1. ORIGINS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH Michael A. Fahey, “ Church”, in Systematic Theology, eds. Francis Schussler Fiorenza and John F. Galvin, Ireland: Gill and Mcmillan, 1992, pp. 328-398.

2. JESUS CHRIST FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH

3. NEW TESTAMENT PROOFS: JESUS’ DIRECT INTENTION TO FOUND THE CHURCH YOU ARE PETER…(MT. 16:18)

4. POST-RESURRECTION ACCOUNT: PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME… TEND MY SHEEP… FEED MY FLOCK…

5. DIFFERENT STAGES IN THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH JESUS’ OWN SENSE OF HIS MISSION

6. PERIOD AFTER THE RESURRECTION

7. PENTECOST EXPERIENCE

8. JESUS TRAINED WITH UTMOST CARE HIS DISCIPLES PROOFS THAT JESUS INTENDED HIS MESSAGE TO HAVE ENDURING VALUE

9. IN THE LAST SUPPER, HE INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES… DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME…

10. PRE-NICENE CHRISTIANITY DURING THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES, CHRISTIANITY UNDERWENT A PERIOD OF VIOLENT PERSECUTIONS RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF MANY CHRISTIANS

11. CONSTANTINIAN TURNING POINT CHRISTIANITY WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

13. THE EDICT OF MILAN (313 AD) DECLARED THAT THE ROMAN EMPIRE WOULD BE NEUTRAL WITH REGARD TO RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

14. OFFICIALLY ENDED ALL GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PERSECUTION, ESPECIALLY OF CHRISTIANITY

15. CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE

18. 2. CHANGES IN THE LITURGY, SACRAMENTAL PRACTICES

19. FROM THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS TO MONOEPISCOPACY

20. THE CHURCH DURING THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES THE INTERACTION OF CITY CHURCH WITH ONE ANOTHER BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF NICEA

21. 1. PRAYERS FOR OTHERS AT EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS AND SHARING EUCHRISTIC BREAD a. LITURGICAL PRAYERS: “ AS THIS BROKEN BREAD WAS SCATTERED UPON THE MOUNTAINS, BUT WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER AND BECAME ONE, SO LET THY CHURCH BE GATHERED TOGETHER FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH INTO THY KINGDOM , FOR THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”

22. b. CHRISTIANS SENT TO OTHER CHURCHES CONSECRATED BREAD OF COMMUNION UPON ARRIVAL, THE BREAD WOULD BE MIXED INTO THE CHALICE OF THE RECEIVING CHURCH AS A SIGN OF ONENESS

23. 2. INSTALLING NEW BISHOPS BY INVITING OTHER BISHOPS FROM NEIGHBORING CHURCHES TO CONSECRATE THEM

24. 3. CONVOKING REGIONAL SYNODS OR COUNCILS FOSTERED EXCHANGE AND COORDINATION AMONG CHURCHES CHRISTIANS CONDUCTED SERIES OF DIALOGUE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF HERESIES

25. 4. EXCHANGING AND CIRCULATING LETTERS THE LETTERS OFTEN CONTAINED THE VIEWS OF GROUPS AND NOT MERELY INDIVIDUALS LETTERS ARE EITHER HORTATORY (SERMONS, APPEALS) OR INFORMATIONAL

26. 5. ACCEPTING ATTEMPTS AT COORDINATION OF THE WESTERN CHURCHES BY THE BISHOP OF ROME ROME CAME TO BE SEEN AS ENJOYING INFLUENCE OVER OTHER CHURCHES

27. 6. SUBMITTING TO DIRECT INTERVENTIONS BY THE EMPEROR IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIFE OF THE CHURCH HE RESTORED CONFISCATED BUILDINGS MADE AVAILABLE FINANCES FOR CHURCH BUILDINGS CLERGY WERE EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN POLITICAL DUTIES AND TAXES