QUARTER 1, MODULE 5
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CHRISTIANITY
CONTENT STANDARD
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The learner demonstrates understanding of the elements of Christianity:
a. Founder: Jesus Christ (c. 7 BC-30 A.D.)
b. Sacred texts: Bible (Old Testament and New Testament)
c. Doctrines: Trinity, Virgin Birth, Deity of Christ, Resurrection, Last
Judgment
d: God: Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
e. Sects: Roman Catholic, Greek/Eastern Orthodox, Protestantism, etc.
f. Issues: Ecumenism, Sexuality issues (e.g., contraception, homosexuality,
ordination of women)
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PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner interviews a Christian parent or couple
on why they are Christians and what beliefs and
practices they adhere to.
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LEARNING COMPETENCIES
5.1. Recite the Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer or the
Beatitudes
5.2. Interpret the Parable of the Prodigal Son
5.3. Explain: The core teaching of Christianity is the
message that a loving God sent His begotten Son in order to
redeem humankind from eternal damnation.
5.4. Interview a Christian parent or couple on why they are
Christians and what beliefs and practices they adhere to
THE RISE OF
CHRISTIANITY
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GUIDE QUESTIONS:
Which line of the Apostle’s Creed stands out to you the most? Why?
How does the Apostle’s Creed help you understand the core beliefs of
Christianity?
What does it mean to you personally to believe in "the forgiveness of sins"?
How can professing the Apostle’s Creed shape the way you live your daily
life?
Do you feel a sense of unity with others when reciting the Creed? Why or
why not?
Jesus
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the founder of Christianity
LIFE STORIES OF JESUS CHRIST
His Life, Teachings, Death, and
Resurrection
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•Jesus Christ is the central figure of
Christianity.
•He is believed by Christians to be the
Son of God and the Savior of
humanity.
•His life and teachings are recorded in
the New Testament.
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The Birth of Jesus
•Born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph.
•Birth announced by the Angel Gabriel.
•Born in a manger – celebrated as
Christmas.
•Visited by shepherds and wise men.
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Early Life
•Raised in Nazareth.
•At age 12, He taught in the temple, amazing
the teachers.
•Lived a humble and obedient life with His
family
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Baptism and Beginning of Ministry
•Baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan
River.
•Holy Spirit descended like a dove.
•God’s voice said: “This is my beloved Son...”
•Began His public ministry at around age 30.
z Teachings and Miracles
•Preached about the Kingdom of God, love,
forgiveness, and repentance.
•Taught through parables (e.g., The Good
Samaritan, The Prodigal Son).
•Performed miracles:
•Healing the sick
•Feeding the 5000
•Walking on water
•Rais
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The Twelve Apostles
•Chose 12 disciples to follow and learn from
Him.
•They helped spread His teachings.
•Notable apostles: Peter, John, James, Judas
Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).
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The Last Supper
•Final meal with His disciples before His
death.
•Instituted the Holy Eucharist (Body and
Blood).
•Predicted His betrayal by Judas.
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Crucifixion
•Arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
•Tried and sentenced to death by crucifixion.
•Died on the cross at Golgotha.
•Words on the cross: “Father, forgive them...”
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Resurrection
Rose from the dead on the third day (Easter
Sunday).
Appeared to His disciples and many others.
Proved His power over sin and death.
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Ascension
After 40 days, Jesus ascended into
Heaven.
Promised to send the Holy Spirit.
Christians believe He will return again.
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Jesus’ Impact
Foundation of Christianity.
Inspired billions across history.
Model of love, sacrifice, humility, and
forgiveness.
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The major turning point in Christian history came in the early
4th century AD because of two Roman Emperors:
Constantine the Great and Theodosius the Great.
Emperor Constantine I issued the Edict of Milan (313), which
mandated that Christianity is a legal religion while Emperor
Theodosius ordered Christianity as the official religion of the
Roman Empire.
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SACRED
z SCRIPTURES
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OLD TESTAMENT
Old Testament is considered the original Hebrew Bible,
written between 1200 and 165 B.C.E. around 100 C.E. also called
the Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books which are arranged in
three parts:
1. “The Law” or Torah are the first five books which may refer to
guidance or instruction. They are called as such because they
serve as guidelines on how people should live their everyday lives,
as well as other legal necessities. Later these books were called
the Pentateuch, which were attributed to Moses.
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2. “The Prophets” which is divided into two parts, the
earlier prophets and the latter prophets. The book of
former prophets is considered historical while the book of
latter prophets contain sayings and stories of the prophets.
3. “The Writings,” which include Psalms (songs, prayers,
and worship liturgies), Proverbs (wise sayings), Job (a
drama that explores the nature of suffering), and the five
scrolls (Megiloth) which were grouped together for their
associations with a particular religious festival.
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THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament consists of 27 documents / books written
between AD 50 and 150 concerning matters of belief and practice in
Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean world. Is divided into
four parts:
1. The Gospels centered on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ which
were written by his disciples also known as the four Evangelist: Matthew
(75-80 COE), Mark (65-70 COE.), Luke (85 C.E.), John (90-100 C.E.).
2. The Acts of the Apostles describe the spread of early Christianity after
Jesus' ascension. They are historical narrative set in the history of Israel
and of the Roman Empire. The history is theologically presented; it
interprets what God is doing in this event or with that person.
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3. Epistles are Letters written by various Christian leaders to
serve as guide to the early Christian communities, most of which
are written by Paul in Greco-Roman world and was a fairly
standardized literary form consisting of signature, address,
greeting, eulogy or thanksgiving, message, and farewell. St. Paul
found this form congenial to his relation to the churches he had
established and convenient for an itinerant apostle. The form
became widely accepted in the Christian community and was
used by other church leaders and writers some of which appear
sermons, exhortations, or treatises thinly disguised as epistles.
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4. Revelations "foretells in symbolic language the triumph
of Christianity. The Apocalyptic writing appears throughout
the New Testament but is most extensive in the Book of
Revelation. Apocalypses are usually written in times of
severe crisis for a community, times in which people look
beyond the present and beyond human sources for help
and hope. Apparently, Revelation was written during the
persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor
Domitian, who reigned from 81 to 96 AD. .
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GUIDE QUESTIONS:
Who are the main characters in the story?
What did the younger son ask for? What did he do with it?
How did the father respond when the son returned?
How did the older brother feel?
What does the parable tell us about God's love?
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BELIEFS AND
DOCTRINES
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SEVEN SACRAMENTS
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Communion or Eucharist
4. Confession
5. Matrimony
6. Holy Orders
7. Anointing of the Sick
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THE HOLY TRINITY
Christians believe in the Holy Trinity which means that God has
three aspects-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is believed that God the
Father sent his only son Jesus Christ to save humanity from their
sins and restore their relationship with God the father. This doctrine
of the Holy Trinity was affirmed at the Council of Nicea in 25 C.E.
where it was agreed upon that the Son has the same substance
with the Father, therefore they are both eternal. This concept was
never mentioned in the Old Testament but in the New Testament,
although it never implicitly mentioned the term, gives some
mentions to it.
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The Ten Commandments
It is also called the Decalogue. They are a set of laws
given by God to the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai
through Moses. They are meant to guide Christians
on how to behave within the family, society, and most
especially with respect to God.
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Lord’s Prayer
It is also called the Our Father, essential
Christian prayer which Jesus taught as
the way to pray. They are found in the
Gospel in the New Testament, Mattew
6: 9 and Luke 11:2
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The Apostle’s Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is believed to have developed in the
100 or 200 C.E. and was influenced later by the Nicene
Creed. A letter written by the Council of Milan in 390 C.E.
is the earliest historical evidence of the existence of the
Apostles’ Creed. It is not written by the apostles
themselves but it serves as a summary of their basic
teachings.
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The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes refer to the eight sayings of
Jesus at the beginning of the “Sermon on the
Mount.” AS mentioned in Matthew 5-7.
EIGHT
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BEATITUDES MENTIONED IN MATTHEW 5-7
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth,
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy
Blessed
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God.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be
called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:1-2. New Testament King James Version
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Seven Sacraments
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which
are considered signs of inner kindness given by God
for Christians to live a genuine human life. The seven
sacraments are as follows: Baptism, Confirmation,
Holy Communion or Eucharist, Confession,
Matrimony, Holy Orders. And Anointing of the Sick
WORSHIP AND
OBSERVANCES
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Advent
Refers to the season of waiting for the birth of Messiah, hence its
celebration lasts for four weeks, beginning four Sundays before
Christmas and ending on Christmas eve. It is meant as an opportunity
to reflect on the significance of the birth of Jesus who was sent by God
the Father to restore humanity's relationship with God. During Advent,
it is not only the birth of Christ which is anticipated but the Second
Coming of the Savior as well. The word Advent comes from the Latin
word adventures, which means “coming” or “visit”. It also features
certain colours, such as purple/dark blue, which symbolizes
seriousness, repentance, and royalty; and pink, which signifies joy.
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Lent
Refers to the season observed by Christians in preparation for Easter, a
celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Ash Wednesday signals the start of the
season of Lent, which began 40 days before Easter. It is a time for Christians to
prepare for Easter by following certain rituals, such as fasting, repentance,
moderation, and self discipline.
The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, meaning “spring”,
and lenctenis, which means “ Springtide” and also the word “ March” the month
when Easter is usually celebrated.
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Pentecost
Pentecost is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate the coming of the
Holy Spirit to the Early Christians. Thus, Pentecost is also celebrated as
the birthday of the Church. The word Pentecost comes from the Greek
word pentekostos, which means “ fifty” pertaining to the Jewish holiday
celrbrated every fifty days from the end pf Passover to the beginning of the
next holiday (also known as Shavuot)
SUBDIVISIONS
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CATHOLICISM
•Founded: 1st century, formalized over centuries.
•Leader: Pope in Vatican City.
•Key Beliefs:
•Seven sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, etc.)
•Veneration of Mary and the saints
•Authority of Scripture and Church tradition
•Examples: Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic
Churches.
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EASTERN ORTHODOXY
•Founded: Split from Catholicism in the Great Schism (1054 CE).
•Leader: No single pope; led by Patriarchs.
•Key Beliefs:
•Seven sacraments
•Strong emphasis on the original traditions of the early Church
•Icons used in worship
•Examples: Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church.
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PROTESTANTISM
Founded: 16th-century Reformation (Martin Luther, John Calvin).
Leader: Varies; often governed by pastors or elders.
Key Beliefs:
Bible as the sole authority
Salvation through faith alone
Two main sacraments: Baptism and Communion
Examples: Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican.
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Other Christian Movements
•Anglicanism – Originated from England; blends Catholic
and Protestant elements.
•Evangelicalism – Focus on personal conversion, Bible
study, and evangelism.
•Pentecostalism – Emphasizes the Holy Spirit and
spiritual gifts (speaking in tongues, healing).
•Non-denominational churches – Independent
congregations not aligned to a major denomination.
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Similarities Among Sects
•Belief in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
•Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
•Use of the Bible as sacred scripture.
•Celebration of key Christian holidays (Christmas, Easter).
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Differences Among Sects
Leadership structure (Pope, Patriarch, pastors, elders).
Number and meaning of sacraments.
Worship style and liturgy.
Interpretation of certain doctrines (salvation, authority, tradition).
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Conclusion
Christianity is united in its faith in Jesus Christ but diverse in
expression.
Understanding these differences helps promote respect and
dialogue.
Despite divisions, Christians share a common foundation in
the Gospel.
SELECTED
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Ecumenism
Ecumenism refers to the effort of the Catholic Church to
sponsor activities and initiatives to promote mutual
understanding and unity among all Christians. Ecumenism
can also be described as the promotion of worldwide Christian
unity (Brodd 2003).
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Sexuality
Sexuality refers to sexual orientation, sexual activity, and sexual feelings. The
issue of sexuality has always been controversial for the Catholic Church due to its
conservative view.
Another issue with regards to sexuality is that of homosexuality. God created male
and female only meant for procreation. For Christian, homosexuality should not be
practiced since it is not in accordance with God’s plan. The Church does not allow
same-sex marriage and is vocal in opposing homosexual relationships. Being
homosexual is not a sin. The Church accept homosexual (orientation) with respect,
compassion, and sensitivity but it condemns homosexual acts (sexual activity).
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Divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church, since it believes in the sanctity of
marriage, which should be a lifetime bond between a man and a woman, and is
considered a legal bond on earth and a spiritual bond in heaven. If couples wish
to separate, they could seek an annulment, also known as Decree of Nullity, in
which it is declared that the marriage was never valid in the first place. But unlike
divorce, annulment entails a long, tedious, and expensive process, in which a
partner has to prove that his/her partner is psychologically incapacitated to
understand the commitment marriage entails, or one of the partners has
deliberately hid some information, such as previous marriage, impotence, or
infertility. As of today, every country in the world has a divorce law except the
Philippines. Although some lawmakers have been pushing for the divorce bill,
the strong opposition of the Catholic Church as well as the devout Catholics in
the Congress and the Senate have made it difficult for the divorce bill to be
passed.
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Death penalty and Euthanasia
Capital punishment or death penalty and euthanasia or mercy killing is
against the Christian belief since life is given by God and should not be
taken away by any person. Human beings should not interfere with the
natural process of death. Even if a person is extremely suffering from his/
her illness, he/she has no right to take away what God has given him/her.
Human beings are made in the image of God so people have a unique
capacity to become rational which enables them to see what is good and
to want what is good, that is why they have no right to end this gift from
God. In Christianity, all human lives are equally valuable and no one, even
the person himself/herself who wants to end his/her life, has the right to
assume that his or her life is no longer valuable.
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THANK YOU