The Holy Spirit, Early Church, and the Spread of Christianity
Coming of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost
After the ascension of Jesus, a small community gathered in the Cenacle, together with the mother of Jesus and the twelve apostles. There were about 120 people gathered when Apostle Matthias was chosen to replace Judas. The group constituted the first church in Jerusalem. The coming happened in Jerusalem on the day of the Jewish feast of Pentecost. This event celebrates the anniversary of the covenant of Mount Sinai between God and his people. They did not understand
Read MoreThe Pantheon: Roman Architectural Marvel & Engineering Masterpiece
The Pantheon: A Testament to Roman Ingenuity
The Pantheon represents a significant advancement in Roman art, building upon Greek construction techniques. The Romans experimented with arches and aimed for monumentality. The Pantheon, with its massive dome constructed using materials pushed to their limits, stands as a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Its dimensions remained unmatched until the 19th century and the advent of iron architecture. The dome, seemingly modest from the outside, is breathtaking
Read MorePedro de Valencia and Roman Historians: Life and Works
Pedro de Valencia: Life and Works
Pedro de Valencia was born in Zafra in 1555. He studied the first letters and the rudiments of Latin. His parents sent him to Salamanca to study law. They also noted his training in theology and classical humanities. Philip III appointed him royal chronicler and he moved to Madrid.
Work
Like his teacher Montano, Valencia was a man of encyclopedic knowledge. His writings covered many topics, and the content was not published either in his lifetime or in later centuries.
Read MoreUnderstanding Christian Faith and Wisdom: A Biblical Perspective
Understanding Christian Faith
Christian faith is both a human and supernatural faith because its object is the work of God and God’s grace. It consists of a personal encounter with the Christian God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. It is the answer to God’s love, a decision to trust and surrender completely to God.
Christian faith covers all aspects of personal and social life. Therefore, it is celebrated in the liturgy and sacraments of the Church, practiced through
Read MoreHomiletics: Effective Sermon Preparation and Delivery
Seven Characteristics of a Pastor According to 1 Timothy 3:1-7
- Blameless: A pastor must be blameless in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. A pastor who lives to a high standard is enabled to preach to a high standard.
- Husband of one wife: People expect a leader to be a one-woman man. If they discover you are not faithful to your wife, they lose their trust in you.
- Hospitable: By being generous with what they have to both the saved and unsaved, a pastor is able to open people’s hearts as he opens
Hispano-Muslim Art: Origins and Religious Principles
Hispano-Muslim Art: An Introduction to Islamic Art
Origins
- Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD.
- In his youth, he devoted himself to grazing and accompanying convoys.
- At 20 years old, he started working at the home of a wealthy widow whom he would marry five years later.
- Muhammad often retired to Mount Hira for prayer and meditation.
- At 40 years old, he believed he encountered the archangel Gabriel, who revealed the Word of God (Allah) to him.
- Muhammad informed his friends, who became his followers.
- The