Exploring the Church

Exploring the ChurchQuestions

Exploring the ChurchQuestions

How can you tell if someone if from Schuylkill

County?

Termsorthodoxy – right praise, right belieforthopraxy – right actionorthocardia – right heart

Exploring the ChurchThe Activity of the Early Church

-baptized-came together

-devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching-devoted themselves to fellowship (sharing life)

-shared in the Lord’s Supper-prayed

Exploring the ChurchCharacteristics of the Early Church

-awe-miraculous activity-pooled resources

-generosity-sensitivity to those in need

-together regularly-worshipful & full of praise

-a good reputation-growth (spiritual & numerical)

Fallacies About the Early Church-The church “made up” the Christian faith as it went along-Church leaders suppressed and eliminated all competing versions of the faith

Driving QuestionWhat does authentic Christianity look like?

Driving ConcernThat the church would live out and pass on the Christian faith as inspired by Christ and preached and modeled by the apostles.

Three Guides for the Early Church1. Letters/books accepted as inspired writings (canon)

considered authoritative for Christian life & teaching

a list was beginning to form by the end of the 2nd century

earliest established list appears ca. 200 (Muratorian Canon)

Three Guides for the Early Church2. Church leadersleadership of local congregations passed on from one qualified (i.e. mature, established, gifted) follower of Christ to another (or more than one; e.g. Rome)successions of leadership could be traced back to the Apostles

leaders treated with a similar respect as the Apostles (especially those who had personal contact with the “originals”)

Three Guides for the Early Church2. Church leaders, cont.tracing the succession

-”The blessed Apostles, after founding and building up the church , handed over to Linus the office of bishop. . . .He was succeeded by Anacletus, after whom. . .Clement was appointed. . .” Irenaeus of Lyons, ca. 185

-notable early Church leaders (NOT a complete list)

Polycarp (ca. 69-155)•a student of the Apostle John•bishop of the church in Smyrna (in modern day Turkey)•wrote a letter to the church in Phillipi•martyred (burned alive, stabbed)

Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 50-107)•a student of the Apostle John•friend of Polycarp•bishop of the church in Rome (appointed by the Apostle Peter?)•first used the word “catholic” to describe the whole church•wrote letters to the church in Ephesus, Magnesia, Trallia, Rome, Philadelphia, Smyrna•martyred (killed by animals in the Colosseum)

Clement of Rome (?-100)•a student of the Apostle Peter (and possibly Paul, as well)•bishop of the church in Rome (appointed by the Apostle Peter?)•wrote a letter to the church in Corinth•possibly martyred, but cause of death unverified

Three Guides for the Early Church3. Creeds (from latin credo, “I believe”)earliest creeds

“[Jesus is] the Messiah, the son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16)

“Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3)”Turn a deaf ear to any speaker who avoids mention of Jesus Christ who was of David’s line, born of Mary, who was truly born, ate and drank; was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate, truly crucified and died. . .” Ignatius of Antioch, ca. 110

The Old Roman Creed (4th century)

Exploring the ChurchThe Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is

in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin

against us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to you forever and

ever. Amen.