The Kingdom of God (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Flashcards
Exam code: 8062
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Define a parable.
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Cards in this collection (62)
Define a parable.
A short story with a spiritual meaning — Jesus used parables to challenge people and teach moral lessons and about their relationship with God.
In what four senses is the Kingdom of God described in Mark's Gospel?
A kingdom already partly arrived through Jesus; a future physical kingdom at the Second Coming; a state of mind in believers; and a growing community of believers.
Give three values of the Kingdom of God.
Love of God and neighbour, faith, truth, humility, childlike purity — and the sacrifice of wealth and ambition.
In the Parable of the Sower, what do the sower and the seed represent?
The sower is the teacher; the seed is the message (word) of God.
What does the seed on the path represent?
Those who hear the word but are not committed and do nothing — Satan takes it away, just as birds eat the seed.
What does the seed on rocky ground represent?
Those who receive the word with joy but have no root — they give up as soon as trouble or persecution comes.
What does the seed among thorns represent?
Those who hear but are distracted by 'the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth' — the message is choked and yields nothing.
What does the seed on good soil represent?
Those who hear and accept the message, become disciples, and share the good news — bearing fruit thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.
What is the overall message of the Parable of the Sower?
The Kingdom of God can grow only if people hear the good news and act on it — and believers should keep going even when others don't respond.
Jesus ended the parable saying: 'Let anyone with ______ to hear listen!'
Jesus ended the parable saying: 'Let anyone with ears to hear listen!'
In the Kingdom of God, what happens to death, evil spirits and disease?
Death is overcome, evil spirits are overcome, and disease is cured — with God as ruler and everyone finding shelter.
Why did Jesus base many parables on farming?
Because farming was a common way of life for many of the people Jesus taught, making the lessons relatable.
How does the Parable of the Sower encourage modern Christians?
To keep going despite distractions and difficulties, and to help the Kingdom of God to grow.
True or False?
In the Kingdom of God, it is the wealthy and ambitious who are most favoured.
False.
In the Kingdom of God, wealth and ambition are sacrificed — it belongs to those who suffer and show childlike humility.
What does Jesus compare the Kingdom of God to in this parable?
A mustard seed — 'the smallest of all the seeds on earth' — which grows into the greatest of shrubs.
What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed?
The Kingdom of God starts very small, grows invisibly at first, then becomes a large force in the world.
How did the mustard-seed prophecy prove true?
The Kingdom began with Jesus and his disciples, then grew and spread until Christianity became the largest religion in the world.
What do the birds nesting in the branches represent?
The Gentiles (non-Jews) — showing the Kingdom of God would expand to include non-Jews.
What do many Christians see the tree as representing today?
The worldwide Christian Church, which shelters everyone who needs its care and protection.
How is the Kingdom of God understood today?
As both a present reality within the Christian religion and something Christians pray will be established on Earth.
Which line of the Lord's Prayer asks for the Kingdom of God on Earth?
'Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.'
Give two ways Christians work to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Taking religious vows (priest, monk, nun), doing voluntary work (food banks, visiting the sick), or pursuing a career that serves others.
Name two Christian organisations that work to care for people worldwide.
Christian Aid, CAFOD, Tearfund or the World Council of Churches.
Jesus said the mustard seed is 'the ______ of all the seeds on earth'.
Jesus said the mustard seed is 'the smallest of all the seeds on earth'.
Why is it significant that birds symbolised Gentiles to Jews?
Jesus taught his followers that the Kingdom would include non-Jews, so they should include them when spreading the message.
True or False?
The Parable of the Mustard Seed teaches that the Kingdom of God will always remain small.
False.
It teaches the Kingdom starts small but grows into a large force in the world.
Why were people bringing children to Jesus?
So that he would bless them / touch them.
How did the disciples react, and how did Jesus respond?
The disciples 'spoke sternly' and tried to send them away; Jesus was indignant and overruled them, hugging and blessing the children.
What did Jesus mean by 'receive the kingdom of God as a little child'?
Believers must show childlike love, faith, trust, innocence and dependence to enter the Kingdom of God.
What relationship with God does this teach believers to have?
To trust in and depend on God, just as children depend on their parents and other adults.
How were children generally viewed at the time of Jesus?
As not important — so the disciples assumed Jesus would be annoyed at people bringing them.
Define infant baptism.
When babies join the Christian faith through baptism, even before they are old enough to understand — linked to Jesus blessing the children.
Which Churches practise infant baptism?
The Catholic and Anglican Churches and some nonconformist denominations.
How do Churches that practise believers' baptism (e.g. Baptists) mark children?
With dedications and blessings for children, even though they do not baptise infants.
How do churches today reflect Jesus's welcome of children?
They welcome children in services, hold special/family-friendly worship, and encourage parents to bring children to church and pray at home.
Jesus said: 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the ______ of God belongs.'
Jesus said: 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.'
What did Jesus's welcome of the children show about the Church?
That the Church is for everyone, not just adults — children are the future of the Church.
True or False?
Jesus agreed with the disciples that the children should be sent away.
False.
Jesus was indignant and overruled the disciples, welcoming and blessing the children.
What did the rich young man ask Jesus?
'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
What did Jesus first tell the man to do?
To follow the commandments — not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or defraud, and to honour his father and mother.
What one more thing did Jesus tell the man to do?
'go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor... then come, follow me' — promising treasure in heaven.
How did the rich man respond, and why?
He was shocked and went away grieving, because he had many possessions and was unwilling to give them up.
How does the rich man's response echo the Parable of the Sower?
Like the seed among thorns, greed and materialism choked his ability to follow Jesus.
What did Jesus teach with the 'eye of a needle' saying?
'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God' — wealth can be a barrier.
Why was Jesus's attitude to wealth surprising at the time?
It was generally thought the rich were in favour with God — Jesus taught the opposite: that wealth is a distraction and obstacle to serving God.
Does Jesus teach that no rich person can enter the Kingdom of God?
No — he was warning against those obsessed with wealth who have the wrong priorities; a place in the Kingdom cannot be bought or earned.
What might the 'eye of the needle' have referred to?
Possibly a small door in Jerusalem's city wall that a camel could only fit through once its possessions were removed — or simply an image of riches as a barrier.
When the disciples asked 'Then who can be saved?', Jesus said: 'For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are ______.'
When the disciples asked 'Then who can be saved?', Jesus said: 'For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.'
How did Jesus look at the rich man, and what does it show?
He looked at him with love — showing he genuinely wanted to help the man achieve his goal of eternal life.
True or False?
A place in the Kingdom of God can be earned through wealth.
False.
A place in the Kingdom of God cannot be bought or earned — it is up to God alone.
Define scribe.
An expert in the Law of Moses who taught the law and answered questions about it.
What did the scribe ask Jesus?
'Which commandment is the first of all?' — there were 613 commandments in Judaism.
What was the first part of Jesus's answer?
The Shema: 'love the Lord your God with all your heart... soul... mind... and strength' (Mark 12:29-30).
What was the second part of Jesus's answer, and where is it from?
'You shall love your neighbour as yourself' (Mark 12:31), from the Book of Leviticus.
Define the Shema.
The daily prayer of all Jews — 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one' — which forms the first of Jesus's greatest commandments.
What did Jesus say to the scribe after his wise reply?
'You are not far from the kingdom of God.'
How did Jesus's meaning of 'neighbour' differ from the Jewish understanding?
For Jews, 'neighbour' in Leviticus applied to fellow Jews; for Jesus, 'neighbour' meant all human beings — often called the Golden Rule.
Define agape.
Unconditional, selfless love — the same kind of love God shows humanity, which Jesus taught believers to show.
Why should loving God be a believer's priority?
The first commandment shows nothing should be more important than their relationship with God.
Give an example of someone who devoted their life to serving others in line with these commandments.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta — who dedicated her life to a life of service.
The two greatest commandments are to love ______ and to love your ______.
The two greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbour.
True or False?
The scribe's question to Jesus was a trick designed to catch him out.
False.
It appears to have been a genuine question — not a trick — to find out what Jesus thought.
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