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NAME:_________________________AssignmentsMrs. NivenUnit 4

Unit 4Assignment 1Peter/Foundations of the Church

Peter and the ChurchEarlier, we looked at the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospel accounts of Him. It is important to understand that He was a historical figure, because in a sense this gives us some grounding for our faith. Christ actually lived and walked among us. We have historical proof that this actually happened. We also believe that that He came for a special purpose the redemption of humanity. If not for Christ, we would not have the Church that was established by Him. Knowing that Christ lived helps to bolster our faith in why He lived.

FYI: Many people find it interesting to know that Christ is/was not Jesus last name. Rather, Christ means anointed one, or Messiah, which means that is more correct to refer to Jesus as Jesus the Christ.

Christ founded the Church. It is His teachings that make up the basis of our core beliefs. Christ had a vision for His Church and it is a vision that we do not always understand. Yet He set in motion, He set the foundations, for our Catholic Church. Christ set things in motion and He entrusted His followers to carry on His work. We believe that the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church represents Christ on Earth. Why we believe this is that Christ chose from His followers, one person, to lead and to build the Church. This person was Peter, and the Popes who have come after Peter (there are hundreds) are Peters successors.

Peter represents the authority that was given to Jesus by God, to preach the message that Jesus came to give. There is a profound significance in why Peter was chosen to lead the new Church, and it is a significance of which we likely only have partial understanding. However, through the following information and activities, it is hoped that you will gain some insight into why Peter became the first Pope Christs representative on Earth.

The teaching office of the Pope, founded by Christ through Peter, is granted with the peculiar and specific dignity and authority granted to Peter by Jesus Christ. Specifically, the person who is consecrated to the Papal office, first established by Christ in Peter, has the special gift and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides each Pope, so that he may never teach to the whole Church on a matter of faith and morals, that which is in error. Essentially, the Holy Spirit ensures that the Popes teachings on faith and morals are never incorrect. God cares for the Body of Christ through the Bishop of Rome (The Pope/Holy Father), who is the temporal head of the Church, Vicar of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit until such time as Jesus Christ returns to rule.

In essence Christ chose the apostle Peter to be His representative on Earth. There is Scriptural reference to help show why Christ chose Peter. Yet, we can also speculate why Peter was chosen. The activities in this next portion of the lesson will help you to investigate the support in Scripture to help prove that Peter was chosen, and they will help you to think about why Christ may have chosen Peter and His successors for this role.

Part A

Christ Chooses Peter

List A gives a number of Scripture verses concerning the role that Peter was given by Christ. Look up each verse in the Bible (remember that there are also Bibles on the Internet) and match them with the correct explanation found in List B. More than one Bible verse from List A can match with each explanation in List B.

List A:1. John 1:49-511. Matthew 16: 17-191. 1 Peter 2:51. Isaiah 28:161. Isaiah 51: 1-21. Isaiah 54: 10-171. John 1:421. Galatians 2: 7, 91. John 10: 11-161. John 21:15-19

List B:1. Nathaniel and Simon both have the same revelations, but Jesus does not call Nathaniels revelation Rock, He doesnt change Nathaniels name nor does He bless Nathaniel for his revelation. However, when Simon speaks the same idea, Christ responds in a radically different way. Simon says to Jesus, You are the Messiah, and Jesus replies to Simon you are the Rock. Each names the other. Furthermore, Christ blesses Simon with a three-part blessing in a manner similar to the Hebrew Scripture blessings a father might give his son, each blessing followed by a short explanation of the blessing. Simon is called blessed, he is given a new name Rock, and he is given the keys to the kingdom of heaven by the King of the House of David

1. While faithful followers are referred to as living stones, only two people in all of Scripture both had their name changed by God and were referred to as Rock Abraham and Peter. Abraham is called the rock from which the Old Covenant people of God were hewn. God also changed his name. Abraham and Peter upon each was founded a new people, one in God the Father, the second in Jesus the Christ, the second people founded within the first, as the Son is eternally begotten by the Father. It is not their humanity that makes them rocks, but the Holy Spirit working within them in a unique way.

1. Christs words to Simon, now Peter, recall the promise of the Hebrew Scriptures made by God to His people a promise now echoed to Simon the Rock who is the Lord would be laid within. God spoke not just of a man, but of a mighty edifice the Church, whose sons will be taught by the Lord:

1. Only Peter is given the command to strengthen his brethren. Christ is the Good Shepherd. He intends one flock, one shepherd. He is the Bridegroom. He intends one family not multiple families.

Part B

In our course, we learn the history of the Church for deeper insight into what it is. The Modern Catholic Church is under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope. He holds the seat of Peter and the tradition of the Church teaches that Jesus selected Peter for this special role.

Understanding something of the nature of this first Pope gives us some insight into the vision and direction Jesus planned for his church. When you select a leader you are already making choices for the path that will be followed.

What follows are some thoughts about the selection of Peter as leader and what his character and his life story does in shaping the Church today. Match the incidents of the life of Peter in List A with the reflections of what this shows for the role of Church and its members found in List B.

After you have done this, if you are able to, find the verses from the Christian Testament that discuss these aspects of the life of Peter.

List A:1. Peter is recruited from a fishing boat.1. Peter is a witness to the transfiguration of Christ.1. Peter walks on the water to Christ.1. Peter tells Jesus not to go to Jerusalem.1. Peter takes bold action in the Garden of Gethsemene.1. Peter shrinks away at the trial of Jesus (denies Jesus three times).1. Peter absent in the reports of the crucifixion.1. Peter speaks with Jesus on the shore professing his love three times.1. Peter settles disputes among the new Christians.1. Peter is executed.

List B:1. Christ knows that we are weak and His strength supports us.1. We are to be humble as Christ was.1. Christ asks us for commitment and gives us the chance to make amends.1. God takes regular people and makes them leaders1. Even though we may not want it, Christ knows that love often bears suffering.1. We are to seek justice with each other1. There will be miracles performed before us, but we are still expected to come down off the mountain to serve.1. Christ selects people who are action orientated.1. Christ judges our whole character, not just our weak moments.1. Christ never abandons us even though we abandon Him.

Part C Most of us probably have an image of Peter which involves Peter at the gates of heaven. But what kind of person was Peter? In many ways , he was just like us. Peter has his share of faults. There were times when his temper got the better of him. There were times when he simply did not understand what Jesus was teaching. But here were also times when Peter exhibited a great amount of faith. In this assignment, you will need a Bible in order to find out characteristics of Peter. Below you will find a number of Bible Verses Look up each Bible passage, it is not necessary for you to copy them out, however briefly identify what is occurring in the Bible passage For each Bible passage, give one or two characteristics that describe Peter based on that Bible passage.

Bible PassageWhat is OccurringCharacteristics of Peter (what is he like)

Mark 1: 16-18

Matthew 8:14-15

Matthew 14: 28-31

Matthew 16: 21-23

Mark 14:37

John 18: 10-11

Acts 2:14-36

Unit 4Assignment 2St. Paul (was Simon) & The Early Church

This assignment will continue to look at the work that St. Paul did for the early Church. There are two important things (not only two, but two that you need to know) that Paul did for the early Church. One was that he brought the Word of God to the Gentiles, or to the non-Jewish peoples, during his time. In doing so, Paul showed that Gods message and covenant were not solely for the people of the Jewish faith. It was a message for all people, and for this reason, Paul was known as the apostle to the Gentiles. St. Paul also expounded on the mystery of the Eucharist, that it is the body of Christ, and in receiving it, we partake of the sacrifice that Christ made for us. The Eucharist brings us into communion with God, as it is the Body of Christ.

Catholic teaching proclaims that the Consecrated Eucharist is the body of Christ. This is one of the mysteries of our faith, which is the bedrock of our faith. It is a proclamation that God is among us and that He sacrificed His only Son for us. In my humble opinion, Catholics need to re-investigate the importance of the Eucharist. Too often it is too easy to say that the Eucharist is just a symbol. In actuality, it is far more important because it is more than just a symbol it is the Body of Christ. In fact, the Eucharist is so important that former Pope John Paul II declared that from October of 2004 to October of 2005 to be the year of the Eucharist, because it is the source and summit of our faith. Please visit the following website to view a condensed version of the Popes encyclical on the Year of the Eucharist and to gain some contextual knowledge:

http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1003.asp

In the lesson, we will be looking not only at Pauls missions, but also at the importance of the Eucharist. As well, we will be looking at some of the early trials that the Church faced in terms of persecutions and heresies.

However, before we begin this, there is one more aspect of St. Peter that I wish to address. Peter was given primacy over the Church (declared the first Pope) and this continues through the Bishop of Rome whom we commonly refer to as the Pope. This role of the Pope has its roots in the Bible. Papal authority, in matters of faith and morals, was instituted when Christ conferred this power onto the apostle Peter and continues through the successors to Peter (the lineage of Popes. The first activity for this set of lessons will be to look at the Scriptural basis for the concept of Papal authority.

Peters Authority

1. a. What Bible passage discusses the time when Jesus called Peter the Rock?

b. What is the significance of Jesus changing Simons name to the Rock?

c. Why was Peters name change a continuation of and a creation of Gods covenant with his people?

d. What is the Bible passage in which Jesus commands Peter to take care of His flock?

e. Why was it significant that Christ commanded Peter to take care of His flock?

2. Please read the following Bible passage: Acts 1: 15-17, 20-22. What does this reveal about Peters role or place in the Church?

Unit 4Assignment 3Paul (was Saul) & the Gentiles

Now, you will be completing an assignment that will help you to study the missions that Paul undertook as he spread the Word of the Lord. One of the important points to remember about Paul was that he, along with other apostles, helped to spread Gods Word to the Gentiles. This was a major stepping-stone for the early Church as it signified the end to a conflict that affected the early Church. Many believed that before you could become a Christian, you first had to become Jewish, that you had to follow and be subject to certain practices and tenets of this faith before you could embrace Christianity.

This conflict came to a head with the Meeting or Council at Jerusalem in about 50 AD. This council basically decreed that the Gentiles were just as much the inheritors of the grace of God as were the Jews, who believed in Christ and that they did not have to be subjected to the practices that the Jewish people followed. They did have obligations, but at the council it was realized that a New Covenant had been made through the sacrifice of Christ and that it was open to all who professed belief in Jesus. In the activities below, you will gain some insight into some of the early decisions of the Church with regards to Gentile converts as well as to the significance of the journeys of St. Paul.

Please read Acts 15: 1-35 and answer the following questions:

a. What was the dilemma that confronted the apostles at Jerusalem?

b. Who stood up to speak in defense of the Gentiles? Why is it significant that this apostle stood up (and no it is not because other people needed to hear him; I am looking for a more symbolic significance)? Summarize his words.

c. What did the Hebrew Scriptures say regarding the Gentiles?

d. What decisions were made that were written in the letter to the Gentiles?

e. What were some of the obligations that the Gentiles still had to follow?

Unit 4Assignment 4Paul (was Saul) & themes of Missions

Known as Saul prior to his ministry, Paul was born of Hebrew parents about A.D. 5, or a few years earlier, in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. He later became a Roman citizen and also became fluent in speaking and writing in the Greek language. He was brought up in boyhood in Jerusalem, where he was taught by Gamaliel. Before he became a Christian missionary, he was a Pharisee. His trade was tent-making.After his miraculous conversion in A.D. 37, he participated in missionary expeditions. On the first journey (A.D. 45-47), Barnabas was his partner. On the second journey (A.D. 50-54), Silas (or Silvanus) was his partner. For part of the third journey (A.D. 50-54), Luke was his partner. Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem in A.D. 58, in Csarea from A.D. 58-60, and in Rome from A.D. 61-63 and from A.D. 65-67.

The 8 Major themes of the 3 missions are:1. Salvation through Christ2. Death conquered by resurrection3. Christians share in resurrection4. Salalvation built on faith5. Body of Christ (Mystical)6. Holy Spirit in the Soul of the church7. Brothers and Sisters in Christ8. Purpose of suffereing

1. Give a summary of the 2 of the 8 letters of Paul. Be sure to include his role as a main missionary of the early church and his influence on the Christian Church.

Unit 4Assignment 5Map of St. Pauls Journeys

A -3 Main MissionsDraw a map indicating the Journeys of St. Paul. Be sure to note the area that Paul traveled around the Mediterranean Sea.On the same map with a different color pencil identify the following locations. Jerusalem, Cyprus, Antioch, Antioch (there are two of them), Lystra, Caesaria, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Tyre, Philippi, Tarsus, Syracuse, Myra, and Rome.

BUsing your textbook, identify the three main missions that Paul took. Identify the purpose for each journey. As well, explain what St. Paul accomplished through each journey. What was the impact of his journeys on Christianity?

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