gathering as church

Pre-Confirmation

… wait a minute … what is Confirmation anyway?

Confirmation

• Let’s watch this 5 min explanation:• http://youtu.be/Sitct-MExjE

Confirmation

You will receive the Spirit of:1.Wisdom 2.Understanding 3.Right judgment 4.Courage 5.Knowledge 6.Reverence 7.Holy fear in God's presence. Guard what you have

received

Gathering as Church

Chapter OnePre-Confirmation

Faith Concepts

1.Covenant

1.Church

Covenant

• Origins of word– Latin convenire  to come together,

agree;

• Definition– (a) Solemn agreement – (b) Between God and his people– (c) Of mutual commitment

COVENANT

In the Old Testament…• Story of the Covenant– CREATION

In the Old Testament…

• Story of the Covenant–NOAH

In the Old Testament…

• Story of the Covenant– ABRAHAM• Covenant story continues with the Covenant God

made with Abraham promising he would be the father of a great people

• God brought Abraham’s people (Israelites) out of slavery from Egypt, led them through the desert and entered into Covenant with them at Mount Sinai

… wait a minute…where’s Mount Sinai????????

…and where’s Egypt?...

…and Jerusalem?

In the Old Testament…• Story of the Covenant–MOSES• He reminds the Israelites what God has done

for them by gathering them together as a People of God. Moses tells the people…

In the Old Testament…

“There was a day on which you stood before the Lord, your God, at Mount Sinai… He proclaimed to you his covenant, which he commanded you to keep.”

~ Deuteronomy 4:10, 13

In the Old Testament…

• From that day forward, the Israelites, or Jewish people, have regularly gathered together to renew their commitment to live the Covenant by obeying the Commandments God gave them.

…wait a minute… what were those commandments?...

The New and Everlasting Covenant

• The early CHURCH recognized that the same God who gathered the Israelites to be his people had now called them to be his people in a NEW COVENANT…

The people of Nazareth with whom Jesus gathered for

prayer “looked intently at him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”

~ Luke 4:20-22

NEW &EVERLASTINGCONVENANT

The New and Everlasting Covenant

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own”

~ 1 Peter 2:9

The New and Everlasting Covenant

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God… to the church of God… to you who have been sanctified in Jesus Christ, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”

First letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1:1-2

The New and Everlasting Covenant

• CHURCH– Origin: Ekklesia (Greek) a gathering, or

assemble of people

– Definition: The people gathered together by God in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit

– Christ dwells within the Church, rules over her and continues to work through her

RESPECT & MATURITYSo… when we gather

as the Body of Christ, that’s how St. Peter defined the Church, PLEASE… let’s not be inappropriate:1. RESIST temptation

to play with phone…2. LISTEN… more

carefully, we might be surprised…

3. SMILE, we’re much more beautiful that way!!!!!!!

…wait… so what about YOU?

1. Do you hear Jesus’ gracious words?

2. Do you hear His call?

3. Do you feel Him guiding your thoughts and actions?

WRITTEN REFLECTION1. List your closest friends…2. Describe what you have in common…3. Explain why they’re you’re best friends…

YEAH…WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you and your friends share the same

values? Do you consider Jesus to be your friend?

wait a minute …

… for next time...

Living the Faith1. Please keep track of how much time, on

average, you devote to each of the following activities per week: school, sports, sleep, homework, prayer, watching tv, playing video games, family time, hanging out with friends, eating, talking on phone

2. Next time come prepared ready to discuss:–What are your priorities?–What are your values?– How much time do you spend in contact with the

gracious words of Jesus?

Scripture

• Deuteronomy 4:10• Luke 4:20-22• I Corinthians 1:1-2• I Peter 2:9