The holy, catholic, Church, the Communion of Saints

The history buffs really appreciated this lesson.  Some of the others were really bored.  I believe it is important to hit all sorts of learning styles, so I wouldn't do a lesson like this every week.  However, it's important enough for our youth to know how we fit into our family tree.  I used a couple of graphics I found on google images to show the denominational tree.  If you don't have one, you'll find something useful there.  Also, because we are Nazarene, I emphasized our particular lineage.  I did not really attempt to be objective in my descriptions of each denomination, although I made sure not to disparage any one of them.  Throughout, I would pause and say, "Still all Christians, right?"

“The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints”

Recite Apostles’ Creed

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended to the dead.  On the Third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

Review

Let’s define our terms here (have people read the dictionary definition of the following terms):
Holy
Catholic
Communion
Saints

After we have looked at the individual terms, what do you think this is saying about the Church?

Do you think its possible for us to be morally perfect? (No)

Why do you think this is contained in the article under the Holy Spirit? (Because the Spirit is “Holy,” the Spirit makes us holy, it is only in the Spirit that we are a part of this community and are holy)

Over the last few months we have been talking a lot about God - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  We worship a big God.

Our God is bigger than anything life can throw at you.  God is bigger than the problems you are having at school.  God is bigger than the divorce of parents.  God is bigger than the death of a loved one.  God is bigger than a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend.  God is bigger than my miscarriage last year.  God is bigger than anything life throws at us.  And this phrase in the creed reminds us of this.

God is bigger than Baker City.  God is bigger than the Nazarene Church.  God is bigger than Protestantism.  God is bigger than the Church.  God is bigger than this world.

Today we’re going to look at the church, this communion of saints that God has used, is using, and will use.

Before you is a tree laying out the history of the Church.  I’m handing out pieces of paper with the name of a larger tradition and a brief description of each.  We are going to construct a tree that shows us where we fit and how God is using us and those of other traditions.

Early Church: During the first few hundred years, the church had a lot of new issues with which to deal.  They began informally, meeting in houses, but within a couple hundred years they had much more structure.  For several decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the early Christians were considered a sect of Judaism and participated in the same rites and practices as the Jews.

Roman Catholic:  Until 1054, there was only one official church.  During the first 1,000 years, the church had moved from being on the margins of society to “Christendom,” from being a sect of Judaism to an anti-semite society, from informal gatherings of all sects of society to feudal system that promoted the status quo.  Today, the Roman Catholic Church is the largest sect of Christianity.  They have come a long way since 1054.  The current Pope (the leader of the Catholicism) is Pope Francis.

Orthodox:  In 1054, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches officially separated, although they were two different traditions from early on.  They spoke separate languages and had two competing leaders.  The Orthodox Church gave the most authority to the Patriarch of Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).  The current Patriarch is Bartholomew I.  Traditionally, they have emphasized the relation nature of the Triune God and mysticism.

Lutheran:  In 1517, Martin Luther published his 95 Theses.  This sparked an intense debate that ended in his excommunication, as well as thousands of Europeans leaving the Catholic Church in “protest” (i.e. Protestants).  Luther’s main argument was that we are justified by grace alone, not works.  Currently, there are over 70 million Lutherans.  Unbeknownst to Luther, he started a movement that has produced thousands of denominations and “nondenominational” congregations.
Denominations in this Tradition:
Lutheranism
Evangelical Free Church

Anabaptist: In the mid 1520s, a small movement began that focused on baptism.  They believed that baptism was only for those who can express an “oral confession of faith.”  Their detractors called them Anabaptists because they baptized each other, considering their infant baptism as not real.  They emphasized pacifism, separation of church and state, and the priesthood of all believers.
Denominations in the Tradition:
Amish
Mennonite
Hitterite
Quaker
Friends Church

Reformed:  Shortly after Luther, John Calvin began a movement of his own.  While he agreed with Luther on much, he had important disagreements that led him in another direction.  The Reformed tradition is probably the most influential tradition in America.  This tradition is best known by the acronym TULIP, although each of these has been modified in the past 500 years.
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election (No merit, nothing we did or can do)
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (once saved always saved)
Currently, the most direct descendant of the Reformed tradition is the Presbyterian Church.
Denominations in this Tradition:
Presbyterian
Baptists
Congregationalist

Anglican: In the 1530s, King Henry VIII wanted to get an annulment from his wife, Catherine, who did not give birth to an heir.  The Pope wouldn’t grant the annulment, so, in November 1534, the King declared himself the head of the Church of England.  While this was an awful reason to split from a church, the Anglican Church was able to establish Christian theology and praxis.  Currently, the Anglican Church is present all over the world and is still the “via media” (middle way) between Catholicism and Protestantism that it desired to be in the 16th century.
Denominations in this Tradition:
Methodist

Baptist: In the 1600s, a movement began in the Reformed tradition over baptism.  They believed only professing believers could be baptized, and it had to be done by immersion.  This is a very diverse group with many different branches.  However, they are a part of the Reformed tradition and generally hold an Evangelicalized reformation theology, compared to the high-church reformed Presbyterians.
Denominations in this Tradition:
Southern Baptist
Churches of Christ
Adventists

Methodist: In the 1700s, John Wesley began a movement within Anglicanism that emphasized personal holiness.  They were mocked as “methodists” because of the strict methods they used to keep each other accountable.  Wesley believed that we can be free from sin here and now, by the power of the Spirit, and do not have to sin in thought and word every day.  He also believed that you cannot do Christianity on your own.  It is not just between you and God, for salvation takes place within the Church.  “There is no holiness but social holiness.”
Denominations in this Tradition:
Salvation Army
Christian and Missionary Alliances
Church of the Nazarene
Pentecostal Tradition

Pentecostalism:  In the late 1800s, a revival movement began that emphasized a direct and personal experience with the Holy Spirit.  Closely tied to the holiness movement, they expected God to spiritually renew the Christian Church.  They distanced themselves from the holiness movement early in the 1900s.  Pentecostalism has traditionally emphasized gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, divine healing, and prophesy.
Denominations in this Tradition:
Church of God
Assemblies of God
Foursquare Gospel
Calvary Chapel
Vineyard Ministries

Church of the Nazarene:  In 1907, several holiness congregations came together and formed the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene (Pentecostal was dropped a few years later).  Their earliest roots were in the poor areas of Los Angeles.  They named themselves after the Nazarene, because nothing good can come from Nazareth (John 1:46).  Currently there are over 2 million Nazarenes in 159 world areas.  They have traditionally emphasized holiness and service to the poor and marginalized.

This is our wider family, the “catholic Church,” the communion of saints.”

For our last few minutes, I want to focus on the community that has surrounded us.  We do not arrive where we’re at by ourselves.  For better or worse, others have influenced us.

I’m going to pass out pieces of paper.  I want you to map out your spiritual history.  Some of you might not think of yourself as Christian, or perhaps you have few Christian influences in your life.  That’s okay.  I want you to map out who the religious influences are in your life.  If your dad was an atheist and heavily influenced you, then put him there.  If your great uncle Jon was the one who most influenced your theology, write that down.

What strikes you?  Does anybody stick out?  Did you forget anybody that, upon further reflection you should have added?

Close in prayer