The Gospels and The Life of Jesus

The New testament Gospels

·         All the Gospels were written sometime between 59-70 AD- the exact date is not known.

·         These gospels’ aim is to promote the Saviour of mankind and to promote the good word as to lead humans into Gods light and security

Matthew

·         Anonymous writer- pseudonym “Matthew”

Mark

·         The author is anonymous, but Early Christian tradition identifies the author as “Mark the Evangelist.”

Luke

·         An associate of the apostle Paul, and the author of Acts

John

·         Anonymous/not completely known, but identified with “John the Apostle”

Belief Like of Jesus

Miracle:

·         When Jesus was at Capernaum, men brought in a paralytic on a stretch/bed through a hole in the roof as the room was so crowded

·         Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven, and so the man stood and walked

Crucifixion:

·         Judas was the betrayer- he was a disciple and betrayed Jesus for gold

·         Kissed Jesus on the cheek to show he was the one the Roman guards would seize

·         Crucifixion was an ancient method of execution in which the victim's hands and feet were bound and nailed to a cross. (http://christianity.about.com/od/goodfriday/p/crucifixionhub.htm)

·         They say him as a threat to society and to the restrictions and rules they had set down for the Jews

·         He was forced to carry the cross through Jerusalem, and was nailed from approximately 9am-3 pm

·         Christ’s death was the atonement for mankind- took their sins to his death

Resurrection:

·         Mary Magdalene found the stone of Jesus’ tomb opened after three days- angels told her that Jesus had risen

·         She found Jesus and mistook him for the gardener at first

·         Jesus told her he was now going to heaven

·         Jesus’ spirit spent three days in Hell in penance for mankind’s sin

·         Mary went to spread the Good News to the world

Parents:

·         Mary of Nazareth was a virgin; she conceived Jesus through Immaculate Conception, making him Gods son

·         She married Joseph

Christian Celebrations

Pentecost:

·         Pentecost is the celebration that marks the origin or beginning of the Catholic Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

·         Its historical context is that the Holy Spirit or Ghost descended upon the apostles.

·         It commemorates the Holy Spirits descent, which was the origin of the Christian church and has kept it persevering for two thousand years

·         While the disciples were praying, wind filled the house and they felt fire (the Holy Spirit) above their heads

·         They went out onto the street and began preaching and a crowd formed, the Apostles being able to talk in each person’s language.

·         Peter preached about Jesus, the son of God, and as a result, three thousand people were baptised that day.

·         The Spirit gave seven gifts:

o   Wisdom

o   Understanding

o   Counsel

o   Inward Strength

o   Knowledge

o   True Godliness

o   Holy Fear (Reverence & True Religion) 

·         Pentecost takes place fifty days after Easter Sunday (which varies year to year)

·         The main people involved: The Eleven Disciples

·         Symbols include:

o   The colour red (fire of the Holy Ghost)

o   Tongues of fire

o   The dove (the holy spirit)

o   A sailing ship (representing the church)

o   The seven lamps (gifts of the Spirit)

Holy Thursday:

·         Maundy Thursday is the Christian feast or holy day on the Thursdays before Thursday that commemorate the last supper of Jesus Christ when he shared a Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified, before the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and during the meal.
 Jesus took bread and wine and asked his Father to bless it, this is why many churches hold communion services as part of their holy Thursday celebrations. It is the 5^th day of Holy Week, proceeded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. 

·         The disciples of Jesus were originally involved in this act. Now today, any Christian can be involved in this celebration.

       

Good Friday:

•       Good Friday is a Christian holiday held on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

•        It is traditionally a day of mourning and is a very important day in church calendars, as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central events in Christian beliefs

•       Good Friday is traditionally a time of fasting and penance.

Corpus Christi:

•       Takes place on Thursday the 7^th June every year.

•       It is a time when Catholics worship Christ publically and in every way they can.

•       In commemoration many Christians receive communion on this day.

•       There are processions through streets, masses for the Eucharist, 6 or 4 candles burn on the altar.

•       In some countries the bread (or host) is paraded throughout the streets. Priests carry the bread in a monstrance, which is a type of vessel. In Spain and Provence the processions can be elaborate, featuring saints and characters from the Bible, following a path decorated with wreaths and flowers.

•       The most important part of the ceremony is when the bishop raises the silver monstrance and exposes the Blessed Sacrament, the “body of Christ.”

Background:

•       Corpus Christi has been in honour of the Catholic Church since 1246. The term is latin that means the body of Christ. The date changes every year and is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or on the Sunday after Holy Trinity in some countries.

•       The feast was introduced from Belgium to England at some stage between 1318 and 1325, according to various sources.

The Seven Sacraments

·         Baptism

·         Confirmation

·         Holy Communion

·         Reconciliation/ Penance

·         Matrimony/Marriage

·         Holy Orders

·         Anointing of the Sick

Christianity WebQuest

How many followers are there of Christianity worldwide? Around 2.1 Billion

Place of Origin: Jerusalem

Founder: Jesus and his disciples

Sacred Text: The Bible- The New Testament

Name the two major Christian festivals: Christmas and Easter

What are the four names that Jesus is known by? The Messiah, Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, Saviour

What is the name of the people who believe in Jesus Christ and follow His teachings? Christians

Christians believe that there is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 “persons”.  Name the three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit (The Trinity)

The place of Christian worship is called a church.

Name the writers of the Gospels: Mark, Luke, Matthew and John

Draw and name the three Christian symbols:

The Fish

The Crucifix

Dove with olive branch

Ten Commandments:
http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/the-ten-commandments.html

How do the first 3 commandments differ from the last 7 seven commandments? The first three commandments deal with how humans should see, treat and respect God, while the other seven deal with what sins humans should avoid on Earth.

Which religion did Christianity develop from? Judaism

Name the 3 variants of Christianity: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant

Christianity Basics

Christianity: Christ means the “anointed one” and is a monotheistic religion based on life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament

Christians believe Jesus is the son of God having become ma and the saviour of humanity. Christians, therefore, commonly refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.

Beliefs:

-          There is one God

-          Belief in the Trinity

-          God created the world and it is good

-          Man is created in the image of God

-          Jesus, the son of God, was sent to save mankind

-          Belief in God brings salvation

-          The Holy Spirit directs the church

-          Man has free will

Denominations/Variants: Three main branches-

Roman Catholicism:

Orthodox Church: comprises churches in communion with the Patriarchal Sees of the East, such as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Split in the 11th Century/Great Schism, the nation of Turkey, known then by the Eastern Church Constantinople, did not agree with the power of the Pope. This forms the Orthodox Church.

Protestantism:  In the 16^th century, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli inaugurated what has come to be called Protestantism.  There are many different form Protestant religions.  It is a branch within Christianity containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines that principally originated in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.

The Catholic Church comprises those Particular churches, headed by bishops, in communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as its highest authority in matters of faith.

Variants Task:

1.       Roman Catholic: 1.1 Billion

Protestant: 370 Million

Orthodox: 218 million

2.       Roman Catholic beliefs:

-          The Pope is the ultimate ruler

-          Authority within the church lies within the hierarchy of the church

-          Believe baptism is a sacrament that purifies

-          Truth is found in the bible

-          Accept 66 books of the Bible

-          Believe in Hell and purgatory

-          Forgiveness of sin achieved through confession in church rituals

-          Immaculate Conception

-          Have saints/ can pray to them

-          Believe in the Eucharist

Protestant Beliefs:

-          Authority lies within the believer

-          Some variants e.g. Calvinism do believe in baptism, most don’t

-          Forgiveness is received through direct confession to God

-          Accept 66 book of bible

-          Only believe in Hell

-          No Immaculate Conception

-          Do not believe in the Eucharist

-          Pray only to God, no saints- saints are born again believers

Orthodox Logo:

Christianity Basics

Christianity: Christ means the “anointed one” and is a monotheistic religion based on life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament

Christians believe Jesus is the son of God having become ma and the saviour of humanity. Christians, therefore, commonly refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.

Beliefs:

-          There is one God

-          Belief in the Trinity

-          God created the world and it is good

-          Man is created in the image of God

-          Jesus, the son of God, was sent to save mankind

-          Belief in God brings salvation

-          The Holy Spirit directs the church

-          Man has free will

Denominations/Variants: Three main branches-

Roman Catholicism:

Orthodox Church: comprises churches in communion with the Patriarchal Sees of the East, such as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Split in the 11th Century/Great Schism, the nation of Turkey, known then by the Eastern Church Constantinople, did not agree with the power of the Pope. This forms the Orthodox Church.

Protestantism:  In the 16^th century, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli inaugurated what has come to be called Protestantism.  There are many different form Protestant religions.  It is a branch within Christianity containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines that principally originated in the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.

The Catholic Church comprises those Particular churches, headed by bishops, in communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as its highest authority in matters of faith.

Variants Task:

1.       Roman Catholic: 1.1 Billion

Protestant: 370 Million

Orthodox: 218 million

2.       Roman Catholic beliefs:

-          The Pope is the ultimate ruler

-          Authority within the church lies within the hierarchy of the church

-          Believe baptism is a sacrament that purifies

-          Truth is found in the bible

-          Accept 66 books of the Bible

-          Believe in Hell and purgatory

-          Forgiveness of sin achieved through confession in church rituals

-          Immaculate Conception

-          Have saints/ can pray to them

-          Believe in the Eucharist

Protestant Beliefs:

-          Authority lies within the believer

-          Some variants e.g. Calvinism do believe in baptism, most don’t

-          Forgiveness is received through direct confession to God

-          Accept 66 book of bible

-          Only believe in Hell

-          No Immaculate Conception

-          Do not believe in the Eucharist

-          Pray only to God, no saints- saints are born again believers

-         

Christianity