Saints LightHow Did the Church Begin?
The Church began at Pentecost as a visible community gathered around the apostles, their teaching, the Eucharist and prayer, and the same Church continues today.
What this lesson teaches
- The Church was born at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in Jerusalem.
- From the beginning the Church had apostolic teaching, fellowship, the Eucharist and prayer (Acts 2:42).
- The apostles settled disputes together at the Council of Jerusalem, the model for later councils.
- The early Christians sinned and argued, yet the Spirit kept the Church one.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 731-732
- CCC 767
- CCC 857
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Acts 2:4; Acts 2:42.
A sample question from this lesson
According to Acts 2:42, what were the first Christians devoted to?
- The teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers
- Private Bible study at home without any leaders or shared worship
- Keeping every part of the Law of Moses exactly as before
- Building large churches and schools in every Roman city
Show the answer
The teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 names apostolic teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers, the four marks still found in every parish.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Pentecost
- The Jewish harvest feast fifty days after Passover, on which the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles; the birthday of the Church.
- Apostolic
- Founded on the apostles and still taught and led by their successors, the bishops.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"How Did the Church Begin?" is lesson 1 of Two Thousand Years in Twelve Lessons. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
Every course is open free for your first 14 days. After that, one payment of $14.99 unlocks every course. There is no subscription.
Related lessons
- I believe in the Holy Spirit (The Creed, free)