Jesus and the Church PowerPoint PDF

Chapter 1 PowerPoint “Why We Need The Church” 0  The Origins of the Church The Church’s origins lie in the eternal plan of the Holy Trinity that unfolded over time in response to sin entering the world. Protoevangelium is a term that means “the first gospel,” which is found in Genes...

Chapter 1 PowerPoint “Why We Need The Church” 0  The Origins of the Church The Church’s origins lie in the eternal plan of the Holy Trinity that unfolded over time in response to sin entering the world. Protoevangelium is a term that means “the first gospel,” which is found in Genesis 3: 15, when God revealed that he would send a Savior to redeem the world. God has always planned our redemption by Jesus Christ and through the Church.  The Origins of the Church cont… God’s original intent was for humans to live in loving relationship with him and one another. When the Original Sin of Adam and Eve destroyed this possibility, God set a plan in motion to choose a people and live in covenant relationship with them. He knew the he would eventually send his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who would be born of the people, save all people, and send his Apostles out to offer redemption through the Church.  The Origins of the Church cont… Although God initiated his relationship with his Chosen People, he eventually meant to include Gentiles (non-Jews) as well. God initiated and chose the people of Israel to be his people (They did not simply look for a God).  The Origins of the Church cont… “In the Old Testament, God acts over and over to form a people who are chosen not because of merit, but simply because of his compassion and love for them.” God never abandoned his people even when they disobeyed the covenant. God’s desire to have all of humanity be “his people” is important for an understanding of Church community. The Church is both a human and divine institution. While the Church may resemble other human institutions, it is also a mystery, beyond the grasp of our reason.  The Origins of the Church cont… When we, as Catholics, criticize the Church by saying, “The Church does this or that…,” we are often describing the human elements of the Church rather than the transcendence found in the sacraments, the role of the Holy Spirit, or the power of prayer. The whole Church is constantly in need of renewal, but we must look beyond the human dimension. Preparation for the Church in the Old Testament Remote preparation – God called Abraham and Sarah and entered into a Covenant with them and their descendants. Immediate preparation – Begins with God’s covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. From the Law, the Israelites learned not only of a proper relationship they were to forge with God, but how they were to treat one another.  Preparation for the Church in the Old Testament cont… Division and sinfulness follow – infidelity to God and ignorance of the needs of the poor. Exile followed. In response to these abuses, God sent prophets to both warn the people of their sinfulness and to announce a new and eternal covenant. The Prophet Jonah – After the Babylonian Exile, Israel began to separate itself from its neighbors because it feared punishment for intermingling with Gentile nations. The message of the Book of Jonah is that God’s compassion was/is not limited to Israel but extends to all who are open to repentance. (Elective, not Exclusive) Formation of the Church  The Church is Instituted by Christ The Church was born from Christ’s self-giving love that was expressed perfectly in the Paschal Mystery. The Church was born on the Cross of Christ because Jesus’ passion and crucifixion is followed by his Resurrection and Ascension, the main events of the Paschal Mystery. By the time Jesus is on the Cross, he has given everything in love (Kenosis = self-emptied - put aside all the advantages and powers of divinity in order to save us). If Jesus had not died and risen from the dead, the Church would never have been born. Jesus’ ministry lays the groundwork for the Church. Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God (the world as God would have it to be / already present, and not yet transformed all of creation) is central and does not conflict with the Law of Mount Sinai. Jesus’ Resurrection is the event that allowed all people in the Church to participate in the Resurrection themselves. [Jesus] said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mk 4:31-32)  The Church is Instituted by Christ cont… Jesus as Christ taught, ministered to, and saved; the Church continues these works because now the Church is the Body of Christ, with Christ as the head. Catholics encounter the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and come closer to unity with the Blessed Trinity. Discipleship without Church is like discipleship without Jesus. Christ instituted the Church but is also in the Church today; several images of the Church are connected to him. Images of the Church: Church as the Body of Christ (interdependence and community), Vine and Branches (Jesus gives us life and without him, we wither and die), Bride of Christ (loving covenant between God and humanity and Christ’s faithfulness to human beings despite their sinfulness), Kingdom of God Matthew Kelly’s Video on the Four Marks of the Church – One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyWnRW4yyfs The Holy Spirit and the Church PENTECOST On Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit to direct and guide the work of the Church. On the Jewish celebration of Pentecost (Shavu'ot, the Festival of Weeks) – traditional harvest feast 50 days after Passover – the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and Mary. Before this, the apostles were mostly in hiding and hadn’t begun spreading the Kingdom to people outside their community. Once the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they at once go out to proclaim the Resurrection – Happy Birthday, Church! The apostles proclaim the kerygma, or essential teaching about Christ, that is: God loves the world and became incarnate; Jesus suffered for the sins of humankind, rose from the dead, and is alive; Jesus is Savior and Redeemer.19TSTEF's The apostles, at once, used baptism (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) as the means by which people would be added to The Way. Catholics https://youtu.be/J5tr4pqWIo4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtokHQOmFu0 The Holy Spirit at Pentecost Descends as tongues of fire Peter preaches to the Jews about Jesus iiioa About 3000 people are baptizedBf.ae The Holy Trinity is fully revealed Proclamation of the Kerygma (essential teaching about Christ) Continues to empower the Church to live as the Body of Christ The Spirit continues to be present in… teacher The Apostolic Foundation and Mission of the Church The Church is founded on the Apostles (By Christ) who were charged with preaching the Good News to the ends of the earth. Jesus appoints the Apostles to lead the Church and the future bishops of the Church have inherited the role. Apostolic Succession (Unbroken chain/line from the Apostles to the Bishops of the Church today – ordained by the Imposition of Hands and the Calling down of the Holy Spirit) The Pope enjoys Apostolic Succession on the day he is ordained a Bishop Remember that the early Christians, including the 12, were devout Jews. Great Commission(ing): Instructions in Matthew 28: 16-20 PAUL THE APOSTLE http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=8qUW7IxapdU  BACKGROUND Acts calls him Saul of TARSUS at first. Tarsus was a Greek- speaking city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) with a large Jewish population. It was a great learning center with many schools. Saul and his father were Roman citizens even though they were Jews.  BACKGROUND He and his father were tent- makers and may have supplied the Roman armies. It is believed that as a young man, he was sent to Jerusalem to study the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee. He was greatly influenced by STOIC PHILOSOPHY while living in Tarsus Stoic Philosophy taught the value of thinking logically rather than emotionally.  THE GREAT PERSECUTOR We are first introduced to Saul as being a witness to the stoning of St. Stephen. From there he goes in search of members of The Way to bring them to trial. He felt that the teachings of Jesus and the apostles were heresy. prod arytar  SAUL'S CONVERSION https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=qhaea80gPoU (READ EXCERPT) Saul is traveling to the city of Damascus in search of Christian refugees. He has permission from the Sanhedrin to enter the synagogues in the area and arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem in chains. On the way he receives a vision of Christ which blinds him.  SAUL’S BAPTISM Saul is taken into Damascus and is baptized by ANANIAS. Saul recovers his sight and begins preaching the Gospel. Many of the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him when they found out about his conversion. Saul also begins preaching to the HELLENISTS but they are not receptive at first. Hellenists are Jews of Greek culture. After his conversion, Saul (Hebrew name) takes on his Greek/Roman name, Paul.  FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI0H vxS62Ks&app=desktop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy4 K1pP408Y&feature=youtu.be H9 Paul visited Perga, ANTIOCH, and Lycaonia. Antioch was the first place where the term “Christian” and “Catholic” was used. He began by visiting the synagogue. Wherever he went he would usually be thrown out of the synagogue and then he would preach to the Gentiles. He preached the universal salvation of Jesus. Could have influenced Luke on this point. He did not make his Gentile converts practice the Mosaic Law. All roads lead to Rome - Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) in Rome  SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY Much of this journey took place in southeastern Europe including the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth In Athens, Paul tries to use Greek Philosophy and their Altar to the Unknown God (Acts 17: 22-33), but the people reject the notion of the Resurrection. He spent a lot of time in Corinth, where he encountered people of loose morality. He preached the Gospel on the Sabbath and established a very strong community there. PAUL’S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY Artemis After returning to Antioch he travels Goddestof the to Ephesus. hunt He preached the idea of monotheism to idol makers. Artemis Diana While in Ephesus he writes letters to the Corinthians and the Galatians. These were two of his EPISTLES. An epistle is a letter written by an early Church leader to an early Christian community. These epistles were usually written by Paul when one of the communities he founded had questions about Christian doctrine or they drifted away from the practices Paul taught them.  PAUL’S DEATH After returning to Jerusalem, Paul’s enemies tried to kill him, but Roman officials placed him under house arrest in Caesarea. Paul appealed to his right to have a trial before the Emperor. Acts ends with him being shipwrecked on Malta on the way to Rome. It was thought that he was acquitted and continued preaching. He was beheaded during the persecution of Nero in Rome in 67 A.D.  ST. PETER Even from the Gospels it was clear that ST. PETER was the head of the apostles. Because of this, Catholics acknowledge St. Peter as the first Pope. St. Peter founded a Christian church community in Rome so that is why it became the place for the Pope to live. Right from the beginning of Acts, Peter asserts himself among the Twelve and the Twelve acknowledge him as their leader. It was he who thought it necessary to replace Judas. It was he who gave the impassioned sermon on Pentecost which led to the Baptism of 3,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNx b3q4J3y8 a