lesson six - magis center · lesson six assessment of understanding (modified true or false—if a...

LESSON SIX

Transcendence:

IS

UNCONDITIONAL

LOVE REAL?By Claude LeBlanc, M.A., © Magis Center, 2016

LESSON SIX

LESSON SIXOpening Prayer

Lord Jesus, you revealed the

Father’s unconditional love for us, and you also showed it

through the sacrifice of your

own life for us. With the help of

the Spirit, may we strive to love

as you both love. Amen.HA

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LESSON SIX

Lesson Five Assignment:

The Resurrection, Jesus,

and HumanityHA

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HAPPINESS LESSON SIX

Supplemental Video 1: Dad Of Autistic Child

Shares About Unconditional Love(Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pl3vkBp9Iw)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pl3vkBp9Iw

“It changed my life completely; put me in

another direction.

I was able to love

unconditionally.”(from ‘Dad Of Autistic Child Shares

About Unconditional Love’)

LESSON SIX

LESSON SIXPre-Viewing Questions (For Discussion)

1) Is unconditional love possible in this

world? If it is, what would it look like?

2) Even if it is impossible, should we still

strive to love one another unconditionally?

3) If God loves us unconditionally, what is the

appropriate response to him, and to others?

Is Unconditional

Love Real?HA

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LESSON SIXWatch Video

Episode Six:

Transcendence:

Is Unconditional

Love Real?, taking

notes on the

handout: Video

Comprehension

Questions.

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LESSON SIXVideo Comprehension

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1. What does evidence from

Near Death Experiences (NDEs),

and the Resurrection, tell us

about God having real and

unconditional love?

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1. What does evidence from

Near Death Experiences (NDEs),

and the Resurrection, tell us

about God having real and

unconditional love?

In NDEs, people experience a

white light as exceedingly

loving; the Resurrection means

it is reasonable & responsible

to believe what Jesus said

about God’s unconditional love.

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Review the

“Six Questions for Steve” handout from

HAPPINESS—the

Workbook, pg. 81.

LESSON SIX


2. According to

Fr. Spitzer, what

was Jesus’ reason for telling us the

Parable of the

Prodigal Son?

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2. According to

Fr. Spitzer, what

was Jesus’ reason for telling us the

Parable of the

Prodigal Son?

To tell us who

God the Father is.

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3. What would a 1st century Jewish audience

understand about the son in this parable?

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3. What would a 1st century Jewish audience

understand about the son in this parable?

By wanting his inheritance, going to a

foreign land, spending money as he did, and

working with pigs, he rejected his family,

country, religion, and God.

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4. How would this audience think the father

would react when he saw the Son?

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4. How would this audience think the father

would react when he saw the Son?

That the father would reject the son

because of what he did.

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5) What does the way the father actually

responded to his son tell us about God the

Father?

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Father?

He loves us unconditionally.

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Father?


6) Who was part two of the parable

addressed to, and what was the message to

them?

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Father?


6) Who was part two of the parable

addressed to, and what was the message to

them?

Jesus was telling the Pharisees that God

loves them the same way, but they need to

rejoice with him when sinners repent.HA

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7) What’s wrong with

asking, “Why would an unconditionally

loving God send

anyone to Hell?”

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7) What’s wrong with

asking, “Why would an unconditionally

loving God send

anyone to Hell?” God doesn’t send anyone to Hell. It’s a place he prepared for

those who choose not

to love—and want to

be away from God.

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8. Why did God give us free will, and why is it

required in order for us to ‘love’?

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required in order for us to ‘love’? Because he loves us unconditionally, he

won’t force us to do anything; if we ‘had’ to love, it would be meaningless.

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9. What is our free will for?

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9. What is our free will for?

To allow us to choose who, and how, we will

find our joy; in ourselves or others, and

selfishly or selflessly.HA

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LESSON SIXVideo

Comprehension

10. Even though

God wants us all to

be with Him in

Heaven, what is he

allowing us by

giving us free will?

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LESSON SIXVideo

Comprehension

10. Even though

God wants us all to

be with Him in

Heaven, what is he

allowing us by

giving us free will?

To choose to love

him, and others, or

not, both now and

for eternity.HA

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LESSON SIXSmall Group

Activity One:

Discuss the

Reflection and

Discussion

Questions chosen

by your teacher,

then share your

thoughts with

the class.

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LESSON SIXAssessment of Understanding

(Modified True or False—if a statement is

false, change it to make it true)

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1) Fr. Spitzer explained that the Creator of

the universe would have to have the most

meaningful power—love--without limit.

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1) Fr. Spitzer explained that the Creator of

the universe would have to have the most

meaningful power—love--without limit.

2) A 1st century Jewish audience, hearing

the Parable of the Prodigal Son, would have

considered the

Son’s behavior

unforgivable.HA

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3) Jesus’ reason for telling us the Parable of the Prodigal Son was to teach us about our

sinfulness.

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sinfulness.

4) At death, God punishes sinners by sending

them to Hell.

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sinfulness.

4) At death, God punishes sinners by sending

them to Hell.

5) God gave us free will so that we could

decide whether to love Him, and others, or

live a self-centered life that excludes Him.

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HAPPINESS LESSON SIX

Supplemental Video 2: Do We Have Free Will?(Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDkLUBdvOkw)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDkLUBdvOkw

“If free will exists, there is a ‘you’ beyond the physical, and there

has to be something non-

physical to account for it.”(from ‘Do We Have Free Will?’)

LESSON SIX

LESSON SIXBeyond the Lesson:

Share how you would explain to others why

our free will, and the existence of Hell, both

need to exist in order for God’s love to be truly unconditional.

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LESSON SIXHAPPINESS Assignment: Exploring the

Problem of Evil. Complete the handout and

bring it to the next class.

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See You Next Time!

lesson six - magis center · lesson six assessment of understanding (modified true or false—if a...

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