Based on what you have learned about discipleship, fill in what Jesus would say to his followers, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must _____ themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Because of their strict adherence to and conservative theological nature with the Written Law, the ______ acted severely in cases involving the death penalty, and they interpreted literally the Mosaic principle of “an eye for an eye”. They also rejected later ideas such as angels, demons, and the resurrection of the dead. 

In doing what we can to bring about true freedom, love, peace and justice, we are making known the presence of God in the world and working to prepare for the coming of the ________ at the end of time, when Christ will come again in glory.

Read the following parable entitled “The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat":

“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.

When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Based on what you've learned about his mission and the Kingdom of God, the question is, what is Jesus trying to say here? 

I was the first disciple to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

John was the “last Old Testament messiah” who mentored Jesus during his youth and set the foundation for Jesus’ ministry.

Knowing what you know about the six-fold mission of Jesus, identify which one is present in Matthew 1: 21, "She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Read Luke 3:7-18, "7 John said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”  10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”  11 He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”  12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”  13 He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”  14 Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”   15 Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people."

The question is, what is the overarching theme here? 

The Temptation of Jesus shows that Jesus ‘triumphs over Satan by his total adherence to the plan of _______, which is the forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, willed by the Father’.