What is a disciple?
In your own words, explain what a disciple is.
Your answer may reward you bonus points.
Definition: A disciple is someone who believes and helps spread the doctrine of another.
A disciple is one who loves God, our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his heart, soul, and mind, and tries to become more and more like Him through a life of faith, good deeds and obedience.
Where was Saul born?
For bonus points, around what time was Saul born?
Tarsus of Celicia (modern-day Turkey).
Around the time when Jesus was alive, about 5 AD.
Whose execution did Saul witness and participate in?
St Stephen, the protomartyr (the first martyr), who gave all his life to God.
What was the original name of the disciple, Saint Peter?
For bonus points, Who gave Saint Peter his new name, "Cephas"?
What does it mean in Aramaic and Greek?
Simon.
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave Saint Peter his new name, Cephas.
Cephas means 'Rock' in Aramaic and 'Peter' in Greek.
What was the name of Saint Peter's brother?
The disciple, Saint Andrew.
List 3 vital characteristics of being a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, in your own words.
Your answer may reward you bonus points.
1. I know that I am a child of God, that Christ dwells within me.
2. I trust that the Holy Spirit will always help me to understand the Word of God, will always help me to pray, will produce the fruits of the Spirit in me, and enable me to live a holy life and witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I love our Lord Christ, my neighbour, my fellow disciples, and my enemies. I love with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I love my neighbour as myself.
Complete this sentence. Saul went to Jerusalem to study the ______________.
For bonus points, find the verse in the Holy Bible that tells us the name of Saul's teacher.
The Law.
Gamaliel. Acts 22:3. Also Acts 5:34.
Complete this sentence. Paul was a Jew from the tribe of ____________ and a _______ citizen.
Benjamin. Roman.
Who was the first Pope of Rome?
Saint Peter.
How many times did Saint Peter deny our Lord Jesus Christ?
Three times.
However, Jesus knew that Saint Peter was repentant (expressing or feeling sincere regret and remorse; remorseful).
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour, the Love, and the Forgiving Lord. After the Resurrection, when Saint Peter confessed his love (three times), Jesus commanded him, "Feed my sheep".
Explain in detail and in your own words some characteristics of being a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For bonus points, explain practical examples of what we can do in our daily lives to demonstrate that we are true disciples of Christ.
Can include the 3 characteristics from the 200-point question, plus:
1. I know how to read, study, memorise, and meditate upon the Word of God. This means that I trust the Holy Spirit to help me to understand the Word of God and I seek His help always.
2. I know that it is impossible to understand the Word of God without the Holy Spirit. It is like trying to understand what someone is saying without listening to them.
3. I pray. I follow our Lord Jesus Christ's footsteps. He spent 40 days in prayer and fasting in the wilderness. He is our ultimate Role Model. Praying is one-on-one direct contact with God.
4. I am obedient, in Christ. This means that I study the Word of God and I live a life that honours God.
5. I trust God and live in faith, hope, and continually practise good deeds.
6. I witness for Christ as a way of life.
7. I worship God. I spend one-on-one quality time with God and I live the life of the Church. I praise him with my fellow disciples, with the congregation.
8. I believe in our Lord Jesus Christ's incomprehensible love for us. This means that I trust that He gave me many talents. I try my best to use my talents to witness for Christ, and to show others the love, joy, and peace of a true Christian.
In which city did Saul want to persecute the Christians, after persecuting them in Jerusalem?
For bonus points, what happened to Saul on his way to D______?
Damascus, the capital city of Syria.
A light from heaven blinded him. He fell to the ground and a voice said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul answered, "Who are you?" The voice said, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up! Go into the city, and you will be told what to do."
What was the name of the follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, who restored Saul's sight? Find the verse in the Holy Bible in which he is introduced.
St Ananias.
Acts 9:10 - "In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered."
Even though St Ananias was afraid, as he knew Saul's reputation, he obeyed God. He is a 'true' disciple.
St Ananias also baptised St Paul after he regained his sight by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Which epistles, or letters, in the Holy Bible did Saint Peter write?
1 and 2 Peter.
Complete this sentence:
In the Book of _____, Saint Peter continued to serve as a leader of the church in Jerusalem, where he welcomed Saint ______ on arrival, after his conversion.
Acts.
Saint Paul.
What did the Jews think about what St Paul was preaching?
For bonus points, explain how St Paul escaped from the Jews who did not believe in what he what he was preaching, that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God.
To the Jews, St Paul's claims about Jesus were considered blasphemous, despite the fact that St Paul gave clear evidence from the Scriptures that showed that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Bible prophecies.
The Jews wanted to kill him, but he escaped with the help of some Christians who lowered him in a basket from the top of the city wall.
What is St. Paul the Apostle also called?
Hint: This question has a word that is part of 'what St Paul is also called'.
"Apostle to the Gentiles".
The Lord said that St Paul was chosen to take the Lord's name to the Gentiles.
Who are the Gentiles?
Complete this sentence:
Saint Peter preached the first sermon after the P_________, made the first healing, and opened the door of Christianity to the G________.
Hint: G________. They are not Jews.
For bonus points, who, then, became the apostle of the G_______, and spread Christianity to them?
Pentecost.
Gentiles (non-Jews).
Saint Paul.
In which Book of the Bible can we learn more about Saint Peter?
Book of Acts.
Explain why you think our Lord Jesus Christ gave St Paul the new name, "Paul".
For bonus points, look for two verses, one in Acts 9, and one in Acts 23, that demonstrate the transformation of Saul to St Paul.
The Lord gave him his name.
Acts 9:4 - He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Acts 23:11 - But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
Which saint vouched for St Paul when he began preaching in the synagogues that our Lord Jesus Christ was the Messiah and the Son of God?
vouched: confirm that someone is who they say they are or that they are of good character.
St Barnabas.
Why was Saint Peter given this new name?
Hint: What was Saint Peter's reply, when our Lord Jesus Christ asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”
(Matthew 16:15)
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
(Matthew 16:16-18)
The 'Rock' is Saint Peter's FAITH, that the Lord Christ is the Son of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ built the Church on this faith.
Saint Peter received the crown of martyrdom, because he had a GREAT love for our Lord Jesus Christ, so he counted his life as nothing. He gave everything, even his life, because of this great love.
How was Saint Peter martyred?
According to the Coptic Orthodox tradition, Saint Peter was martyred, by being crucified, upside down.
When the Romans came to crucify Saint Peter, he said, "I am not worthy to die like my Master, crucify me upside down".