{"product_id":"copy-of-cleansing-fire-healing-streams","title":"A Thoughtful Hour 3: Learning to Be a Real Christian","description":"\u003cp\u003e“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ.” (\u003cem\u003eThe Desire of Ages\u003c\/em\u003e  p. 83) \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Let us in imagination go back to that scene  and  as we sit with the disciples on the mountainside  enter into the thoughts and feelings that filled their hearts. Understanding what the words of Jesus meant to those who heard them  we may discern in them a new vividness and beauty  and may also gather for ourselves their deeper lessons.” —\u003cem\u003eThoughts From the Mount of Blessing\u003c\/em\u003e  p. 1 \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sermon on the Mount contains more than just the Beatitudes. In the verses following those words  Jesus lays out the most practical  the most realistic description of what it means to be a Christian  what it means to be a follower of Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the Jews who were there—whether they were peasants  rabbis  merchants  or fishermen—how would the ideas of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” or “Turn the other cheek” strike them? How could they fit those ideas into their belief system  which included being superior to those around them because they had “the truth.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat would you have thought if you were there? Could you accept that  like an acorn  people can be perfect at every step  even if not fully  grown and matured? Can you accept that no matter what happens or what we do  God still loves us like the prodigal son?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePutting ourselves on the scene that day will help us hear the words of Jesus more clearly and understand what they should mean to us. But to do this  we have to take time each day—perhaps a thoughtful hour—reading and studying His words. The teachings in the Sermon on the Mount are a clear  practical application of what Jesus taught and how He lived.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is designed to make that thoughtful hour easier  to give a little structure and focus to a study of the life and words of Jesus. Whether you work through the pages as part of a group study or on your own  you will find a fresh look at the Sermon on the Mount and what it means to be a part of the kingdom of heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pacific Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41340100411443,"sku":"9780816362769","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0103\/8902\/8915\/files\/thoughtful_hour_3_jerry_thomas_i_cover.jpg?v=1774919131","url":"https:\/\/clovisabc.com\/products\/copy-of-cleansing-fire-healing-streams","provider":"ClovisABC.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}