A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’ Followers Chapter 2 A Church of Converts: Widening the Circle of Jesus’ Followers

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? Not unusual at the time, many movements within Judaism, most were tolerated, others found that if the leader of group was gone its followers also subsided,

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? 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

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

What do you know about St. Paul?

Antioch First Jewish Gentile community Jerusalem community is opposed Term Christian emerges Took up a collection Are charitable collections essential to being Christian?

Paul and Barnabas Roman empire Preaching to all Stayed with Jews Sometimes met with hostility Paul worked as tent maker

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 Dietary Laws: abstain only from things polluted by Sacrificed to false gods Fornication Strangulation Circumcision not required Sent letters and representatives to Christian communities

Read Acts 15:1-31 Why do the Gentile Christians send Paul and Barnabas and several other leaders of the Church to Apostles and elders of the Church in Jerusalem? What difference would it have made had those Gentile Christians attempted to resolve this issue within their own community? Read Galatians 2:1-21

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 Which model of the Church emerges here?

Sets a pattern The Church recognizes a problem or issues affecting the whole Church. A meeting is called with all the Church’s leaders. There is open discussion of all side of the issues with prayers for guidance by the Holy Spirit. The chief bishop (usually the pope) makes a decision that is acceptable to all sides. The chief bishop makes a formal announcement of the council’s conclusion.

Explain the implications of the Council for the early church as well as the church today.

Conclusions People are and have always been willing to die for their faith Universal Church 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?

Christian Communities Peter and Apostles emerge as leaders What were identifying characteristics? When did conflict arise? How did the apostles solve this problem?