The Growth and Development of the Church
From a small group of followers to a worldwide family of traditions. Explore Jesus as the Word of God, the Church as one body with many parts, and how the Church grew and branched into Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions.
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From a few to billions
Christianity began with the followers of Jesus, who taught them to love, forgive and serve others, and in the Gospel of Mark chapter 8 called them to take up their cross and follow him. Over two thousand years the Church grew into a worldwide family of around two billion people, branching into different traditions. This module traces how the Church grew, and why Christians belong to different traditions.
Church and Reformation words
Four ideas run through this topic:
The Word of God
The opening of the Gospel of John gives Jesus a special title. Which is it?
- The Word of God
- A prophet and nothing more
- An angel sent to earth
- A king of one nation only
One body, many parts
The letter to the Romans, chapter 12, and the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12, compare the Church to a single body. Just as a body has many parts with different jobs, the Church has many members with different gifts, all belonging together. This image teaches unity in diversity as the Church grows.
Follow the example
- Love
- Forgiveness
- Servanthood
- Social justice
- Caring for others, even those who are difficult
- Letting go of wrongs done to you
- Serving other people humbly, as Jesus did
- Working for fairness for the poor and the weak
The main traditions
As the Church grew, it developed into several great traditions.
How the Church grew
Put these stages in the growth of the Church in order, earliest first.
- The followers of Jesus form the first Church
- Christianity spreads across the Roman world
- The Great Schism splits the Catholic and Orthodox Churches
- The Reformation begins the Protestant traditions
- Newer Pentecostal and Charismatic churches grow
Name the traditions
Which THREE are major Christian traditions?
- Catholic
- Orthodox
- Protestant
- Judaism
- Sikhism
Match the tradition
- Catholic
- Orthodox
- Protestant
- Pentecostal
- Led by the pope in Rome
- Led by patriarchs and known for icons
- Began with the Reformation
- Emphasises the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Complete the idea
The Gospel of John calls Jesus the _____ of God. Saint Paul compares the Church to one _____ with many parts, each with a different gift. As the Church grew it split: the Great Schism formed the Catholic and _____ Churches, and later the _____ began the Protestant traditions. A distinct branch of Christianity is called a _____.
True or not?
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE about the Church.
- The Reformation led to the Protestant traditions.
- The Great Schism was partly caused by a disagreement called the Filioque.
- The Church has always been a single united tradition.
- The Orthodox Church is led by the pope in Rome.
- Pentecostal churches are the oldest Christian tradition.
The body of believers
Saint Paul compares the Church to a body. What does this image mainly teach?
- Many members with different gifts belong to one Church
- Everyone in the Church must be exactly the same
- Each Christian should worship alone
- Only the leader of the Church matters
Living it out
Use what you have learned to answer each question.
- A Christian wants to follow the example of Jesus at school. What fits best?
- A church has members with many different talents. How does the Body of Christ image describe this?
- Which tradition began at the Reformation?
Trace the growth
Explain how the Christian Church grew over time, and why Christians today belong to different traditions.
- Name one early stage in the growth of the Church
- Explain what the Great Schism did
- Explain what the Reformation led to
- Use the idea of the Church as one body with many parts