Chapter Six

Chapter Six
Chapter Six: Called to Community

1. What is the one key idea of this chapter? Pay attention to the title of the chapter!

This chapter focuses on the spread of early Christianity after Jesus' death. Jesus used the Holy Spirit to fill his followers with inspiration so that they would be able to spread the good news. Despite the difficulties of following this new religion and the probable hostility and persecution from authorities, the messengers were empowered by the Holy Spirit to still spread the good news. In this chapter we are called to community, as the gentiles, apostles and disciples were called into the community of early Christianity. The gentiles were called through the Holy Spirit as well as people such as Paul or Philip. The disciples and apostles were called by the Holy Spirit and in the community of Christ the followers gathered together and spoke and learned about and from God and His son. Today we are called to community through the Holy Spirit but also scripture and tradition.

2. Write about two major ideas you want to remember. Write a short paragraph on each clearly stating the idea and then telling why you want to remember it.

One major idea I want to take from this chapter is that the gentiles performed a large role in helping the spread of the faith in Jesus. As the followers of Christ were scattered after the stoning of Stephen, they took shelter in many of the surrounding countries and towns. Many of the gentiles listened to the apostles or other followers of Christ who fled and eventually many converted to the new religion. Peter and John worked together to pass the Holy Spirit on to the many different people who joined the religion and Paul, a large persecutor of the followers of Christ, would eventually become a messenger for God and would help spread the good news. The gentiles were key in the development of the religion of Christ because they became the first followers and helped the message of Christ spread.

The second major idea I want to take from this chapter is the inspiration by the Holy Spirit of the apostles and disciples after Jesus' death. The events of the Pentecost were very important to the beginning of Christianity and the faith of Jesus. In a rush of wind all the apostles and disciples that were gathered together were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was essential to the spreading of the message of Jesus because it filled the followers with the courage to spread the news, no matter what. Without the inspiration given by the Holy Spirit, the followers of Christ might never have been empowered enough to spread the message and therefore this early religion would not have grown to be what it is today.

3. One image that captures the chapter for you.

4. One significant question you have from this chapter. It can be intellectual or personal.

Why did the apostles have to die to help the growth of Christianity? Weren't there other ways?