Mediterranean Trip? Note that he then approved of “the program of openly
manifesting his true nature . . . [in] his native Palestine” (1483.2; 1749L).
2.
What work of Jesus’ Thought Adjuster is reported during these
transition years (1484.4; 1492.6; 1493.3-41494.4; 1495.4)?
3.
Describe Cymboyton’s school (1485).
Why are we given so much data about it?
4.
What teaching does Jesus give at Urmia about how different religions
should relate to each other?
5.
Why does our planet face continuing risk of world war?
6.
How did Jesus terminate the Lucifer rebellion?
What insights could you convey working simply with Matthew 4 or Luke 4?
7.
Why did Jesus not begin his public work immediately?
8.
Note that Jesus only now completes the traversal of the psychic circles
(1492.6; 1493.3; 1209#6). How does
that fit with the earlier telling of the completion of later adult life of
Jesus?
9.
Consider: “In any universe contest between actual levels of reality,
the personality of the higher level will ultimately triumph over the personality
of the lower level” (37.3) What
does that imply about the power of Jesus’ faith in his encounter with Satan
and Caligastia (1492#8)?
10.
What is the spiritual watchman’s vigil (1495.2)?
11.
What was Jesus’ craftsmanship (1495.4)?
12.
What is the meaning and value of consecration (1492.6; 1512.2; 1583#9)?
1.
What were the major similarities and differences between John and Jesus?
(Cf. 1509.1)
2.
What various concepts of the kingdom of heaven and the Messiah were
current? (Cf. 1509#1)
3.
Ask information (epochal revelation) management questions again here: who
says what to whom with what restrictions and with what result?
Note especially the voice of the Personalized Adjuster and the accounts
of the voice, John’s utterances about Jesus, and Jesus’ last message to
John.
4.
How did John utter a prophecy (1507.1-2)?
5.
How did Jesus reassure John (1507L)?
1.
Why did Jesus submit to John’s baptism?
What
degree of self-mastery is required for a person to make life-long commitments?
2.
Can mortals look forward to the same thing being said of us when we fuse
that was said at Jesus’ baptism (1511.2; 538.2)?
How is
3.
What are the common themes running through these great decisions?
4.
What decisions do you confront that are somehow parallel to those of
Jesus?
5.
Do you experience better results in your decisions when you withdraw to
commune (1515.4)?
6.
How would reviewing highlights of planetary history aid in decision
making (1514.6)?
7.
What techniques of compromise, diplomacy, influence, and worldly wisdom
might a religious leader possibly deploy (1520.5)?
8. What are some of the “natural, difficulty, ordinary, and trying” methods of carrying the gospel for us today (1521.2)? What alternatives do we have to such methods?
9.
Does premature sharing of, and publicity for, The Urantia Book
exemplify the use of power analogous to what Jesus decided against?
10.
Why did Jesus think through the revolutionary alternative to the
Father’s wisdom (1522.1)?
11.
Why did Jesus formally begin his public career and only afterwards go
apart to formulate his major policies? What
aspects of his work had he already decided on?
1.
What advice about anxiety does Jesus give at 1525.3)?
2.
Observe Jesus’ willingness to draw apart—three times—during the
wedding at Cana (1528#4), in order to commune with the Father.
How could he have the social courage to behave in such a way?
3.
What compromise does Jesus make about the Messiah concept and why
(1532.1)?
2.
Why did Jesus and the six apostles tarry (1533-34)?
3.
Why were Jesus and the apostles not going to align with any particular
religious group (1534.4; 1535.4)? What
are the advantages and costs of such a policy?
Should we infer that no Urantia Book reader should join a
religious organization?
4.
Note that Jesus and the six “spent two evenings each week . . . in the
study of the Hebrew scriptures” (1535.6).
What scriptural study would we do today if we aspired to a similar
training?
5.
What happens if you overteach (1535.6)?
5.
Restate the several leading themes in Sermon on the Kingdom (1536-37).
What does it take to become a son of God (1537.3)?
6.
Can we grasp why the Father loves us with an infinite love (1537.4)?
What happens simply by believing it?
1.
Why should experience in personal ministry precede public preaching
(1538.3; 1539.4; 1540.3; 1543L)?
2.
Why did Jesus ask his apostles to “seek for the sinners; find the
downhearted and comfort the anxious”?
3.
How did Jesus separate himself from John the Baptist (1538.3; 1542.5;
1544.1; 1545.4; 1545.9)?
4.
What erroneous beliefs would Jesus never hesitate to correct (1543.2)?
5.
Why was Jesus so content with this slow, quiet, undramatic process
(1543.3)?
4.
Is it possible that the enemy of the kingdom might seek to draw people
away from being teachers in the gospel movement today (1544.2)?
4.
How did Jesus show the value he placed on individuals (1545.10)?
5.
For a school of feeling, what teaching is given here regarding
merrymaking, joy, and recreation (1540d; 1541a; 1542d-43a; 1547c)?
6.
Observe that in the organization of the twelve there was no segregated
role for preacher or teacher. Why
did those who excelled in those roles had jobs just like the others?
1.
Consider these sections as a set of character studies.
What elements are usually found in each description?
2.
Write your own similar biography.
3.
What do we learn of Jesus from these studies?
4.
What different aspects of courage come out in these sketches?
5.
Compare 2047#2. What would Jesus say to you?
6.
Jesus would ever defer “his slightest wish to the Father in heaven”
(1555.2). Do we have to wait until
reaching the first circle of Adjuster communion to attempt such cooperation?
7.
What is the value of saying “Come with us while we show and share with
you the better way” rather than “Go and do this and do that” (1557.2)?
8.
In what sense is pride acceptable (1558.4)?
9.
Explain the balance Thomas found in the Master (1562.1).
10.
Why is it said that “only a divine institution could ever have ben
built upon such a mediocre human foundation” (1564.3)?
11.
What are the complex battles of the kingdom today (1564.5)?
12.
Imagine how Simon Zelotes worked with a prospective believer (1564L;
1565.3).
13.
What does this paper teach about the range of people with whom Jesus
identified?
1.
Comment on the significance of the Creator placing the affairs of the
divine brotherhood under the direction of human minds (1570).
2.
What about the risk of pride in establishing a kingdom elite?
Should everyone today solemnly shun conceiving themselves in parallel
with the twelve apostles (1570.2)? Are
you the salt of the earth, the light of the world?
Conversations sometimes get heated in trying to apply the concept of
apostle to the present day. Various
interpretations of the concept include—and exclude different people.
What is the wise approach to this issue?
3.
What does it mean to not judge men (1571.5; 1576.3; 1585.2) given the
fact that Jesus warns against ravening wolves?
4.
What is the point of the warning about pearl-casting (1570.6)?
5.
How do the beatitudes contribute to a philosophy of living (1572-8-73.2),
and how do the suggestions there help us interpret the ordination sermon?
How are environmental and social attitudes involved in the beatitudes?
6.
How would you express—in your own words—the philosophy of living
highlights you find in the sermon?
7.
What is the difference between character building and character growth
(1583.2)?
8.
How might a literal-minded teacher transform Jesus’ teachings about
being righteous and doing righteousness into rules for personal behavior
(1584d)?
9.
What are the implications for gospel messengers today of the teachings in
section 8? If The Urantia Book has significant social, economic,
and political teachings, is there not a implication that the book does not have
an explicit place in the leading edge of a gospel message today?
10.
Why a day of consecration after the ordination?
11.
Why is it understandable that Simon Zelotes should ask whether all
men are the sons of God? In
addition to any possible effects of his Zealot passions, does not Jesus
sometimes use the term “sons of God” to refer to those who are faith-members
of the kingdom? Why does Jesus give
such a simple and definite answer to Simon?
12.
What are the three essentials of the kingdom (1585.7-86)?
What is the relation of the gospel to the master philosophy of life
presented in the ordination sermon?
1.
As the paper opens, we see Jesus weeping (1587.2).
What would happen to his religion of joy if he suppressed the genuine
occasions for sorrow?
2.
The first quarter of Jesus’ public career is spent in “quietly taking
over John’s work” (1588.3). Can you imagine anything comparable in the phases of the
fifth epochal revelation?
3.
Why is it liberating for the Father’s will to become your will
(1589.0)?
4.
What response is roused in you by the portraits of the master’s
character (e.g., 1589.5-1590.3; 1594.6-8)?
5.
The meaning of a word is significantly determined by contrast.
Jesus’ concept of God as Father is presented, not in contrast with God
as Mother but with God as Judge (1590.4). How
can you help others understand the fatherhood of God today?
6.
In our eagerness to share truth, do we overlook the afflicted and the
sick (1590.7)? Why did Jesus direct
the attention of his apostles to them?
7.
Carefully explain the section on spiritual unity (1591#5).
Is the apostles’ spiritual unity based on the fact that they are part
of a new epochal revelation?
8.
What implications for introducing others to The Urantia Book do
you find in Jesus’ teaching, “Do not undertake to show men the beauties of
the temple until you have first taken them into the temple”?
What is the wisdom of Jesus’ teaching?
What happens if you overlook that wisdom?
9.
How is evangelism ideally supposed to work (1593.4)?
What should we do if our lives are not attracting others’ inquiry?
10.
Do we in fact see people acting as though their salvation depended on
something other than faith (1593.7)? Explain.
11.
Why is truth liberating? (Consider
that liberal educators and Sigmund Freud have made the same claim.)
1.
Once Jesus had trained the apostles, he took them to Jerusalem.
For what reasons? Can you
imagine analogues of such a move today? What
kind of preparation would it take?
2.
What was the central message of Jesus and the twelve in their initial
teaching in Jerusalem (1596.3-7? Would
you make any changes if you were doing such a thing today?
Why?
3.
Suppose you meet someone who is worried about the wrath of God.
Prepare a few thoughts so that you could respond, like Jesus (1597#2),
with something better than a flat denial and a contrary affirmation.
4.
If you are interacting on religion with people rooted in the Bible, how
helpful would it be to be able to explain the concept of God (1598#3) not just
based on your knowledge of The Urantia Book (which might not yet be
appropriate to mention in conversation) but based on your own knowledge of the
Bible?
5.
What are the values of art (1600.2-3)?
6.
What could you say, in the light of the discourse on assurance (1601#5),
to help those who are worried in their faith?
7.
What does it take to enter the kingdom of God (1602.6)?
Did you think it was easier? Discuss.
8.
How can we use Jesus’ lesson on the family (1603#7) to deepen our
relationship with our Father? To explain the fatherhood of God today? Jesus insists that Thomas should not literally apply his
teachings to “the material, social, economic, and political problems of the
age” (1605.2). To what extent
does that answer suffice to answer feminist objections to the fatherhood of God?
9.
What were Jesus’ tactics here when opposition grew hot? (1605#8;
1617.7)
1.
The response to the preaching at Archelais was a new note of
“courageous dominance” and growth in “the spirit of positive
aggression” (1609.1). How did
Jesus stimulate that response? Why
are we so afraid of developing those qualities today, even though we long for
and warmly respond to those that have them?
How does that preaching relate love, world history, the gospel, and
courage?
2.
Carefully explain the lesson on self mastery (1609#2).
How are we to convince the world that we have passed from bondage to
liberty? To what extent are the methods of self-examination still with
us? How can The Urantia Book
be utilized to create new methods of self-examination? Do some of these questions seem at times to move too far in
that direction? The incarnate
Creator Son was sometimes not highly conscious of time.
In saying that those born of the spirit are “ever and always masters of
the self” was he collapsing together phases that go beyond rebirth (381)?
Or should we simply beware of our own tendency to set the bar too low,
mobilize ourselves, and live the spirit cooperation portrayed here?
How can you live to facilitate the “constant spiritual renewing of your
mind”? What liberation is
described here?
3.
In what types of circumstance are diversion and relaxation (1610#3)
indicated for problem solving? (1611.6; cf. 299.3; 547#4; 1540d; 1541d;
1542d-43a; 1547.9; 1558d; 1562.1; 1578d; 1589.3; 1590.3; 1595d).
Note the many times the Master has his group rest (1542L; 1564.8; 1646L;
1677.3; 1694.6; 1696.L; 1699.3; 1711L; 1718#2; 1734.4; 1741.4; 1751L; 1752.1;
1798L; 1802.2; 1831.1; 1847L; Paper 177).
4.
What are the key elements in the narrative of Jesus’ encounter with
Nalda (1612.5)?
5.
Note the connection of the themes of friendship and the fatherhood of God
at 1615L (“In preaching the gospel of the kingdom, you are simply teaching
friendship with God” 1766.5). How
do teachings like this liberate us from dogma and help us as teachers?
6.
Regarding the teachings about prayer and worship (1616#7), explain the
specific needs for balance at 1616.5. Why
does prayer make us less thinking? How
does worship anticipate the better life ahead?
What’s the difference between self-reminding--sublime thinking—and
superthinking? If I become distracted from my worship and use a device to
bring myself back, is that self-reminding?
If so, how will I move from prayer to worship?
Explain “restful spiritual exertion”?
What is it like to identify with the Whole? What is an attitude (cf. 1227.5; 291.3)?
1.
How do the featured teachings of the period of time covered by this paper
fit with the overall activities of the same period (September, October, 27)?
How did the teachings on prayer prepare the apostles for the conference
with John’s followers?
2.
Aggressiveness is balanced by tact.
Explain the tact of Jesus’ delay during these two months (1617.3)
Why was it important to effect union with the followers of John the
Baptist before launching forward openly and with power?
Analogies for today?
3.
Note the spontaneity of prayer (1618L; cf. “when to pray, I will not
say. Only the spirit that dwells within you may move you to the utterance of
those petitions which are expressive of your inner relationship with the Father
of spirits" 1640.0). Why,
then, do services of group worship, with their activities of prayer, remain
legitimate?
What are
the differences between praying with little faith and praying with genuine faith
(1619.3)?
4.
Why was Jesus averse to praying in public?
Where did he recommend? Why?
(1620.2-3; 1635.1)
5.
Study the believers’s prayer along with the other forms (1621#5).
How do the implied environments differ?
6.
Regarding the conference with John’s apostles (1624#6), what were
Jesus’ three topics as he prepared them?
Why was unanimity important? What
did the twenty-four learn to do together? How
can we learn likewise without practice? What
practice might we organize? What
are the disadvantages of establishing baptism as a ceremony?
Why did Jesus accept it?
7.
Discuss your interpretations of Jesus’ teachings at 1627.4-5.
1.
What variations on the theme of miracle-mindedness do we observe today?
2.
In his sermon (1629#2) Jesus cites passages from the scriptures.
How does his way of teaching differ from that of the scribes?
3.
What was the result of the mass healing at sundown on the rest of
Jesus’ career?
1.
What teachings, if added to the gospel, would religion more appealing to
some group you know today? What
would be the advisability of including such teachings (1637.5)?
2.
Regarding prayer (1628#2), discuss your responses to the teaching that
the Father “does not hear” every prayer and that some who seek him in
distress will fail to find him. What laws of spirit, mind, and matter are we expected to
recognize (1638.3)? Why are we
judged as we judge others (1639.1)? What
if we stop our ears to the cry of the poor (1639.1)?
How are we to appropriate the good gifts in store for those who ask
(1639.3-4)? How does Jesus present
a prayer (1639.5)? What is the
relation between prayer and action (1639L)?
What does 1640.0 imply about having regular times for prayer?
What might be the reasons for keeping your real petitions secret
(1640.1)? Who should be praying for
the extension of the kingdom (1640.2)? What
does it mean to pray in the spirit and in truth (1640.3)? Why is thanksgiving so important in prayer (1640.4)?
What should we do after we pray (1641.1)?
3.
How can you know the will of God (1642.3)?
4.
The apostles would go door to door (1642.6) and teach in the synagogue
(1643.3). What place is there today
for the same methods?
1.
Why did Jesus teach the causes of suffering to the afflicted (1649.3)?
2.
Explain the sequence of levels of meaning of the golden rule (1650-51).
Why can you not live at level six without progressing through two through
five? Jeffrey Wattles has written The
Golden Rule (Oxford University Press, 1996), showing how you can approach
these insights through cultural history.
3.
What is the lesson on lax, loose, and foolishly indulgent parenting at
1653.3?
4.
How did Jesus give criticism? (1655.2; 1671.5-6)?
5.
Describe what it is like to live “like a watered garden” (1656#8).
1.
Describe Peter’s school (1657-58).
What were the conditions for it? Implications
for today?
2.
What has been your experience as (or with) “a strong, positive,
beneficent personality whose ministry banishes fear and destroys anxiety”
(1658.5)? Should believers today
prepare to heal?
3.
Explain the differences between evil, sin, and iniquity.
4.
What standards of reading are implied at 1660.6?
5.
What is the purpose of affliction (1661#5)?
6.
Read the Book of Job (especially chapters 1-7, 19, and 31-42) and comment
on how Jesus transforms it in his retelling, which reverses the sequence between
repentance and vision.
7.
Why does Jesus say that when Job said, “I abhor myself,” he reached
spiritual heights (1663.1)?
8.
Discuss Jesus’ handling of Kirmeth (1666.2).
1.
What is the multi-phased, experiential path leading to worship that Jesus
proposes in the lesson on “the fear of the Lord” (1675#6)?
2.
What errors of Jesus’ early followers are mentioned on 1670?
How can we avoid similar errors today?
For example, we are warned about incorporating philosophical traditions
into a religious message (1670.3; 1637.5; 2069.3).
At the same time, a Divine Counselor teaches that a new philosophy of
living will help rehabilitate modern religion (43.2-3).
What strategies enable us to satisfy both concerns?
3.
How can we acquire well-balanced characters (1673#4)?
4.
Can the lesson on contentment be applied to intellectual acquisitions and
even to spiritual service opportunities and growth?
5.
What perspectives help Jesus be patient with “backward and troublesome
inquirers” (1672.2)?
6.
Jesus was not a systematic teacher but “taught as the occasion
served” (1672.4). The Discourse
on Reality (1433#4) shows that Jesus had a well-organized comprehension of
reality. What made his teaching so
fresh that he did not resort to repeated expositions of his theologic,
cosmologic, and philosophic understanding?
7.
What distinguishes an appeal to the mind from an appeal to the spirit
(1672L)?
8.
What happens when anger takes over? (1673.2)
9.
Jesus answered many a question by giving a brief topical study from
memory (see sections 4, 5, and 6 in this paper).
What preparation would have enabled him to do that so spontaneously?
10.
Does the lesson on contentment (1674#5) apply to intellectual and
spiritual things, too?
11.
Explain the evolutionary process leading from fear to love (1675#6).
12.
The Father “disdains pride, loathes hypocrisy, and abhors iniquity”
(1676L). Should we do the same?
1.
How did Jesus proclaim the equality of women with men? (1678#1)
2.
How did Jesus denounce superstition (1680#3; cf. 901.9;
924.4)? To what audience? On what occasion?
3.
Explain Jesus’ answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved”
(1682#1). What is the difference
between the kind of righteousness that we can have without saving faith and the
quality of righteousness that emerges through faith?
Why is faith needed every step of the way forward?
4.
Who will try reconstructing one of Jesus’ discourses based on a title,
a selection of a few highlights from the Hebrew scriptures, and faith-based
imagination (1683.3)?
5.
What is the relation between section 8 describing the Sabbath service and
the following second on the Nazareth rejection?
1.
What is the meaning of the parable of the sower (1688-91; 1693.3)?
Whose interpretation made the New Testament (Mark 4, Luke 8)?
2.
Study the principles regarding parables on 1692 and create a parable of
your own. What is a fable?
An allegory?
3.
Present your own interpretation of the last of the parable of the sower
(1693.5) and the parables in 1693#4.
1.
How did Jesus prepare for a crisis (1704.4)?
What alternatives are there?
2.
What are the higher phases of the gospel (1704L)?
Does “divine sonship” refer only to Jesus? (1598.0; 1814.2)
Why are the higher phases preached after the more basic phases?
2.
What is the factor mentioned on 1705.1 that slows the evolutionary
process—even with a new epochal revelation?
3.
Prepare a message that uses emotional appeal to awaken the mind and uses
the mind as the gateway to the soul (1705.4).
4.
What spiritual sifting, cruel adversity, or trying and testing ordeals
have students of The Urantia Book gone through, and what may lie in the
future (1705L-1706.0)?
1.
What transitions were marked by this crisis (1708.2)?
2.
What conditions justified Jesus in an open attack upon false aspects of
tradition? (1707.4-1708.2; 1713.3) Analogies
for us today?
3.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the bread of life? (1710.4;
1711.1-2, 4-5; 1712.2) Does this
truth make it legitimate to set up a religion about Jesus?
Why is it fair of Jesus to expect people to accept him, to believe in
him?
4. What is “the parting of the ways” (1710.3)?
5.
What does this paper teach about how to handle a crisis?
(1707.1-2; 1708.2-4; 1710.3; 1715.4-5)
How long did it take Jesus to go through this crisis?
How long for the apostles (1708.4)?
Why the difference?
1.
Explain the “more or less composite and compromising transition
stage” (1718.2). Why was such a
stage entered upon? Why was it
ended? Analogies for us?
2.
How would our lives be different today if we rebuilt civilization on the
teachings of Jesus (1720.3)?
3.
Why could Jesus be so cheerful (1720L-1721.0)?
4.
Why is willingness to do the Father’s will essential to avoid certain
misunderstandings (1721#6)?
1.
What does it mean to obey the truth (1726.1)?
2.
Those who become “truth-coordinated” learn to live an attractive
wholeness of righteousness (1726.2-3). What
does science have to do with this?
3.
Why was the aspect of the rugged adventure of the new religion somewhat
concealed until now? How do the teachings given here aid in navigating that
adventure? (1728#5; 1730#6)
4.
Explain the thought that the kingdom is the realization of the spiritual
joy of the acceptance of divine sonship (1727.2).
5.
What is the religion of the mind? The
religion of the spirit? What kinds
of unity and uniformity are required by the religion of the spirit?
6.
How may we become living prophets (1731L)?
Should we learn to express our points with less reference to The
Urantia Book?
7.
What new meaning is given to the concept of sonship with God in the
second discourse on true religion?
8.
What does it mean that the Spirit of Truth is also the spirit of
idealistic beauty (1732.4)?
1.
What is achieved by the sojourn in Phoenicia?
2.
What is the spiritual significance of the fact of physical laws of the
universe (1736.1)?
3.
If we do not comprehend Jesus, what is the likely reason (1736.1)?
4.
How can you “maintain a conscience void of offense” (1736.4; 984#10)?
5.
Discuss the relation between being born of the spirit, spirit-taught,
spirit-led, and spirit-filled (1738.1).
6.
What is the relation between moral character and spiritual progress
(1738.1)?
7.
What is the relation of the teaching given here on handling temptation
(1738.4-1739.1) to the lesson on self-mastery (1609-10)?
8.
Explain why the requirements for material success, leadership, and
spiritual destiny differ (1739.3).
9.
Explain why “love cannot be self-bestowed” (1739.6)?
Human love tends to seek those most attractive.
What does divine love do (1739.6)?
10.
Give examples of artistic ways of leading souls to truth.
1.
Why does Jesus retire at this time to Caesarea-Philippi and Mount Hermon
(1745.3?
2.
Part of the purpose of the section on the temple-tax collector seems to
be to explain the Biblical version of the story.
We notice such references from time to time.
What do such passages reveal about the authors’ attitudes?
3.
Notice previous announcements of Jesus’ divinity (1504d; 1511c;
1614.2-3; 1711.1-2). What makes
this occasion memorable? What are
the several aspects of transition that occur at this time?
Do you have to believe in Jesus now to enter the kingdom? (1747.4;
1750.2)
4.
How can we transcend struggle between the soul and the body (1749.3)?
5.
Can reflective reading of this paper (and the next) enable one to
“comprehend the glory, and grasp the grandeur, of the life to which I have
called you: the faith-adventure of the establishment of my Father’s kingdom in
the hearts of mankind, the building of my fellowship of living association with
the souls of all who believe this gospel” (1750.8)?
1.
What did Jesus hope for in going to Mount Hermon?
To what extent were these hopes realized?
2.
What was the import of the transfigured interaction for Jesus’ career
in the flesh?
3.
Why did apostles fail to cast out the rebellious midwayer (1758.4)?
Why does Jesus give such a replete teaching about purpose at such a
moment? (1583.1)
4.
Should we prepare to heal (1758.5)?
5.
Why does Jesus tell the twelve of his approaching death?
6.
What challenges did Jesus give the twelve as they entered upon the last
phase of his earth career (sections 7 and 8)?
1.
Interpret the parables and explain the grievance procedure in the lesson
on forgiveness (1762#1; cf. 315.2). What
happens to a religious group that avoids this procedure?
2.
How appropriate is it to use the story of the strange preacher to
advocate a laissez-faire attitude toward those who evangelize The Urantia
Book itself?
3.
Summarize what you take to be the most important of the instructions for
teachers and believers (1765#3)? What
are the implications for us today as we desire to share truth?
What blocks our experiencing the joy and power of the new religion
(1766.6)? Why can believers’
struggles be classified as a battle against doubt (1766.4)?
Why the military metaphors? Is
the revelation of “negative” attitudes in the Father a shock?
Why the warnings about sympathy and pity?
4.
Why did Jesus withhold public criticism of the scriptures, while
explaining the problems to Nathaniel (1767#4)?
Is it wise for religious teachers today to follow this example in way?
What are the lessons on reading the scriptures in 1769#5? What different types of examples does Jesus give?
5.
Why was it best for Jesus’ generation “to live these truths”
instead of writing about them (1768.3)?
Please
read this paper together with the following one, to answer these questions in
the light of both papers.
1.
What can we infer about Rodan from these papers?
2.
What is Rodan’s concept of God?
3.
What are Rodan’s teachings about worship?
4.
How does Rodan see the relation of philosophy and religion?
5.
Using the whole paper as context, speculate on what Rodan may have meant
by “artistic living” (1773.2).
6.
What aspects of Rodan’s thought mark it as Greek?
7.
Why might it be misleading for readers to quote from Rodan as though they
are quoting from any superhuman source of wisdom?
1.
On the basis of the rest of The Urantia Book, can you add to the
logic advanced by Nathaniel and Thomas on the question of the personality of
God? On the divinity of Jesus?
2.
Discuss the apparent tension between Jesus’ comment about Rodan’s
failure to grasp the personality concept of God—that it matters little what idea
you have ot God—and the emphasis given to that concept, e.g., in Paper One.
3. Why
did Jesus decline to enter into these debates with Rodan? (cf. 1641.4)
1.
Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem at this time?
2.
How does the teaching he gives in this visit to Jerusalem compare with
what he gave the first time he brought the twelve to Jerusalem (Paper 142,
sections 1 and 5)? Why the
difference?
3.
Describe Jesus’ ways of understanding and relating to prostitutes
(1472.5-73.3; 1680.1; 1792.3)
4.
What are the benefits of living as Jesus taught Mary and Martha—working
together and recreating together?
4.
How did Jesus fully and finally win Abner and his eleven associates?
1.
What are the elements of the training provided for the evangelists
(1800.2; 1804#4)?
2.
The rigorous standard for Jesus’ ordained gospel messengers is applied
and explained on 1801#2 (cf. 1761.2). What
does it take to be “more than a disciple” (1801.5-6)?
Why does Jesus present these moral and spiritual challenges to the
apostles? Are these “apparently
hard saying” meant only as expressions of Jesus’ own resoluteness, or are
they intended for others as well (cf. 1766.5)?
What does it take for a student of The Urantia Book to be a
follower of Jesus?
2.
Look at 1766.3: how does the fringe of conflict relate to the pet evil?
What does “entrance to the kingdom” mean here?
How does the comment on 1802.4 square with Jesus’ assurance at 1802.1?
3.
How does Jesus evaluate the evangelists’ success (1806#6)?
4.
What is Jesus’ promise of spiritual rest (1802.2)?
How does one “claim” that promise?
1.
What was Jesus’ purpose in attending the Feast of Dedication?
What accounts for the Master’s courage in going into Jerusalem at this
time?
2. What
highlights of spontaneity occurred on this trip?
3.
What was the main event of this visit to Jerusalem?
4.
Why is the gospel that Jesus wanted to tell the Sanhedrin so appropriate
(1815.3)?
5.
What indwellings does Jesus proclaim in Solomon’s Porch (1816.1)?
To what extent can we experientially validate his proclamation?
1.
Harmonize the two rationales for Jesus’ timing of his fateful last
entry into Jerusalem given at 1818.1 and 1819.4.
2.
How does the Sermon on the Good Shepherd (1818#2) express the meaning of
Jesus’ death on the cross?
3.
Note the topic of Jesus’ Sabbath sermon at Pella (1819#3): “Trust and
Spiritual Preparedness.” How can the Master freely take up such a variety of topics
instead of making his central gospel message the major focus of his teaching
time and time again?
2.
What does it mean to lead “into green pastures and beside still
waters” (1819.2)?
3.
Explain Jesus’ teaching at 1819.3).
4.
Show the harmony underneath the creative tensions in the following
passages on wealth: 1823.4 (like 1577d); 1579.5 (like 1822.3; 1931.5); 1518#6
(cf. 1830.2; 1544.4; 1944.2); 1677.2).
5.
What is the significance of testing (1824#6)?
1.
How did the gospel shift during these months in Perea (1825.2)?
2.
In scientific discussion, it is normal to make qualifications explicit
when stating a generalization. Why
does Jesus respond so strongly to the request for qualification in the situation
described at 1826.2?
3.
How does Jesus transform the proverb of the straight and narrow way
(1828L)? How can you reconcile
entering the kingdom as a child with taking the kingdom “in spiritual power
and by the persistent assaults of living faith” (1829.2)?
Why is spiritual force needed (1829L)?
4.
What are the three types of events which may occur in our lives
(1830.5-8)? Why is it helpful to
discuss causation in this way in responding to religious questions?
5.
Why does God “bestow things physical upon mortals without
discrimination” (1831.2)? What
limits God’s bestowal of spiritual gifts?
1.
What are the most common ways of exalting oneself (1834.3; 1838.3)?
How can one truly humble him- or herself without false, ostentatious
piety?
2.
Give your interpretation of the parable of the great supper (1835#2).
How did Jesus have the apostles interpret it?
3.
What are the advantages of worshiping out in nature (1840.4-5; 2064.3)?
How do the teachings about art and beauty given at 1840.5 fit with trends
you observe today?
4.
How to Jesus’ teachings (1838-39) fit with present day ideals of
marriage?
Does
Jesus’ teachings on angels give the core of what is presented on angels in
Parts I, II, and III?
1.
What was Lazarus’ experience of dying?
Of being resurrected?
2.
Comment on Caiaphas’ remark, “It is better that one man die, than
that the community perish” (1847.6; 1488.3; 1134.5; 1233.4)
3.
If it is inappropriate to pray for material things (1848L), how shall we
interpret the line “Give us this day our daily bread”?
How should we regard the one to whom we pray (1849.2)?
Distinguish the following meanings in the answer to prayer: delayed,
modified, segregated, transcended, or postponed” (1849.2).
How can we make appropriately timed petitions (1849.3)?
1. What does the Parable of the Lost Son reveal about God's
attitude toward, e.g., atheists and materialists? What are some
alternative attitudes that religionists sometimes feel?
2. What are the qualities that the Parable of the Shrewd Steward
encourages us to exercise? What are some of the unstate implications of
this teaching?
3. Section 4 is full of theological teaching. What points
attract you most? What ones do you find most difficult to
understand/accept/live up to? Is there a way to be a follower of Jesus
without being a servant of mankind and a messenger of the gospel? (1855.3)
Compare 1855.4 with pp. 30.7 and 33.1‑2. What does this imply about
the significance of The URANTIA Book? What are the
implictions of the discussion of the Father concept for the dialogue with
feminist theology?
1. Why did Jesus use the terms “kingdom of heaven” and
“kingdom of God”?
2. To what does the phrase, "the kingdom of heaven within
you" refer?
3. How can the gospel do the work claimed in the first eight
paragraphs of section 2?
4. Explain the sequence in the steps of righteousness in section
3.
5. Who is in the brotherhood referred to at 1862.6, 1863.1, and
1865.1?
6. How do Jesus and his associates change man's will?
(1863.5)
7. Why does the gospel imply the cardinal features presented in
section 4?
8. Compare 1863c with 740.3 in terms of implications for epochal
revelation management.
9. What are the implications of 1866.2‑4 for Urantia Book
readers?
1.
Why must even disciples be prepared to sacrifice everything? (1869#2)
2.
What qualities did the blind man at Jericho and Zaccheus show that won
such generous response from Jesus?
3.
Study 1874#7, "As Jesus Passed By," for its lessons.
What concept of grace do you find? What
is “meddlesome probing of souls”? Why
did Jesus not direct, manage, or follow up on those he taught?
What is implied about professional, well-planned, and premeditated
techniques of teaching?
4.
Explain the implications of Nathaniel’s interpretation of the parable
of the pounds. Give examples of
faithfulness, opportunity, ability, reward.
1.
Why did Jesus not explain in advance to his apostles the symbolism and
tactics of this entry into Jerusalem?
2.
Why was Jesus so majestically calm, so composed and congenial (1878.3),
of unusual cheerfulness and exceptional good humor (1880.7)?
3.
Discuss the symbolism of Jesus' name 1879.1 in conjunction with
2064.4‑5. Why are military metaphors used as often as they are in The
Urantia Book?
4.
Explain the implicit comment on joy and sincerity at 1883.1.
5.
Why did Jesus never premeditate anything dramatic?
6.
What lessons on emotions do you derive from this Paper?
7.
What levels of giving are presented in Jesus' observation on the generous
widow (1883.4)?
1.
Discuss the harmony of Jesus' cleansing of the temple and its philosophic
generalization (1891.2) with 1088.1.
2.
Explain the mystery of the cornerstone (1894.3).
3.
Interpret the Parable of the Marriage Feast. Find a situation today on which you have insight and create a
parable to express that insight.
1.
How does the teaching on divine forgiveness (1898#1) complete the
teaching of the sermon on forgiveness (1762#1)?
2.
Why does Jesus not mention the difference between resurrection (advancing
to the mansion worlds) and eternal life (fusion with the Thought Adjuster) at
1900.2?
3.
What is involved in fulfilling the great commandment? What does it
mean to love your neighbor as yourself?
4.
Explain Jesus' perception of the end of one dispensation and the
beginning of another (1903.4).
5.
How do we enter into the joyous liberty of the truth of sonship with God?
(1903.5) In what way is earthly existence more abundant for those who are
willing to lay down their lives for Jesus' sake and the gospel's? (1903.6)
6.
What does Jesus mean: "For this very purpose have I come into this
world and even to this hour" (1904.1)?
How does such a teaching facilitate connection with conservative
Christianity? (Cf. 610.6; 1532;
1660; 1710-11; 1714; 1747-8; 1763; 1768a; 1795; 1818; 1828; 1829; 1855D; 1872;
1902d; 1904a; 1934d; 1945; 1947; 1966.1; 1864-5; 1872L.)
7.
Why can Jesus assure victory? (1904.4)
8.
What is the meaning of “meditation” at 1904L?
1.
How does this discourse relate to its foreshadowings, e.g.,
1714.3‑4; 1826.3; 1872.5; 1882.3?
2.
Can the denunciation of unethical behavior be seen as an act of love?
3.
What is the structure of the discourse?
Compare and contrast it to the 1776 American Declaration of Independence.
Is there any legal dimension to this discourse if the covenant with
Abraham has been cancelled?
4.
Why is it understandable that a people, a generation, a city may have to
suffer (1908.6)?
5.
What work of the Most Highs is referred to? (1906.5; 1910.2; cf. 491d;
1067d; 1253d; 1255d)
6.
Note the phrase, "the gospel movement" (1910.4).
The phrase occurs twice more (1913.3; 2045.1). What report would
you give on the state of the gospel movement today?
1.
By what indicators would you discern the fullness of the age (1915.2),
the end of the "long winter of material mindedness and . . . the coming of
the spiritual springtime of a new dispensation" (1915.3)?
2.
In what ways is the Master's second coming compared to death?
(1915.4; 1916.3; 1918.1‑2; 1919.5)
3.
What "settled, safe, and honored forms" of truth are we capable
of creating today (1917.4)?
5.
What experience do you have with the assurance, "Inasmuch as you
minister to one of the least of my brethren, you have done this service to
me"? (1917.2)
6.
What in the Gospel According to Matthew would you attribute to Selta?
1.
What did Jesus assign the twelve to focus on as he left them this day
(1920.1)? Why?
2.
What relation between family life and the gospel is stated at 1921#2?
3.
What accounts for Judas' betrayal? (1924#4) How can one deal with resentment and disappointment so as to
avoid a malignant build up? What does it mean to "permit the word of
truth to strike down into the heart with living roots? When does the
author draw on his/her power of description? Why?
4.
Can a reader today command the attention and enjoy the loving
companionship of Jesus? (1921.2)?
5.
What does it take to experience the knowledge of sonship with God as a
joy (1928L)?
1.
What is the only way materialists can learn about God? (1930.1)
2.
Why are we to serve believers and unbelievers alike? (1930.3)
3.
Who resides in the gospel? (1930.3)
4.
Who multiplies the power in your fruits of loving service? (1930.3)
5.
Why should excellent citizenship make such a citizen more easily reached
by the invitation to sonship in the heavenly kingdom? (1930.5)
6.
How can persistent preaching bring liberation to all nations? (1930L)
7.
What is the challenge for believers when the gospel is socially popular?
(1931.1)
8.
Explain how the angels might lead you in troublous ways. (1931.1)
9.
Who is commissioned to preach the gospel? (1931.2; 1929.1)
10.
What are the activities that Jesus here subordinates to preaching the gospel?
What reasons can we imagine that explain Jesus' priorities?
11.
How do we keep the roots of truth in our heart from dying? (1931.4)
12.
Why is valiant, mighty, and aggressive evangelism (1931.5) so unpopular today?
13.
How can we experience/facilitate the growth of the gospel (1931L)?
14.
Consider the agenda involved in the virtues indicated in 1932.2.
Can we be good stewards of the gospel if we do less?
15.
How does Jesus speak of the universe career (1934L)? Why in this way at
this time?
1.
What is the symbolism of washing the apostles’ feet (sections 2-3)?
How does Jesus make us clean? What experience of humble service has
helped you understand Jesus' parable of service (cf. 316‑17)?
2.
Why did Jesus speak tactfully of Judas rather than denouncing him to the
eleven (section 4)?
3.
In establishing the remembrance supper, how does Jesus explain his
symbols? (Recall 946.8 about the
appropriate use of symbols, Melchizedek’s use of bread and wine at 1018a, and
Jesus' passover in Bethany at 1404.6.) What
additional instructions does Jesus give? (2067.3)
4.
We read that Jesus asks us to do something (1091.10). Is the
remembrance supper optional for believers?
5.
If you were invited to lead a remembrance supper for a group of
Christians, how would you handle it?
1.
Explain the relationship between 1823.4 and 1944.2 regarding the
apostles' need to provide for their material needs while they go out to do their
work.
2.
How does Jesus' giving the new commandment bring new joy and make
possible richer experience? (1944.5)
3.
Explain how Jesus can experience supreme joy while enduring outward
sorrow. (1944.5)
4.
Is it a greater love to lay down your life for your enemies? Why
are the apostles told to love one another as Jesus
did‑‑not to love all men thus?
5.
What is it to abide in Jesus?
6.
Comment on Jesus' word, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life."
7.
"No man goes to the Father except through me. All who find the
Father first find me." Compare the Biblical rendition. Why
would it be wrong to preach Christ as the leading gospel theme?
8.
Can any list of truths hope to escape the fate predicted for
"formulas, codes, creeds, or intellectual patterns of human conduct"?
(1949.4)
9.
Give an example of dragging truth down to wisdom and fact levels; of
lifting wisdom up to truth levels.
10.
How do the golden rule interpretations here (1949‑50) fit with the levels
on p. 1650‑51? Explain the
highest realization of the golden rule. (1950.4)
11.
Explain nonresistance (1950L).
12.
Comment on the concept of love at 1950.6.
1.
Explain how the higher phases of the gospel (1704L) are manifest in
1953.3-4.
2.
Explain the relation of the peace of Jesus to stoicism and optimism
(1954.4-6).
3.
Compare 1953d with 1727.5. How shall we learn to love?
4.
In his farewell personal admonitions, Jesus assigns to each of the eleven
a special life task. Explain how that task fits the particular character of the
apostle. Write out the admonition
that Jesus would give to you.
4.
How specific is the guidance we are to receive from the Spirit of Truth
(1957L)?
5.
Explain the provision of definite leadership (1959.0).
How should we recognize who is the leader?
How does a leader conduct himself or herself?
(1739.2; 1875.1,4; 938.8; 1603#7; 21.3)
6.
What experience of yours illustrates of Jesus' teaching about commonplace
toil (1960.0)?
7.
Explain in what way learning from Jesus' life and teachings is an
alternative to experience. What is
the role of the Spirit of Truth in experience (1961.4)?
8.
Why is the gospel hard to understand? (1961.4)
9.
How does Jesus demonstrate love by these admonitions and warnings?
1.
What oneness does Jesus pray for in Gethsemane?
2.
What are the implications of the statement that there “can never be
doctrinal finality and sectarian superiority of group consciousness”?
3.
How can someone who was on the point of fusion with the Thought Adjuster
have to go through such agony? Should
we expect testing in the life to come (2018.4)?
4.
What scenes from your past experience make possible the ministry of the
beauties of nature (1969L)?
5.
How can a mortal be invincible (1070.1)?
6.
What is the appropriate attitude for a reader of this paper?
1.
What was the role of Jesus' universe enemies in encouraging the rejection
of Jesus? (610c; 1972.1)
2.
Explain how Jesus' teaching of nonresistance to evil (1950d) is
exemplified here.
3.
What are the key ingredients in the successful handling of this type of
crisis to preserve the safety of the group?
1.
How can Jesus be so calm, majestic, and poised now? Why does he not
continue the denunciations of his last temple discourse?
2.
Contrast this nadir of moral "justice" with the administration
of justice on high (36#3; 180#12; 372#7; 434.4‑6).
3.
Consider the meanings of Jesus' silences: 1494a; 1504d; 1942a; 1965b;
1984‑85 (cf. 1002.5; 510c; 2b).
4.
Why the remark about poultry outside the city (1981.4)?
5.
What does it take to accept forgiveness?
6.
What do we learn of compromise from 1980#2?
7.
How does Jesus gain great victories by the way he endures humiliation
1984#4)?
1.
What perceptions, beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes underlie Jesus'
silent regard of "genuine pity and sorrowful affection" (1990L)?
2.
How does Jesus proclaim the gospel to Pilate? (1991.4)?
3.
What is lacking in Pilate's question, "What is truth?" (1991.5)
Note the different types of questions: (1) as a lad, Jesus was one big
question mark, and Joseph did admirably well to answer his questions; (2)
Jesus wrestling with questions in Jerusalem and posing questions in the temple;
(3) Jesus later attitude toward these discussions in which he did not condescend
to participate; (4) Jesus' technique of engaging people by asking questions
(1460); (5) the erring questions of the Sadduccees (ignorant of the Scriptures
and of God); the inappropriate questions of Nalda, Nathaniel; (6) Jesus'
bringing forth Peter's confession with the question, "Who do you say that I
am?"
4.
Explain why the degree of Pilate's sin is less than that of Judas and
Caiaphas. (984#10; 1996.1)
1.
What conclusions can you draw from the usage of the term "sin"
in Part IV, e.g., 1998.4?
2.
What was Jesus’ attitude at this time??
3.
What is the difference between being a son/daughter of God and an active
son/daughter of God? (2000.1)
3.
What virtues contribute to dependability? (2000#3)
4.
Sketch how Jesus' life and death illuminate the gospel (2002.5-6).
How is it that sonship with God and the brotherhood of men are
"inherent in the universe facts of God's love for his creatures and the
innate mercy of the divine Sons"?
1.
Why did Jesus refused to drink the narcotized wine (2007.2)?
2.
To whom does Jesus manifest forgiveness as he is crucified?
3.
How has the line, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” been
interpreted? Read Psalms 20, 21,
and 22. Compare The Urantia Book’s
account of the crucifixion with those of the New Testament: Matthew 27; Mark 15;
Luke 23; John 19.
1.
How does Jesus' death on the cross reveal the love of God?
2.
Why need believers not be concerned about their own salvation or about
punishment of sin (2017.4-5)?
3.
Why is the fatherhood of God called a “fact” and the brotherhood of
man called “its correlated truth” (2017.8)?
4.
Explain the dynamics of Jesus’ forgiveness (2018.1-2).
What does it mean to make wrongs right?
How does love swallow up evildoing and absorb evil (2018#5)?
5.
How can one be encouraged to keep up the good struggle by looking at
Jesus on the cross (2018.4-6; 2019.3‑4)?
1.
What lessons on feeling and emotions may be derived from comparing the
superhuman responses described in this paper to those of mortals?
2.
Explain the lesson on thinking at 2021.3. Are there other lessons
in this paper on thinking?
3.
What lesson on acting may we derive from the deeds of Mary Magdalene?
4.
How important is it for humans to have witnessed Jesus’ resurrection
appearances?
1.
In what ways does Jesus upset customary hierarchies in these appearances?
2.
How does his exhortation to friends and family at Bethany differ from
those to the women believers and the Greeks?
3.
Does not the gospel as presented to the two brothers (2035) include a
gospel about Jesus as well as other
teachings?
4.
What do you make of the fact
that in all Jesus’ resurrection appearances to groups of apostles or disciples
Jesus exhorts his hearers to go forth proclaiming the gospel to all the world?
(2033.1; 2034.0; 2042.1; 2044.3-4; 2052.4-2053.1; 2054.0; 2054.3; 2063.3)
Is there any reason to think that Jesus asks less of us today?
1.
Jesus tells Peter to get his mind off himself and his own needs and to
focus on the needs of others. At what point do we need the same
exhortation? How does Jesus' timing of his appearance to Peter help answer
this question (2039#1)?
2.
What results could have been reasonably expected had Abner and his
associates succeeded better at taking Jesus' teaching (2041L‑2042.1) to
heart? What does this imply about our own potentials?
3.
Explain the harmony of the call (1) to preach the gospel and (2) to
proclaim by lives of service (2043.1).
1.
What significance, if any, attaches to the main verbs in the questions
Jesus asks the apostles: Do you love, trust, serve, obey, believe in
me‑‑(2047#2)?
2.
Why is love “the ancestor of all spiritual goodness, the essence of the
true and the beautiful” (2047.5)?
3.
What is the enemy to be guarded against (2047.7)?
4.
Write down what you think Jesus would say to you if you were one of the
apostles with whom he visited.
5.
What does Jesus' repetition of the ordination scene teach about
repetition and ritual at its best (1569; 1583L-1584.1)?
6.
Why did Jesus appear to the 500 (2050#4)?
7.
What is the relation of the religion about Jesus to the religion of Jesus
(2051.5)? Through what steps might
a religion about The Urantia Book emerge?
1.
What does the world need most to know (2052L)? How does this
proclamation relate to the teaching of what human knowledge is most important
(2090.4)?
2.
What are the levels of knowledge and realization distinguished on 2053.0
(cf. 2053L)?
3.
What was Jesus' purpose in these closing resurrection appearances
(2052‑53)? How successful was he? What is the revelatory
purpose in giving us this account? What will determine the degree of
success of that latter purpose?
4.
Explain in that way the fruits of the spirit (2054.3) differ from their
humanistic counterparts. How are the fruits of the spirit related to
gospel promulgation (2057.4)?
5.
What are the lessons of Judas' downfall?
6.
Using pp. 2057-2060, list the events—and times--of May 18, 30, from the
early meeting on Mount Olivet to the baptisms that ended after dark.
1.
For what reasons was the Spirit of Truth experienced with greater clarity and
power then than for most people today? (2061.4; 2065.4)
2.
What contrasts are drawn between Jesus' gospel and the message of these
empowered believers?
3.
How does the Spirit of Truth formulate the gospel today (2060.6)?
What are today’s spiritual difficulties?
What is a spiritual difficulty? What
spiritual difficulties are implicit in today’s social, economic, and political
difficulties? Should we reformulate
the gospel? Are today’s spiritual
difficulties much different from those of the times when The Urantia Papers were
being indited? Make a list of
gospel truths on one side of a page and a list of spiritual difficulties on the
other side. What happens when you
look for links between the difficulties and gospel truths?
4.
Explain the use of “spiritual weapons” (2064.3-4).
5.
Why does the joy of the spirit have such wonderful side-effects (2065.7)?
6.
How can we maintain continuous communion with God? (2066.0)
7.
What examples do we have of the fruits of the spirit indicated on
2064.4‑5?
8.
Comment, in the light of this paper, on Rodan's view of emotional
excitement, power (1777.3), and evangelistic enthusiasm (1780.6).
1.
This paper surveys 2000 years of history, focusing on the West and on
Christianity. To grasp it as a
whole, make an outline.
2.
What happens when a civilization that needs a spiritual gospel is given
ideas about a whole range of topics (2069.3)?
To what extent should the gospel movement be separate from the movement
of readers of The Urantia Book?
3.
Early Christian leaders compromised Jesus' ideals to save many of his
ideas (2070.8). Explain and illustrate.
What dangers are there in being an idealist? What are the advantages of working in the light of ideas?
How can one integrate ideas and ideals in a sturdy, evolutionary reliable
way?
3.
Review the book's teachings about mysticism: 1000; 1100; 2074.7.
What forms of mysticism are popular now?
4.
Try to describe the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual types of
humanity (2075.1).
5.
How may truth be “dismembered, segregated, isolated, and too much
analyzed” (2075.5)? What is it to embrace truth in wholeness?
How do you know when analysis has gone too far?
Are the limits the same for everyone?
What is it to embrace truth as “an inspiration of intervening art”?
6.
How do the remarks on truth, beauty, and goodness in 2075#5 relate to the
remarks on p. 43 setting forth the philosophy of living construction project?
7.
What are the implications of the "patches of evil" comment
(2076.3) for our daily conversation? For the evening news?
8.
How might a materialistic scientist respond to sections 6 and 7? How
would you reply?
9.
Propose a couple of new and up to date slogans!
10. Discuss
the apparent tension between 1135#6 (esp. 1137.3) and 2078.7. Can we
detect truth, beauty, and goodness in the phenomena of the universe? Give
examples.
11. What
are the surprises in the philosophy of art at 2079.L‑2080.1? (Cf.
67.3) What experience of art have you had that functions thus?
12.
What cosmology emerges at 1080.7 (1276#7)?
How might this idea be communicated to advanced non-readers?
13.
Is society still disintegrating? What
can we expect? (2082.2-5; 1302.3)
14.
What is needed for a spiritual renaissance (2082L)?
15.
Consider: “The great hope of Urantia lies in the possibility of a new
revelation of Jesus with a new and enlarged presentation of his saving message
which would spiritually unite in loving service the numerous families of his
present-day professed followers.” (2086.2).
What is meant by revelation here? Consider:
“The world needs to see Jesus living again on earth in the experience of
spirit-born mortals who effectively reveal the Master to all men” (2084.1). How is revelatory living to be connected with The Urantia
Book itself in the proposals set forth here?
16.
What is the importance of “going the second mile” (2084.5; 1770.7)?
17.
Given all the teachings advocating tolerance, how can the intolerance
proposed at 2086.6 be exercised constructively?
1.
Why is faith chosen as the topic of the concluding paper?
In what ways does this paper integrate the themes of (a) total,
wholehearted devotion and (b) balance? What
were the factors of balance in Jesus’ life (2088.2)?
Explain the consistency of such mature balance with the dynamism of his
faith (2093.1).
2.
What does it mean that “the human Jesus saw God as being holy, just and
great as well as being true, beautiful, and good” (2087.1)?
What insight are we given into how Jesus formed concepts (2087.2; 2088.3,
5; 1373.0)?
3.
What are “the temporal contradictions of mortal existence” (2087.3)?
4.
Is there any way consciously to aid growth in
self‑forgetfulness? (2088.4)
5.
How do the teachings of the diverse phases of the Master’s prayer life
(2089.0) and the thorough process of prayer (1002#9) enrich each other?
6.
How does faith and trust yield joy and assurance? (2089.2‑3)
What is the difference between this experience and what sometimes passes for
faith?
7.
Suppose someone says, "I can't live the religious life of Jesus
because I lack a strong will and unfailing confidence." (2090.1) How
would you reply?
8.
Is anything implied in the following sentence other than getting the book into
the hands of receptive Christians and other religionists? “What a transcendent service if, through this revelation,
the Son of Man should be recovered from the tomb of traditional theology and be
presented as the living Jesus to the church that bears his name, and to all
other religions!” (2090.3)
9
“Of all human knowledge, that which is of greatest value is to know the
religious life of Jesus and how he lived it” (2090.4).
How is this affirmation consistent with 449.2 (360.2)?
10.
In what sense should we strive for the achievement of Jesus purpose (2090.4)?
11.
Does 2091.2 imply that it would be unJesusonian to reply to contemporary
assaults on the Fatherhood of God? cf. 1931.5.
12.
Explain how Jesus was a living illustration of the fatherhood of God and
a profound demonstration of the brotherhood of man (2091.2).
13.
How can a Thought Adjuster be heroic
(2092.2)?
14.
In what way were the human and divine natures of the Master set forth in
the gospel (2093.0; 1543.1)?
15.
What does religious experience do for most mortal difficulties? (2093L)
16.
Why is relation, an element of reality, called truth by the
religious consciousness, faith, spiritual reality, by philosophy,
and value by the authors (2094.1)? Explain
why the correlations are so close between reason and physical reality, wisdom
and intellectual reality, faith and spiritual reality that the terms are
practically interchangeable.
17.
It is popular to speak of being creative with your interpretations and
values. How does 2094.9 correct
that thought?
18.
What is “conjoint revelational evolution” (2094.14)?
19.
How is religion is indissolubly interrelated with science, art,
philosophy, ethics, and morals (2096.4)?
20.
What is the great challenge to modern man (2097.2)?
Explain “the well-balanced and sane effort to advance the borders of
self-consciousness out through the dim realms of embryonic soul-consciousness in
a wholehearted effort to reach the borderland of spirit-consciousness.”
21.
What is the significance of the connection between the last paragraph of
the book and the beginning of the book?