1. What is the Kingdom of God? What did the Parable of the Sower teach about the KoG? Parable of the Mustard Seed teach?

2. Kingdom of God: The Problem of Wealth “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” To analyse the dialogue between Jesus and the young man To explain what the problem of riches is, for the Kingdom of God

3. Problem with Riches You think about making more money. You stop thinking about what pleases God You are so rich you think you can buy happiness. You stop living in a way that does lead to happiness (the Beatitudes) You get obsessed with material things – more, newer and better. You can’t imagine living without them. You are not free. You are tempted to do bad things to get richer. You stop relying on or needing God – you think you have got life under control You become proud and arrogant, thinking you are better. You look down on the poor. Which of these do you think makes money the biggest obstacle to God? 1. Choose 2 and explain why wealth can be a problem. *Which of these are you most likely to be tempted by?

4. Conversation with the Rich Man 1.What did the young man ask? What did he really care about? 2.How did his wealth stop him from getting what he really wanted? 3.How did he leave Jesus? Why? 4.What did Jesus say about this? 5.What was the disciples reaction? 6.If the young man did leave all his wealth, what could he expect to get back? Peter asks Jesus about this – what answer does Jesus give? see p.131 **Is it reasonable to “give up everything and give to the poor” and follow Jesus - perhaps to serve people in great need? If not, is this teaching relevant to us today at all?

5. Giving it all up – for love. Find a line in the song, that shows the singer is not like the rich young man. HW Read the story of the Woman in the Treasury (Mk 12:41-44). How is her attitude different? - think about what she does, - why she does it