A u t u m n Leaves …

1. Autumn Leaves … JESUS DOESN’T!

2. The Church Is BornOct 09 GIFT New Testament: Stories, Teachings & Letters from the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles & Epistles

3. You Are My King (Amazing Love) I’m forgiven because You were forsaken, I’m accepted, You were condemned, I’m alive & well, Your Spirit lives within me, Because You died & rose again. (2X) Amazing love, how can it be, That You my King, should die for me? Amazing love, I know it’s true, It’s my joy to honor You, In all I do, I honor You.

4. Three Objectives Uncover the Scriptures as the center of our Tradition Focus on some New Testament (NT) stories & teachings of Jesus/letters of the early Church Overview of the Bible & how to read it

5. OVERVIEW OF THE NIGHT Bible 101 New Testament Themes, Stories, Teachings & Letters Summary: I Liked … / I Learned … Questions & Answers (Q&A)

6. “For Ignorance of the Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ.”-- St. Jerome

7. BIBLE 101 (BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) * Why we use it * Divisions & Books * How to find a passage * New Testament

8. BIBLE 101 INSPIRED Word of God Written by different men, guided by the Holy Spirit Collection of books Written over period of ~1200 years Major divisions: Old Testament New Testament

9. BIBLE 101 All Bibles Are Not The Same Catholic Bible has 73 books: OT = 46 books & NT = 27 books Protestant Bible has 66 books: OT = 39 books & NT = 27 books 7 OT books removed by Calvin, Luther & German Reformers

10. BIBLE 101 Books were removed during the Protestant Reformation Seven Books Removed: * Tobias * Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) * Baruch * I Machabees * Judith * II Machabees * Wisdom

11. 27 Books of the New Testament • Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John • Acts of the Apostles, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians • 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon • Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter • 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

12. New Testament • Collection of writings set forth belief about the meaning & significance of the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth • Jesus left no written record • None of writings appeared until some yrs. after Jesus’ death & resurrection • Several biographies written of Jesus’ life – four now part of NT

13. Gospels • Mark - first one written & is the shortest • Matthew – written for Jewish audience • Luke – written for Gentile audience • John – emphasizes Jesus’ Divine Sonship / full of symbolic language • Synoptic Gospels – Mt, Mk & Lk – often record the same events in about the same order • Similarities very clear when “seen together”

14. Epistles • Before the 4 Gospels were written, letters were written • Instructed the early Christian communities about Christ’s way of life • Also taught, encouraged, admonished & addressed & solved problems encountered in a particular community • St. Paul wrote/had attributed to him 13 letters

15. Finding A Scripture Passage • Book, Chapter, Verse Example: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14 Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, Chapter 3, Verses 6-14 • Find: Matthew 7:12 John 3:16

16. Epistle Search Questions Who wrote it? When written? To whom was it written? What was the purpose/problem? 1 Corinthians Galatians 1 Peter

17. 3 Major NT Themes Jesus’ Life & Teachings God SendsThe Holy Spirit ALL Believers Are Commissioned to Preach, Act & Support the Church

18. Theme #1: Jesus’ Work on Earth • Jesus has the key to eternal life • Jesus revealed Himself and God the Father, by His life, death & resurrection • Ascending to heaven, Jesus draws all people to Himself

19. Theme #2: The Holy Spirit • The work of Jesus is completed in God sending the Holy Spirit • The mystery of salvation has been revealed by the Holy Spirit

20. Theme #3: We Are Called • ALL believers are called to preach the Gospel and care for the poor • ALL believers are called to foster faith in Jesus Christ and build up the Church HEY … THAT’S US!

21. New Testament Group Tasks Task #1:Read the Scripture passage aloud to your group. Task #2:Discuss the theme, main points & meaning for today. Task #3:Divide into subgroups. Each subgroup has a task related to the story. Task #4:Present the three components of your story to all adult participants.

22. SUBGROUP #1 TASKS What issue is Jesus/author (St. Paul/St. Luke) trying to address in this passage? What is Jesus/author saying to the people of that day?

23. SUBGROUP #2 TASKS* Do Your Work With Heart & Meaning * Develop A Creative Way To: A. tellthe story in oral tradition, using your own words & actions (skit) … or B.teachthe passage in a different way (poem, narrative, song, modern terms) … or C. writea letter to a modern day Christian community (such as your parish)…

24. SUBGROUP #3 TASKS Develop a brief conclusion to your presentation by completing these two sentences: 1. “What this passage means for us today is …” 2. “We can apply this teaching in our lives to draw ourselves & others closer to Jesus by …”

25. Scripture Summary #1 (Fri & Sat) • Moses permitted divorce • Jesus revokes divorce / one partner for life • Divorce & remarriage prohibited (=adultery) • Marital bond = spiritual/exclusive/indissoluble • Accept Kingdom of God like a child (total dependence on & obedience to the gospel) to enter the Kingdom • Jesus welcomed the children – lays foundation for infant Baptism

26. Scripture Summary #1 (Sun, Mon, Wed) • Ten Commandments: lead God’s children to moral maturity – remain integral to our pursuit of holiness & eternal life • Jesus rejects OT concept of wealth= God’s favor (false security). Salvation is beyond human capability–depends on God who offers it as a gift • Camel parable: obstacles to following Jesus are just as real today as they were for rich young man (wealth, power, prestige, selfishness) …priorities? • Man = unable to obey God completely or consistently …w/ God’s grace, all things are poss.

27. Scripture Summary #2 • Pentecost = birth of the Church, celebrates the new law of the Spirit written on the hearts of believers which surpasses the Law of Moses, inscribed on stone tablets • Wind & fire = signs of the Holy Spirit as on Mt. Sinai during the Exodus • Echoes of Babel – God used language to confuse & scatter. Here the Spirit uses multiple languages to gather family of God • International gathering of Jews foreshadows international acceptance of Gospel by Gentiles

28. Scripture Summary #3 • Grave obligation on Timothy & us to preach the Word / teach the Truth • Patience, courage, constancy & endurance are required, despite the opposition, hostility, indifference & defection of many to whom the Truth has been preached • Change is difficult for people – it is much easier to ignore or deny the Truth – requires no change in behavior

29. Scripture Summary #4 • Peter’s vision: teaches him dietary restrictions of Mosaic Law now lifted in New Covenant • Deeper symbolism: Moral & religious distinction between Israel (clean) & Gentiles (unclean) now lifted • Gentiles are no longer banned from full & equal acceptance into the covenant • God shows no partiality – all men can be “saved” & receive an eternal reward

30. I Learned … I Liked … Of the NT stories, teachings or letters I heard today, My Favorite Is … Because … One thing I now know about Jesus & the NT that I did not know earlier is … Q & A

31. NO BIBLE … NO BREAKFAST NO BIBLE … NO BED Make It A Priority!!

32. The Liturgy of the Word