The Church The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles

Latin “ecclesia”, Greek “ekkalein”.

~ means call out of, a convocation or an assembly. The Church, which Jesus founded on His Apostles, is a hierarchical
community.
Assemblies of the people. for a religious purpose.
Jesus Appointed Peter as the Head, the leader.
Ekklesia is used in Greek Old Testament, assembly of the chosen
people before God. (Mount Sinai). This commission is destined to last until the end of the world. Thus,
appointing successors was a careful phase.
~ Israel received the law, and they were established by God as holy
people. Jesus Chooses His Apostles (Luke 5:1-3)
One day, Jesus taught people from a boat on the shore of the sea.
Kyriake, English “Church”, German “Kirche” (Peter’s boat)
~ means “what belongs to the Lord”
~ liturgical assembly, believers Peter and his crew fished all night but did not catchy any. After Jesus
finished teaching, He told Peter to take the boat into deep water then
Christ calls and forms the Apostles he told Peter to put their nets into the water (Luke 5:4-5)

Apostle came from Greek word “Apostolos” They caught so many fish that their nets started to break (Luke 5:6).
~ means person sent or one who is sent out They filled boats too much that they started to sink (Luke 5:7)

12 represents the 12 sons of Jacob and 12 tribes of Israel.

Pentecost: The Birth of the Church
~ Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben,
Simeon, Zebulun, Judah and Benjamin. 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, there is a Jewish harvest
festival that happened (Shavuot Festival)
~ meant to remind people that Jesus came to save everyone and as a
sign of the connection of the Old and New Covenant. ~ this commemorates God’s giving of 10 commandments at Mount
Sinai, fifty days after the Passover.
~ become the connection bet, the living Jesus (risen Jesus) and the ~ the 12 apostles were present in that event including His mother.
early Church
Tongues as of Fire; speak in different tongues
~ witnesses of Jesus’ life, recipients of Jesus’ teachings, recipients of
the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Tongues of Fire symbolized the presence of God (Exodus 19:18)

~ Authorities on what Jesus taught, intended and desired. Speaking in Different Tongues means praising God; symbolizes the
~ Teachings of Christ (2 John 1:9) worldwide mission of the Church.
~ Built on the same foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
~ Believers recall words spoken by prophets (2 Peter 3:1-2) Pentecost Event

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Strong blows of winds showed the literal way of how the Holy spirit
filled those in the room (Acts 2:1-4)
Gathered a group who sought God’s reign to carry His own mission of ~ this was a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to His disciples
service.
~ they would be the foundation of His Church, with Him as the Spirit (Hebrew “ruah”), which means the following:
cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-8) • Breath – invisible, giver of life
• Air and Wind- renewal and transformation
Ministry: curing the sick, preaching the good news, casting out
demons, and later be the seed from which the church would grow. Holy Spirit is also referred to as “Paraclete”
~ means someone called to be alongside to help, gives courage and
Simon Peter (means Rock) was the first chosen Apostle. He was strength especially in times of depression and hopelessness
nailed to the cross upside down claiming he was unworthy to die as
Jesus had died. Fire and Light are the metaphoric ways He is shown (God)
~ Jesus changed it from Simon to Peter (Petros in Greek)
Fire was symbolized in Mount Sinai, Tower of Babel and the Tree
Gospel of Matthew 16:13-19
~ I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind God- Father, Son, Holy Spirit
in earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth Man- Soul, body, Spirit
shall be loosed in heaven.
Spirit is Gift of God, differentiates humans from other living things.
John 21:15-17 • Rational thinker and Love
“Jesus gave peter the opportunity to profess to him”
~ Do you love me? Light because it means to be enlightened (maliwanag)
(feed my lambs… tend my sheep…feed my sheep)
When do we write letters? Communicating ideas
~ These phrases meant that Peter would teach them to follow Jesus.
Ensure the following through reminder, guidance and encouragements. Why do we write letters? church leaders used letters for instructions,
When people (apostles) accepted Jesus’ message, they were correction of conduct and in clarifying or underscoring certain
baptized…and the Church was born. teachings in the new community of believers.
What was Peter’s message to the people of Jerusalem? Followers then believed resurrection, ascension, later revealed Jesus
~ explained that God has shown His love for them through Jesus as the Messiah.
Christ, and that God has raised Jesus from the dead.
What is the main message of Jesus’ Teaching?
The Apostles were emboldened to proclaim the message of Salvation • Reasons why he was crucified
of Christ. • Reason of creation
• Highest form of love (Agape)
They were empowered to forgive sins, make sinners friends with God
again, and restoring the life of God in them. (Acts 2:1-17) “Love God above all, and Love others as they love themselves”

The first living work of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, is the Church. We are the message of God

The Rise of Christianity

Several distinct features of the teachings of Jesus were:

Jesus:
• Had a sense of intimacy with and total dependance on God
• Proclaimed that the reign (Kingdom) of God was at hand
• Identified closely with the poor and dispossessed
• Challenged the religious authorities

Origins of Christianity

Found on the New Testament (early church), after Jesus’ death

Acts of the Apostles, Pentecost, Saint Paul

Judaism

Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth developed into a new religion

(Christianity)

Many teachings came/ rooted from Judaism

Romans conquered Judea; the new ruler is called king (63 B.C)

Reactions to the Romans rule

Judaism has different branches

• Pharisees
• Sadducees
• Essenes
• Zealots (4th section) re-established the Kingdom of Israel

Zealots wanted to fight the Romans, they formed “Pockets of

Resistance” vs them

Messianic Prophecies

After a revolt on the 130s, all Jews were banned from Jerusalem

Not all Jews wanted it, others waited for the Messiah
• Means spiritual leader, bring peace to the world

What were the two Jewish reactions to Roman rule?

• Refused to give up religion
• Zealots wanted to rise vs the Romans

Jesus came and taught people to prepare for God’s judgement day
• Preached message of renewal and warning
• Gathered group of disciples
• Made miracles of healing
• Instructed people to repent of sins, seek God’s forgiveness
• Must love God above all, others as much as self

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem

• Learned carpentry, studied writings of Jewish prophets
• They at first do not see him as messiah, rather he is seen
only as a prophet
• His popularity alarmed authorities, he was arrested and
sentenced to death

After crucifixion,
• Jesus rose from the dead
• Spent 40 days teaching Disciples
• Ascended into heaven