Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Rivers.

I'm glad you've chosen this lesson, and I'm looking forward to working with you today.

The lesson is from the unit ethics, how do we decide what is good? This lesson is called Christian values.

And in the lesson, we'll be thinking about the ethical codes that Christians follow.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain how Christians make good choices by using Jesus' teachings.

Keywords for today's lesson are ethics.

That's moral principles that shape behaviour.

The Beatitudes, that's a list of qualities and attitudes taught by Jesus.

Commandment, a rule to tell people how to behave.

And values, principles that guide thinking and attitudes.

You might already know some of these words.

Pause the video and take a moment to look at them and see if you can remember what they mean.

In the first part of the lesson, we'll be thinking about Christian ethical values.

How do Christians decide what is good? This lesson is a philosophy lesson.

Sophia explains how we use philosophy in religious education.

She says, "Philosophy is the study of what we know and how we know it.

Philosophers ask questions about how people think or reason about the world around them, and how we can know what is true or real.

We can better understand worldviews by using philosophical tools like thought experiments, critical thinking, and reasoning." So we're going to use some of those philosophical tools in this lesson.

We'll explore Christian values and ethics to help us better understand Christian worldviews.

Our aim in today's lesson was to think about how Christians create ethical codes following the teachings of Jesus.

Most Christians try to follow the teachings of Jesus in their lives.

They look to the life and example of Jesus to help them to decide what's good.

Look at the bookshelf.

The bookshelf represents the Bible.

The Bible isn't just one book, it's a whole collection of books.

The life and teachings of Jesus are found in the New Testament part of the Bible.

That's the second half of the Bible.

And you can see towards the end of that middle shelf, there are some books called the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The stories and teachings of Jesus are found in these four gospels.

Jacob and Sam are having a conversation about Christian ethics.

Jacob says, "I would like to know how people with Christian worldviews decide how to behave.

Do they have lists of rules like we do in school?" Sam says, "I wonder if all Christians apply the same values when they make ethical choices.

Do they all behave in the same way?" I wonder what you would say to Sam and Jacob.

How do you think they might find some answers to their questions? Pause the video and think about what you might say to them and what advice you would give them.

If there's someone near you, you might want to share your ideas with them.

Beth has a Christian worldview, and she attends a free church.

Jacob wants to ask her about Christian ethics.

He says, "Do Christians have lists of rules like we have in school?" Beth replies, "We have commandments which are rules we have to follow.

Jesus simplified the Ten Commandments into two rules.

Love God and love your neighbour.

The laws and ethical teachings in the Bible all fit into these two commandments." So Beth explains that she doesn't have a really long list of rules, but there are two important rules that Jesus gave, the commandments to love God and love your neighbour.

Beth says that all the ethical teachings in the Bible fit into these two commandments.

Did you spot those keywords? Ethics, that's a moral framework with principles for behaviour, and commandments, that's a rule that you have to follow.

Well done if you spotted those and remembered what they meant.

Jacob has another question for Beth.

He asks, "Are all your ethical principles based on these two commandments of Jesus?" Beth explains, "These commandments are like a short summary of Christian ethics, but when I read the gospels, they help me to understand more about the values Jesus wanted people to live by.

All Jesus' stories and teachings make me think deeply about the way I live and the ethical and moral choices I make." So Beth answers Jacob's question by saying that yes, her ethical principles are based on those two commandments of Jesus, but there is much more to it than that.

She reads the gospels so she can understand more about the values that Jesus was talking about and so that she can live her life based on those values.

It's important to her to think deeply about her moral choices.

It's not just about following simple rules.

Did you spot that keyword values that Beth used? Values are principles that shape attitudes, and Beth is saying that she wants her attitudes to be shaped by the principles in Jesus' teaching.

Here's a quick check to see what we've learned so far.

What is the best definition of commandment? Is it a, a story with a meaning, b, a principle that guides thinking and attitudes, c, a rule that has to be followed, or d, a book about the life of Jesus? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is c.

Commandment is a rule that has to be followed.

Well done if you spotted that.

Here's Simon.

Simon has a Christian worldview, and he attends a United Reformed church.

Sam has some questions for him.

She asks him, "I wonder if all Christians base their values on Jesus' teachings." Simon replies, "Jesus said that values of love and kindness were more important than the many strict religious rules people tried to follow.

Jesus surprised people.

This encourages me to interpret his words thoughtfully." So Simon explains to Sam that Christians do base their values on Jesus' teachings, but they need to think about what those values are.

Simon explains that he believes Jesus wants Christians to think about values of love and kindness in their behaviour.

It's not about following strict religious rules.

Simon tries to interpret Jesus' teaching and commandment in the light of those values of love and kindness that he thinks are so important.

Sam's second question for Simon is does that mean all Christians make the same ethical choices? Simon replies, "I discuss the words and teachings of Jesus with other Christians and we share ideas about our values.

Sometimes we have different thoughts about ethical choices, and we might interpret some words from the Bible differently." So Simon explains to Sam that no, all Christians don't make the same ethical choices.

They might read and discuss the teachings of Jesus, come to some different conclusions about the ethical choices they want to make.

Simon and his Christian friends might have discussions about Jesus' values of love and kindness, but they might make different choices about how they interpret Jesus' teachings and how they apply it to their daily lives and actions.

Here's a check for understanding.

What is the best definition of values? Is it a, stories with a meaning? Is it b, principles that guide thinking and attitudes? Is it c, rules that have to be followed? Or is it d, books about the life of Jesus? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is b, values are principles that guide thinking and attitudes.

Well done if you got that right.

Jacob's idea was to ask questions of lots of different Christians.

So here, he's talking to Brother Sam.

Brother Sam has a Christian worldview, and he's a monk in an Anglican community.

Jacob asks him to give an example of Jesus' teaching about values.

Brother Sam says, "In Jesus' parable of the banquet, God invites people from the streets to a party, not the rich or religious people.

This shows that God's love is for everyone.

Not only the powerful.

This makes me think about how one of my values should be to treat everyone equally." So for Brother Sam, one of the most important values that he learns from Jesus' teaching is to treat everyone equally.

He believes that God's love is for everyone, not just the rich people or the powerful people, but for everyone.

And this shapes his values and his actions, and it helps him to think about how he treats people that he meets.

I expect Brother Sam would treat someone the same whether they were a homeless person or a very rich person because he's trying to live out those values of kindness to everyone in his life.

Here's Fergus.

Fergus has a Christian worldview, and he attends an Anglican church.

Sam's question for him is do Christians base their values and ethics only on the gospels and teachings of Jesus? Fergus replies, "The Bible includes letters and other writings by the very first Christians.

These show people trying to explain what the life and teaching of Jesus meant.

They were working out how to live out Christian values just as I do today." So do you remember that Bible bookshelf at the beginning of the lesson? We saw the gospels on the shelf.

They were the books all about the life and teaching of Jesus.

But Fergus tells us that the Bible also has letters and other books which help people to understand more about what the life and teachings of Jesus meant.

So Fergus answer to Sam's question is no, Christians do base their values and ethics on the gospels and the teachings of Jesus, but that's not the only place they look for values and ethics.

They also look at the letters and the other writings in the New Testament.

This helps them to think more carefully about Jesus' teachings and how to apply it to their own lives.

So here's a quick check.

True or false? Christian ethics are informed by the Bible.

Is that true or false? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is true.

Christians read the Bible.

That includes the gospels but also other books in the Bible to discover the teaching, an example of Jesus and the values and beliefs of the early Christians.

This helps them to decide their ethical principles.

Well done if you've got that answer right.

So now, it's time for a task.

Do you remember that Jacob and Sam had a lot of questions that they wanted to ask Christians? Use Jacob and Sam's questions to explain how Christians decide what is good.

Use the case studies of Beth, Simon, Fergus, and Brother Sam to help.

Here are the questions that Jacob and Sam were asking.

Do Christians have a long list of rules? Do all Christians base their values on Jesus' teachings? Do all Christians make the same ethical choices? Do Christians only read the gospels to help them to make ethical choices? Pause the video while you do your work.

You might have said something like this in your answer.

Christians do not have a long list of rules.

Beth base her choices on Jesus' two commandments, to love God and love others.

Christians like Simon discuss and interpret words from the Bible.

They sometimes lead to different ethical choices.

Christians base their values on Jesus' teachings.

Brother Sam likes to stop and think about how Jesus' words affect his own values.

And Christians like Fergus read letters and other writings in the Bible as well as the gospels to help make ethical choices.

I wonder if you had some similar answers to mine, or maybe you used some different ideas in your answers.

Did you spot that I'd used some keywords in my answers? I wonder how many keywords you managed to get into your answers.

Well done for working hard.

In the second part of the lesson, we'll be thinking about how Christians choose the values they want to live by.

How might Christians apply Jesus' teaching? Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John collected and wrote down some of Jesus' teachings.

One of Jesus' most famous teachings is from something called the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus was teaching all the different people who were listening to him.

And in this sermon, Jesus told stories and explained some of the qualities and attitudes he thought his followers should show.

Christians today still read this sermon to find out some of the values that Jesus thought were important.

In Matthew's gospel, the Sermon on the Mount includes the Beatitudes.

This is a list of qualities and values given by Jesus.

It's like a Christian code of ethics.

Here are the Beatitudes.

Blessed are the spiritually poor.

The kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Blessed are those who mourn.

God will comfort them.

Blessed are the humble.

The earth belongs to them.

Blessed are those who thirst for goodness.

God will satisfy them.

Blessed are those who are merciful.

God will be merciful to them.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

They will see God.

Blessed are those who work for peace.

God calls them his children.

Blessed are those who are treated badly for doing good things.

The kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Have a look at these Beatitudes.

What words about values and ethics do you notice? What do the words say about God and what he's like? Pause the video and look more closely at the words.

Brother Sam explains what he learns from the Beatitudes.

He says, "The Beatitudes have so many things to teach us about what it means to live as a Christian in this world.

The Beatitudes teach that people need comfort, mercy, and kindness, and that it's my job as a Christian to show these qualities." So Brother Sam picked out the values of comfort, mercy, and kindness from the Beatitudes.

I wonder if you spotted those values as well.

Brother Sam explains that he doesn't just read the Beatitudes, he applies them to his life.

He says, "I receive kindness and mercy from God, and I try to share these values with others.

I do this by caring for and befriending homeless people, showing them the same love Jesus has shown me." Here's a quick check.

We've been using the word Beatitudes, but what is the best definition of the Beatitudes? Is it a, the books of the Bible all about Jesus? Is it b, a list of qualities and attitudes taught by Jesus? Is it c, the people who followed Jesus? Or is it d, two most important commandments given by Jesus? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is b.

The Beatitudes are a list of qualities and attitudes taught by Jesus.

Well done if you remembered the meaning of that keyword.

Charlie has a Christian worldview, and he attends a Baptist church.

He tells us how he understands and applies the Beatitudes.

He says, "The Beatitudes teach that we should hunger and thirst to do the right thing in our daily lives.

I want to apply Jesus' teachings in everything I do, so I read my Bible every day and ask for God's help." Charlie explains how he reminds himself to apply Jesus' teaching to his everyday life.

He says, I wear a wristband to remind me to ask myself what would Jesus do when I have ethical choices to make.

So Charlie wants to follow Jesus' example in his daily life.

And his wristband says WWJD, and that stands for what would Jesus do? Some Christians wear a wrist band like this to help them to make ethical choices every day.

Fergus has been thinking deeply about the meaning of the Beatitudes, and he explains how he understands them.

He says, "I have been thinking about the first Beatitude.

I wonder what being spiritually poor means.

I think it means that I should recognise that I need God.

When I do that, I will be able to see and experience him more deeply." So Fergus wants to learn more and experience more of God.

He went on a pilgrimage to the holy island of Iona, and this helped him to apply Jesus' teachings to his life.

Fergus says, "None of us has all the answers.

My time on Iona reminded me that we are all on a journey as we learn and understand more about God." So Fergus tries to apply Jesus' teaching by giving himself time to think and learn more about God.

He finds that places like the island of Iona help him to do that.

Here's a quick check.

True or false? Christians all try to apply Jesus' teaching to their ethics and values.

Is that true or false? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

That's right, the answer is true.

Christians do all try to apply Jesus' teaching to their lives.

They might do this in different ways and have different opinions about the right ethical choices.

Well done if you've got that answer right.

Here's a task.

Explain how Christians might apply ethics and values from the Beatitudes to their life.

Use the case studies of Charlie, Fergus, or Brother Sam to help you to answer.

Pause the video while you complete your task.

I wonder how you got on in explaining how Christians like Charlie, Fergus, and Brother Sam applied ethics and values from the Beatitudes to their lives.

You might have said something like this.

Brother Sam is thankful for God's comfort and mercy.

He comforts people who are sad and shows kindness and mercy to the homeless.

Charlie longs for goodness in his life.

He reads his Bible every day.

He wears a wristband to remind him to follow Jesus' teaching.

Fergus knows that he does not have all the answers.

He is on a journey to find out and experience more about God.

I wonder if you said some similar things, or maybe you had some different ideas.

Well done for working hard on the task.

So let's look at a summary of what we've learned in this lesson.

Most Christians look at the teaching and life of Jesus to help them to decide what is good.

The Beatitudes give a list of Christian values and can be seen as a code of Christian ethics.

Jesus taught that people should forgive others and act generously.

He said the most important commandments were to love God and love everyone else.

Many Christians try to interpret how to make good decisions based on how they apply Jesus' teaching.

Well done for working hard today.

I've enjoyed working with you.