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Orthodox Visual Catechism #52
The Expansion of the Church
Read Acts 6 - 7
How does Stephen respond to the false accusations?
How does he respond to the people who are stoning him?
What can we learn?
Stephen demonstrates “the imitation of Christ.”
(see Acts 7:60 & 1 Peter 2:21)
Read Acts 8
What happened?
What can we learn from these stories?
Acts 8
The Orthodox practice of burial has a long tradition.
(See Acts 8:1-8)
God’s power can’t be bought, sold, or manipulated.
(See Acts 8:9-25)
Synergy = Co-laborers with God
(See Acts 8:26-40)
What else happens about this time that is not recorded in the book of Acts, but is recorded in Holy Tradition and remembered by the Church?
The Dormition of the Mother of God
The falling asleep of the Birthgiver of God is an important event in the life of the Church. A full description of the Dormition of the Mother of God is found in Church Tradition and preserved by the Holy Orthodox Church.
Read Acts 9
What happens?
Why is this significant?
Saul is converted and becomes the Apostle to the Gentiles.
He becomes a most remarkable testimony to the grace and power of God to save and change sinners.
(see Acts 9)
Read Acts 10 - 11
What happens?
What can we learn from this story?
God is good and welcomes all who come to him.
(see story of Cornelius in Acts 10-11)
Read Acts 12
What happened?
What can we learn from this story?
God’s ways are mysterious and surprising.
(see Acts 12)
James is executed; Peter is rescued.
The church prays; the church is astonished.
An angel rescues; an angel executes.
The chapter begins with the Word being silenced; it ends with the Word spreading.
Read Acts 13 - 14
What happened?
What can we learn from this story?
The Church is a missionary community.
The Church does not exist for itself, but is to reach out with the Good News.
(see Acts 13-14)
Read Acts 15
What happened?
What can we learn from this story?
The Church is conciliar.
(see The Jerusalem Council - Acts 15)
What happens in the rest of the book of Acts?
(Read over Acts 16 - 28)
What can we learn?
The Good News continues to spread to the ends of the earth. Christ continues to “do and teach” through His Spirit through His Church.
(see Acts 16 - 28)
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