Core Christian Teachings: Parables, Beatitudes, and Prayer

Parables of the Kingdom

Yeast: The kingdom of God is like a pinch of yeast added to dough. The yeast is distributed throughout the mixture, and shortly thereafter, spongy, tasty bread is made. Similarly, the group of people who acknowledge God as their only King is rising steadily and gently spreading throughout the world.

Pearl: The kingdom of heaven is like a precious pearl hidden inside an oyster shell. When the fisherman opens the shell, the pearl is known to be worth more than an entire collection. Similarly, belonging to the kingdom of God is the most important thing in the world, worth sacrificing everything to obtain.

Mustard Seed: The kingdom of heaven is like a small mustard seed, a tiny black dot. At first, it grows as a dark secret in a strange land. Today, the little grain that Jesus planted in a small community of followers has grown to become the universal "Church," the people of God.

The Beatitudes

In the Christian tradition, the Beatitudes are the famous sayings from the Sermon on the Mount spoken by Jesus of Nazareth, as recorded in the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. The Beatitudes describe the characteristics of people who are considered blessed by God, or who have found spiritual happiness under the standard of "Heaven." These teachings share similarities with those found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were written before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Understanding Prayer

Prayer is the effort to communicate with God or a spirit, whether to give allegiance, make a request, or simply express thoughts and emotions. Depending on the religion, it may take several forms:

• Devotional practice: Praying privately or publicly, individually or collectively, in special circumstances or daily life.
• Ritual: A part of a formal ceremony recited by an officiant or the whole community, such as the Christian Mass.
• Requirement: A prescribed act, such as the five daily prayers in Islam.

The Nature of Sin

Sin is a free and deliberate violation of God's law. However slight, any deviation from the divine commandments is considered a sin. The essential nature of sin is rebellion against God, and any act that turns away from Him is sinful.