Part 4 of the Urantia Papers contains more than 700 pages where we can learn how Jesus thought and lived, and how his very life revealed the nature of the God he called Father. However, for almost all of us, to memorize the text of those 700 pages presents an impossible task. Fortunately the revelators have provided a starting point, a condensation of Jesus' teaching into a document they state is "a master philosophy of life." They present this as the ordination sermon to the twelve. Then, by coupling this sermon with Jesus' favorite teaching parables, a condensed summary emerges that can serve as a framework for building an in-depth understanding of Jesus' revelation.

    In another key concept, the Papers tell us that the human Jesus saw God as being holy, just, and great, true beautiful, and good, and all these attributes of divinity he focused in his mind as the "will of the Father in heaven." But these terms, like those associated with the "fruits of the spirit" such as selfless service, enlightened honesty, undying hope, trust, tolerance, patience, mercy, compassion, etc., are all abstract concepts incapable of a precise definition. Nevertheless when such abstractions are clothed with the meaning given them by the life of Jesus, they gain the potential to be absorbed into our very being and thus become the guiding reality of our lives and the initiators of our real-life spiritual experiences--while, simultaneously, they engender the spiritualization of our minds and the building of our souls.

   Many believe that the content of the ordination sermon, in the New Testament called the "Sermon on the Mount,"  was for the twelve apostles only. But in the Urantia Papers, it is undeniably for all who would follow Jesus:

   "But for you, my children, and for all others who would follow you into this kingdom, there is set a severe test. Faith alone will pass you through its portals, but you must bring forth the fruits of my Father's spirit if you would continue to ascend in the progressive life of the divine fellowship.(1569)

   Note that it is the "fruits of my Father's spirit" that are to be brought forth in our lives--thus fruits concerned with the spiritual aspects of being rather than fruits concerned with that which is secular and worldly.

   "Your message to the world shall be: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and in finding these, all other things essential to eternal survival shall be secured therewith. And now would I make it plain to you that this kingdom of my Father will not come with an outward show of power or with unseemly demonstration. You are not to go hence in the proclamation of the kingdom, saying, `it is here' or `it is there,' for this kingdom of which you preach is God within you. (1569)

   "Whosoever would become great in my Father's kingdom shall become a minister to all; and whosoever would be first among you, let him become the server of his brethren. But when you are once truly received as citizens in the heavenly kingdom, you are no longer servants but sons, sons of the living God. And so shall this kingdom progress in the world until it shall break down every barrier and bring all men to know my Father and believe in the saving truth which I have come to declare.

   "And it will not be so much by the words you speak as by the lives you live that men will know you have been with me and have learned of the realities of the kingdom." (1569)

   The Ordination Charge in summary. Food for our spiritual growth. (1570; see also "The Sermon on the Mount," Matthew 5-7)

    At its commencement we find the so-called beatitudes, among them "Blessed are those who mourn." Viewed out of proper context, this may seem strange. Essentially it divides us into two classes, those who feel sympathy with people in distress, sickness, trouble--and feel impelled to minister to them. And there are those who simply walk away.