Joe MillerWilly Kelley

Julianna Dawes-Allen

What is Christianity?

A set of beliefs Based on the teachings of Jesus

A way of life The ten commandments, the commandments of Jesus

A community of people The church is a family.

Types of Christianity• Adventist Family Adventist

groups, Jehovah's Witnesses, and British Israelism

• Baptist Family Southern Baptists, American Baptists, etc.

• Christian Science-Metaphysical Family Christian Science, New Thought

• Communal Family The Jesus People, Twin Oaks, etc.

• Eastern Orthodox Family Various Orthodox churches -- Russian, Greek, Serbian, etc.

• European Free-Church Family Amish, Brethren, Mennonites, Quakers, Shakers, etc.

• Holiness Family Christian and Missionary Alliance, Church of the Nazarene, etc.

• Independent Fundamentalist Family Plymouth Brethren, Fundamentalists, etc.

• Latter-day Saints Family a.k.a. LDS

• Restorationists Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The community of Christ

• Lutheran Family Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran church - Missouri Synod, etc.

• Messianic Judaism Jews For Jesus, and other similar groups

• Pentecostal Family Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland, TN)

• Pietist-Methodist Family Scandinavian Pietism, United Methodist Church, other Methodists

• Reformed-Presbyterian Family Reformed, various Presbyterian churches, Congregational, United Church of Christ

• Western Liturgical Family Anglican Communion; Roman Catholicism, including the Latin Church and the Eastern Rite Churches: (Armenian 5 Catholic Church, Chaldean C.C., Coptic C.C., Marionite C.C., Melkite C.C.,  Syrian C.C.); Old Catholicism; and the Ukranian Catholic Church

Branch Number of Adherents

Catholic 1,050,000,000

Orthodox/Eastern Christian 240,000,000

African indigenous sects (AICs) 110,000,000

Pentecostal 105,000,000

Reformed/Presbyterian/Congregational/United 75,000,000

Anglican 73,000,000

Baptist 70,000,000

Methodist 70,000,000

Lutheran 64,000,000

Jehovah's Witnesses 14,800,000

Adventist 12,000,000

Latter Day Saints 12,500,000

Apostolic/New Apostolic 10,000,000

Stone-Campbell ("Restoration Movement") 5,400,000

New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) 1,500,000

Brethren (incl. Plymouth) 1,500,000

Mennonite 1,250,000

Friends (Quakers) 300,000

Began in Jerusalem in 1AD with Jesus of Nazareth. Mary became pregnant before she was married. She was

approximately fourteen years old. Joseph was going to quietly call off the engagement but an angel came to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. The baby was born of the holy spirit.

Jesus was born in a barn because his father went to Bethlehem for the census and all the inns were taken.

When Jesus was 12 years old, he began teaching in the Synagogue. “Didn’t you know I would be in my fathers house?” to his parents Joseph and Mary.

After Jesus was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist at age 30, he began teaching, healing, and working miracles.

He spoke of the ‘Kingdom of God’ to large crowds, and soon chose 12 eager disciples whom he taught privately. They believed him to be the Messiah . Jesus condemned religious hypocrites and interpreted the Mosaic law in new ways.

He taught self-sacrificing love by his example of being an atonement for all men’s sins.

He said that everyone was excepted into the Kingdom not just the Jews.

Jesus taught about mercy, forgiveness and love. “The greatest of all my commandments is love one another.”Preached against eye for eye“turn the other cheek”

He talked about the arrival of judgment day and the necessity to repent.

Judas, one of the twelve apostles, betrayed Jesus with a kiss.At the last supper Satan entered Judas.

Judas later after Jesus’ crucifixion hung himself out of guilt. He hung himself on a field with the money he received by betraying Jesus. To this day no one uses the field, it is called the

field of blood.Even Peter denied knowing Jesus three times

before the rooster crowed as Jesus had prophesized.

Some, however, didn’t like what he spoke and the Romans crucified him.

Whipped 39 times, gave him crown of thrones, insulted him, made him carry cross, nailed to cross through both of his hand and his feet, next to two other criminals.

On the cross, they inscribed Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. This was their mockery toward him.

After he died, there was an earthquake, a few hours of darkness.

Three days later, women went to anoint him and he was missing from his tomb. The stone door was open and his cloths were folded up, and an angel was standing there and told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus spent 30 days on earth along his disciples giving them instructions to what to do after he left. Paul and Peter spread His word and they wrote some of the books in the Bible.

After Jesus’ death, His followers started gathering and writing down the words of Jesus, otherwise known as the gospel.

Saul, a Jewish leader, underwent a religious conversion and changed his name to Paul, spreading the gospel around the Mediterranean and writing many letters to the churches which are now part of the New Testament.

The Breaks in Christianity

God is the creator of the world Jesus is the Son of God He died on the cross and resurrected He is the Messiah (savior) The Trinity

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Heaven and Hell The Ten Commandments Everyone sins

Important Versus

“All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, teaching them as I have taught you. And surely I am with you always to the very end.” Matthew 28:18-20

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“For God so loved the world, he gave his one and only son, that who so ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“In the beginning, God created heaven and earth.” Genesis 1:1

“Jesus wept” John 11:35

Catholic• The largest of the Christian churches• Beliefs

– Authority in the Church:• The Pope, The Bishops (Papal authorities)• All proceed from the original apostles

– Forgiveness:• Confession to the Church• Ritual

– Prayer:• To God• To Mary or Saints to intercede

– Creation:• Used for good by God• Marred by Original Sin

– Sacraments and Baptism:• Important to receive faith• Give the grace that they signify • Baptized as an infant

Protestant

Beliefs Authority:

No papal authority Anyone can interpret the bible as they see it

Forgiveness: Saved by faith alone Simply believe in Jesus, and ask for forgiveness

Prayer: To God To Jesus to intercede

Communion: Used to show ones faith

Baptism: Public declaration of ones faith and dedication to God

Sundays

Communion

Christmas

Ash Wednesday

Lent Palm Sunday

Good Friday

Easter

Communion

"Basic Catholic Beliefs and Practices." Ancient and Future Catholics. 21 Sept. 2008 <http://www.ancient-future.net/basics.html>.

"Protestantism." Wikipedia.org. 21 Sept. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/protestant#three_fundamental_principles_of_protestantism>.

Robinson, B. A. "Comparing the beliefs of Roman." Religious Tolerance.org. 21 Sept. 2008 <http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_capr.htm>.

Turley, Anne K. "The Orthodox Church." 21 Sept. 2008 <http://www.dorogadomoj.com/de132lea.html>.

"What are Major Christian Beliefs?" 21 Sept. 2008 <http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/major.html>.

"A One-Page Overview of Christian History." Religion Facts. 22 Sept. 2008 <http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/overview.htm>.

The Holy Bible