The Foundation Stones of Christianity

1. The Foundation Stones of Christianity Why is it that Christianity went from a small movement to the largest religion in the world?

2. How did Christianity spread? • From its roots in the Mediterranean, Christianity has spread to almost every country in the world • Through this spread, the church was striving to remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus. • Most of the first Christians were Jewish – believed Jesus to be the Messiah, later the Son of God. • Crash Course: Christianity from Judaism to Constantine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG55ErfdaeY

3. 1- Keeping Jesus’ memory alive • Jesus did not write down his teachings. • Jesus’ teachings were passed by the disciples whose memories of Jesus were vivid • Sometime during the 1st century CE, these teachings were written in the New Testament books • Disciple – literally, a “student” – in this case, it means a follower of Jesus • Evangelist – a writer of a Gospel

4. Keeping Jesus’ memory alive • The New Testament consists of 27 books, which were added to those accepted by Judaism. • The organization of the New Testament: • 4 Gospels (M, M, L, J) • Acts of the Apostles (history of the early Church) (L) • Epistles (letters) (many written by St Paul) • Revelation (apocalyptic writing) (J) • The Canon was established in the 4th century and has changed little since then.

5. Keeping Jesus’ memory alive • The Gospels are not a biography or a history • They are faith portraits, told from different perspectives • The Church has accepted 4 Gospels as being authentic accounts of Jesus • In your notes: Reproduce the chart on page 157 with the final column in your own words

6. Keeping Jesus’ memory alive • St Paul’s letters were written before the Gospels • Paul is known as the “13th apostle” even though he never knew Jesus • Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire intermittently – depended on Emperor • He persecuted Christians for a time and was converted (had a change of heart) on the road to Damascus • Paul later became a missionary preacher who wrote letters to communities he visited • Was the first to suggest that Gentiles should be allowed to convert to Christianity – a “circumcision of the heart” • He was later martyred in Rome

7. 2 – Professing the One Faith • The creeds are summaries of Christian beliefs • These were used in baptism and Eucharist – and are still used as ways to profess faith in Christ today • Christians of all branches generally accept the creeds • In 1960, the people of East Africa wrote the Masai Creed together with Catholic missionaries. • It reflects how universal ideas can be brought together with local experience

8. The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the Holy Spiritand born of the Virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into Hell.On the third day he rose again from the dead.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty.From there he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

9. The Masai Creed We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created Man and wanted Man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the Earth. We have known this High God in darkness, and now we know Him in the light. God promised in the book of His word, the Bible, that He would save the world and all the nations and tribes. We believe that God made good His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left His home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, He rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord. We believe that all our sins are forgiven through Him. All who have faith in Him must be sorry for their sins, be baptised in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love and share the bread together in love, to announce the Good News to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for Him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.

10. 3 – The Ministers of the Church • The Church began to be structured in a set way about 30 years after Jesus’ death • Each church had a bishop (seen as successors of the apostles) – they were responsible for preaching and keeping people faithful • Early Christians worshipped in secret, often in homes – the Lord’s Supper was part of a larger agape meal. • The work of the bishops helped bring converts to Christ and eventually Christianity became legalized in the Roman Empire in 313 CE (Emperor Constantine)

11. 4 – Ecumenical councils • In the history of the Church, there have been disagreements • The early Church began to be concerned with orthodoxy (correctness) of the faith. • Councils are meetings of all the bishops • One very influential council was held in Nicaea, resulting in the Nicene Creed – gives more detail and ended some heresies about Jesus.