1. What is the Church?

2. Pentecost “Birth” of the Church… why?
Festival of Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew), from LV 23:16, instructs people to count “fifty days” from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday; Shavuot was the second great feast in Israel’s yearly cycle of holy days. It was originally a harvest festival (Exod 23:16), but, in time, turned into a day to commemorate the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. This day became especially significant for Christians because, seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, during the Jewish celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon his first followers, thus empowering them for their mission and gathering them together as a Church.
Patheous (What is Pentecost? Mark Roberts)

3. Pentecost Apostles are gathered to celebrate Shavuot
How does Acts describe the gathering?
“huddled”, “afraid”, “praying”
Things were different than before, but they could not explain how or why?
Jesus was no longer with them…
What did it all mean?
Now what?
What were they to do?

4. Pentecost
Once filled with the Holy Spirit, the “word” was understandable in all languages…
The knew that His Spirit was for all Jews (the diaspora were from around the world)
The words and directives of Jesus slowly became clear… as a mission to…
“Go and make disciples, baptizing in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”

5. Effects of the Holy Spirit
St. Basil
Effects of the Spirit…
Makes God (Jesus) present
Brings gifts (7 gifts - Wisdom, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety, Fear of the Lord)
Brings grace (sanctifying and actual)
Unites us with the Church

6. Understandings of Church
New Israel (Jehovah Witness’)
The “New” Chosen People; all the
images from Revelations include the
12 Tribes with 12 apostles
Body of Christ
Jesus is fully present in the Church, thus the Church is Jesus Christ in the world; the assembly of believers are “Christ ians” (Christ meaning anointed)
Institution
The Church is a physical reality (structure, building, lineage)

7. Baptism and Salvation
“Unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – JN 3:5
Thus the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5] Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mark 16:16]" (CCC 1257).
Catholic Answers

8. Salvation By Baptism VI. THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM Limbo
1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
Baptism by Blood
Baptism by Desire (Anonymous Christian, Karl Rahner)
Limbo

9. Image of Church
People of God

10. Images of Church
An Ark

11. Images of Church
A Mystical Body

12. Images of Church
A New Jerusalem

13. Church as Institution "The Church has a visible and
social structure as a sign of her
unity in Christ.“ - Vatican II: Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
All groups must be organized, i.e. structured, Laws, Roles, Governance, ministries, history
Apostolic Succession
What is it?
Why is it so important?
Peter, apostles, successors, communities

14. Magisterium College of Bishops USCCB
“Truth” and authority - why do we need an authority?
Fides Quae (“the faith which is believed”;
Apostles Creed. Fides quae is THE faith (Gospel and dogma we believe.) This alone is w/o personal testimony
Fides Qua (“the faith which believes”; we grab it and hold it by faith) This alone can be emotionalism
USCCB

15. Nicaean Creed -

16. How to become a Pope

17. Thoughts?
Questions?