1. St Paul OF TARSUS
His life and journey's

2. St Paul as a Disciple of Christ
Does it surprise you that a man who once wanted to put Christians to death became one of the Church’s greatest saints? That man is Saint Paul.
Saul began to hear about a prophet named Jesus who claimed to be the Messiah. People said this man had risen from the dead and that he had worked miracles as a sign that he had been sent by God.
Saul began to persecute Jesus’ followers. He demanded that they give up their new faith.  But no matter what he did, more and more people became followers of Christ. They even began to call themselves Christians!

3. Saul was traveling to Damascus, where belief in Jesus had begun to grow. As he neared the city with his companions, he was struck by a light so bright that it blinded him. He heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?”
The voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Go into the city and you will be told what to do.”
Saul’s friends took him to a house in the city. After three days, one of Jesus’ disciples came to visit him. The man said that Jesus wanted Saul to believe in him and to be baptized. He laid his hands on Saul and baptized him. Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and regained his sight. He began to teach about Jesus, telling everyone that Jesus was the Son of God and that they, too, should believe in him. People began to call him “Paul” as a sign of the new life he had received from Christ.

4. St. Paul’s change of heart is called his conversion
St. Paul’s change of heart is called his conversion. We celebrate this great event each year on January 25.
Paul traveled to many different countries to teach others about Jesus. He shared the Good News about Jesus with Jews and Gentiles, people who were not Jewish. He became known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. He never forgot about the Church communities he founded all over the world. He prayed for them constantly and wrote them letters. He even wrote letters from jail after he was arrested for preaching about Jesus. In his letters he urged the new Christians to stay strong in their faith and reminded them how Jesus wanted them to live.
We still read Paul’s letters, which we call epistles, today. They are found in the New Testament. They are often read at Mass and continue to guide us in living as followers of Jesus.
Paul was inspired to spread the teachings and good news of Christ after his conversion
He spread news about Christ to others all around the world through his travels
Paul completed THREE journeys during his travels

5. PAUL AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS
In one of his last letters, St. Paul compared his ministry to the sacrifices a successful athlete makes. He wrote: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
St. Paul was an ambassador for Christ, the Lord’s representative for people who had not yet heard the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection and God’s loving plan to save all people. You, too, are called to carry on Christ’s work in the world today as St. Paul did. You can best share your faith with others by living as a follower of Jesus. Your example can lead others to Christ.

6. St Paul's missionary journeys

7. Paul’s First Missionary Journey
Shortest travel
Travelled with Barnabas (another disciple of Christ)
Argued that Gentiles and Jews should hear and know about Jesus at the council of Jerusalem
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Travelled with Silas
Spent majority of time in Athens and Corinth
Paul preached in synagogues, market places and lecture halls about Christ being for all who have faith
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
Revisited Christian communities he founded and written to, such as Ephesus
Preached against the worship of false gods

8. Questions What was St. Paul’s name before becoming a Christian?
Where was he born?
How did St. Paul become a Christian? What happened as he was travelling? Where was he going?
How many journey’s did he do?
How many Epistles (letter) did St. Paul write?
What characteristics did St Paul have that showed his discipleship?
How can we show our discipleship in today’s world by learning from St Paul?

9. St Paul’s advice to the early Christian communities
Scripture
Name of the city or community St Paul wrote to
Key line from passage
Explain the key issue
Describe St Paul’s advice to the community
Romans 12:14-21
Bless your persecutors; never curse them, bless them
1 Corinthians 1:10-15
Brothers (and sisters) I urge you not to have factions among yourselves

10. Ephesians 4:25-32
Your mind was to be renewed in spirit
Colossians 3: 5-11
Colossae
… you have put on a new self
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Be at peace among yourselves

11. Activity
Research 2-3 examples of religious communities throughout the world today who are persecuted for their faith, the reasons why they are persecuted and the persecution/s they endure daily. Write a short letter to this particular community today that is suffering. Offer advice on how to address this issue. ½ - 1 page, to be completed in exercise book. Due next lesson

12. JEWS OR GENTILES
The Council of Jerusalem