Angel of God

Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love

commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light

and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Chapter 2

A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’

Followers

Discuss and write

• What was the Church like after the crucifixion of Jesus?

• Who were the followers?• Who were the leaders of the Jewish

faith?• How did they feel about this

movement?

The Original Circle

• Church begins with those who gathered around Jesus

• Beliefs that united them came from Judaism

• Looking for the Messiah to come Recognize Jesus as this

• Begins with a profound personal experience with Jesus

• How do you personally experience Jesus today?

• Are your experiences of Jesus so powerful that you would feel motivated to go out and share them with others?

What were some of the major events that affected the Apostles?

• Last Supper: Ritual meal (first Eucharist) Serve one another Share word of God

• Garden of Gethsemane and Crucifixion• Resurrection: Crucial event in the Church

Without the Resurrection we would not have a Church

• Pentecost

What do you know about Peter?

Peter’s Resume

• What would your resume look like?• What things do you need to offer up to

God for healing and forgiveness?• What wonders is God calling you to?• HW: If Peter walked into our classroom

and you were allowed to submit two questions, what would you ask? Given what you know about Peter– write his response in complete sentences.

Pentecost

• How were the apostles feeling after Jesus’ ascension into heaven?

• Joined with Mary to celebrate Pentecost

• Coming of Jesus’ Spirit/the Holy Spirit • Gave them the courage and

confidence needed to be heralds of the Good News

• “The Birthday of the Church”

Peter’s Speech

• Read Acts 2:14-41

Peter’s Speech

• Peter addresses the crowd• Asks them to become baptized• 3000 Jews were baptized• What enabled Peter to preach like this?• What was the result of Peter sharing his

gifts with the rest of the people gathered for Pentecost?

• What would have happened if Peter had not risked sharing his gifts?

Jewish and Christian

• Newly baptized did not see themselves as converting to Christianity

• Movement spreads outside of Jerusalem

• Began preaching in the Temple and local synagogues

• Continued with Jewish traditions as well as celebrated Christian traditions at home

Christian Communities

• Peter and Apostles emerge as leaders• What were identifying characteristics?

• When did conflict arise?

• How did the apostles solve this problem?• Bonus: Which model of the church

emerges here?

Trouble

• Jewish authorities are upset• Had apostles jailed-- managed to

escape• Gamaliel urges them to leave it alone• Persecution escalates• Members are horrified that they are

persecuted by their friends, family, community members

Stephen

• Summarize the story of Stephen in your notes

• Read page 27 and summarize the stories of 2 modern day martyrs in your notes

What do you know about St. Paul?

Crisis over the Law

• Strict dietary regulations and circumcision

• Jerusalem believers felt all Christians needed to observe the Law

• Seemed as though they were saying the biblical laws were more important than faith in Jesus

The Council of Jerusalem

• Church council: a gathering of the leaders of the church to decide on major issues of doctrine or religious practice

• 50 CE: first council• Debate over Gentiles following the Law• Peter addresses the council and says

God does not distinguish between Jews and Gentile

Decision

• Gentiles only had to follow the essentials Sacrificed to false gods No fornication Nothing that has been strangled Circumcision not required

Conflict Resolved, Essentials Defined

• Belief in Jesus• Major turning point

In way Christian community saw itself The missionary activity of the church Decision making in the church

Conclusions

1. People are and have always been willing to die for their faith

2. Universal Church3. Not without conflict or resolve

What would Jesus do?

• Samaritan Woman John 4:1-42

• What is Jesus’ attitude toward non-Jews?

• Would Jesus require Gentiles to follow Judaic Law?

Who is a Christian?

• Is it enough to merely say, even if sincerely, that one is a Christian?

• How can one verify a person’s claim of being a Christian? Are rituals and good works required?