ACT’ING LIKE A CHURCH ACTS: LEARNING TO BE CHURCH WHILE SPREADING THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES VOLUME 2 (A CONTINUATION) OF LUKE’S GOSPEL WRITTEN BY LUKE ABOUT 20 YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS IT RECOUNTS AUDIENCE IS THE NON-JEWISH CHRISTIANS (GENTILES) TELLS OF THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY AFTER JESUS’ RESURRECTION MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS

USING ACTS TO UNDERSTAND THE CHURCH IT IS SAID THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH, BUT HOW DO WE KNOW? WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE TWO THINGS. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION HOW THE EARLY CHURCH OPERATED

LET’S START WITH JESUS AND PETER JESUS DECLARES PETER AS THE ROCK UPON WHICH “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF THE NETHERWORLD SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” SO WHAT DID PETER DO AFTER THIS? HE DENIED CHRIST 3 TIMES HE RAN FROM THE CRUCIFIXION HE WENT BACK TO BEING A FISHERMAN BUT… HE IS THE FIRST TO GET VISITED BY THE RISEN JESUS HE LEADS THE MEETING THAT ELECTS MATHIAS HE PERFORMS THE FIRST MIRACLE AFTER PENTECOST HE LEADS THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION WE CAN TRACE POPE FRANCIS ALL THE WAY BACK TO PETER. WE CAN TRACE BISHOP BAKER BACK TO THE ORIGINAL 12 APOSTLES. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?  JESUS BUT HOW DO WE KNOW?

HOW THE EARLY CHURCH OPERATED ELECTING A NEW APOSTLE. WHY WAS THERE A NEED FOR A NEW APOSTLE? WHO WAS ELECTED? HOW WAS HE ELECTED? WHO LEAD THE MEETING OF THE APOSTLES? HOW DO YOU BECOME CHRISTIAN? DO YOU NEED TO FOLLOW JEWISH LAW? WHO MADE THE FINAL DECISION?

HOW THE EARLY CHURCH OPERATED MAJOR POINTS OF THE TWO ISSUES ARE: LEADERS MEETING FOR DISCERNMENT LEAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ONE PERSON HAD AUTHORITY OVER THE GROUP DECISIONS WERE BINDING UPON THE WHOLE CHURCH, NOT JUST WHERE THERE WERE PROBLEMS THEY DID NOT MAKE UP NEW DOCTRINE

TEACHING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST WAYS IN WHICH TEACHINGS ARE EXPLAINED AND CLARIFIED  BISHOP’S CONFERENCES  UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (USCCB)  COUNCILS  ENCYCLICALS  LETTERS FROM THE POPE  STATEMENTS FROM CONGREGATIONS  COMMITTEES RUN BY CARDINALS