Engaging Gospel Doctrine (Episode 146)

Lesson 20

“Woe unto You, … Hypocrites”

Hook / To avoid hypocrisy we must be true to ourselves, but to which “self” should we be true?
Manual Goal / To help class members recognize and avoid hypocrisy and thus strengthen their commitment toJesus Christ.
EGD Goal / To encourage class members to increase self-awareness and humbly represent themselves accurately to others while striving to align with their best selves and divine natures.

(I just barely noticed the “Read the assigned reading three times” recommendation in the Teacher’s Manual. Aren’t you glad you have the podcast? Means it is more valuable… ;) )

Better way to word would be “don’t act as the Pharisees are described” or even better, “don’t be a hypocrite/we can learn from this chapter that we should live according to our knowledge, etc.)

Lesson 20: Authenticity and Integrity

  1. Sunday School
  2. Framing (what does “hypocrisy” mean? What is its opposite?) Sin: to know good and fail to do it. Hypocrisy adds a degree of deception, claiming to be or appearing righteous without truly being so. Opposite: Integrity, Authenticity, genuineness. (Greek hupocrino means to pretend, make believe, dissemble and the noun form hupokrisis” means “to create a public impression that is at odds with one’s real purpose or motivations”)
  3. Review the Reading, focus on following discussion points
  4. (application of Jesus’ temple tantrum?)
  5. Parable of the two sons
  6. Render unto Caesar… (what our obligations to god and fellow humans are. Keep commitments and obligations, but God should come first)
  7. Greatest commandment
  8. Jesus’ condemnation of hypocrisy (Better way to word would be “don’t act as the Pharisees are described” or even better, “don’t be a hypocrite/we can learn from this chapter that we should live according to our knowledge, etc.)
  9. Hypocrisy (how do we apply Jesus’ condemnation to ourselves?) (Once again, Jesus warns us not to let the particulars/outward details of religion prevent us from truly living our religion and loving others) “These verses condemn hypocrisy (v. 3), religious show (vv. 4-6), and self-exaltation (v. 7). They commend obedience to the truth (v. 3), equality (v. 8), and humility (vv. 11-12).” Great summary “The lesser things, however useful or needful, must never eclipse the greater” (OBC 875-876).
  10. Steps to overcome hypocrisy
  11. Self-knowledge (the more we know ourselves, the better we can show and live that)
  12. Humble, accurate representation
  13. Striving to align with our best, truest selves
  14. Conclusion
  15. Scripture Study
  16. Return to the reading
  17. These chapters in literary and historical context (Matthew 23 and anti-Judaism, use OBC)
  18. Triumphal entry (Read Sanders)
  19. Jesus’ temple tantrum
  20. Sadducees question about marriage
  21. Study Notes
  22. What is the “self”?
  23. Which self do we prove loyal to? (deciding to be our best selves in spite of present emotions, etc)
  24. Navigating authenticity in challenging contexts (family, church, etc)

Integrity: what you see is what you get, our whole selves in all contexts

Rather than compartmentalized,

Inquiring Minds about the Self:

1