LESSON 2

The Beginning
of the Church
What is the history of the Church? U ready?!
WHAT IS
church?
WHAT IS
Church?
 WHAT IS
Pentecost?
Pentecost, (Pentecost from Greek pentecostē, “50th day”), major festival in the
Christian church celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day of Easter.
It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and
other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus
Christ, and it marks the beginning of the Christian church’s mission to the
world.
 WHAT IS THE
Origin of the Pentecost?
The Jewish feast of Pentecost (Shavout) was primarily a thanksgiving for the
firstfruits of the wheat harvest, but it was later associated with a remembrance
of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The church’s transformation
of the Jewish feast to a Christian festival was thus related to the belief that the
gift of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus was the firstfruits of a
new dispensation that fulfilled and succeeded the old dispensation of the Law.
WHO IS
Peter?
 Words I know….
• Church- comes from the Latin word ecclesia and form the Greek word ek-ka lein, which means “call out
of”. In Greek language, Kyriake is its equivalent, meaning “what belongs to the Lord”

• Gaudium et Spes- the central decree of Vatican II on the understanding of the Church; it means Joy and
Hope

• Peter- name derived from Petros or Kepha, both of which mean “rock”
IN THE BEGINNING OF
THE CHURCH...
Among the many early followers of Jesus, He selected and trained
twelve (12) ordinary men who became his closest disciples and gave
them authority and became Jesus’ apostles to continue His own
mission. The apostles faithfully carried out Jesus’ mission by
proclaiming the Gospel in several places besides Jerusalem. Sinners
repented, confessed their sins and were baptized into Christ and His
church as a consequence. Jesus also had other disciples, they were His
witness and sharer. As the apostles were getting older, they prepared
other men to share and spread the word of God.
Among the apostles, Peter prominently appears in numerous narratives.

Formerly called Simon, he is renamed Peter, why?

• Jesus responds to Peter’s confession by proclaiming him blessed for having

received from the Father the revelation of His identity (Mt 16:17)

• Jesus made him the rock of foundation for the future Church and gave him

authority to continue Jesus’ mission (Mt 16: 18-19)

Jesus had seen in Peter the potential leader that he was strong, decisive,

courageous, befitting of the rock foundation on which the Church would be

established.
 Upon the death of the apostles, the mandate and ministry given them
by Jesus continued with the members of the early Christian
communities as we read from the encouragement of Paul to the elders
at Ephesus to whom he says, “Be like shepherds to the Church (Acts
20:21)

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he said “To all the saints in Christ
Jesus who are at the Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”

Titles used to designate positions of leadership in the local Church

BEFORE AFTER
Overseer (episkopos) Bishops
Elders or Presbyters (presbyteroi) Priests
Servants (diakonoi) Deacons
“Church”, the first community of Christian believers
recognized itself as heir to that assembly. In the
Church, God is calling “calling together” His people
from all the ends of the earth.

In Greek term Kyriake means “what belongs to the

Lord”. In Christian community, “Church” designates
the liturgical assembly, and also the local
community or the whole universal community of
believers.

Jesus Himself often used to express “Kingdom” over the term “Church” to describe the object of His mission. He was here
to announce the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus gives special teaching about the Kingdom and says that they are like
His true family. He calls them His little flock to whom God wants to give the Kingdom.
Thank You
Activity Time!!!
 Activity
Before the apostles were IGNACIAN MARIAN HOW YOU WILL USE IT TO BECOME A LEADER?
able to lead and train THREE (3) CORE
VALUES
others, they spent Jesus’
FAITH
presence. In what way can
the values of faith, EXCELLENCE
excellence, and service
guide you to become an SERVICE

Ignacian Marian leader

yourself? Put in a ½ sheet of paper, crosswise

Crosswise?

Yes, crosswise dre 1/4 , dre 1 whole ngan dre lengthwise, crosswise.