Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

  Key Points: Why believe in the Resurrection? See 1 Corinthians 15:5-8.  Over 500 people witnessed the Resurrected Christ. So, our faith is not blind faith. Christ’s resurrection gives us hope in our own resurrection and eternal life with Him. Mt 28:19 The Apostles were not instructed to write a book, but to make disciples.  Jesus said that he would be with them (His One Church!!) until the end of the age. In spite of the errors and grievous sins of the leaders of his One Church, his Church is prevented from TEACHING error on matters of faith and morals. How are you doing in your disciple-making efforts?  Pray for God’s grace to recognize those that you can share the Gospel with, the method and time to approach them, and the Holy Spirit to open their hearts.

  Key Points: Peter sinned grievously, despaired,  but was forgiven, and went on to share the gospel with others:  We, too, are sinners, we can similarly be forgiven, and we must share the gospel with others. Judas only despaired;  gave up on God by killing himself.  Never give up on God!! Don’t “wash your hands” of moral issues by taking the easy way out, as Pilate did. Jesus was not despairing on the cross, (“...why have you forsaken me?) but was reciting hopeful Scripture (Psalm 22) during his suffering.  A great place for us to turn!!

  Key Points: We ALL deny Jesus, just as Peter did, every time we sin.  Yet, we too can seek and be given forgiveness. We ALL have our own “Gethsemane Moments” in this life....we can choose to become BITTER or BETTER (our relationship to God) through them. Jesus was no mere rabbi. (Teacher) Only three possibilities:  He was the biggest liar ever, He was the craziest man ever, or He was the only begotten Son of God.

 Key Points:  Some connections between the Jewish Passover Meal and our Communion: Both a Memorial, not just a re-presentation. (We are actually AT the event.) 3 Matsahs vs. 3 members of Trinity Middle matsah broken, (Christ killed) Middle Matsah hidden, (Christ buried) Child who finds matsah gets reward, (Those who find Christ get reward of eternal life.) Sacrificial Lamb must be killed at 3PM - Jesus killed at 3PM (Mk 15:34) Sacrifice of Unbroken lamb must be eaten—Jesus is The Lamb of God, no bones broken (Jn 19:32) 4 Cups of Wine at Passover: 1) “sanctification” (Lk22:17) 2)”plagues” -“deliverance” (not mentioned  in Gospels) 3) “redemption” (Mt. 26:27-28) 4) “completion”, “restoration” (Mt. 26:29- Jesus will drink it with us when we are RESTORED to Him in Heaven. —————————————————— “This IS my body”

  Key Points: We give our best to Jesus’ Church because his gift to us of eternal life with Him is more valuable than anything.  The woman’s gift, and Judas’ price for betraying Jesus (only the price of a slave) showed how much each of them valued Jesus.  Reflect:  How much do I value Jesus?  What you spend your money on will reflect this. Beautiful church structures, paintings, statues, etc. draw people towards God, so they are not a “waste.”

  Key Points: God has given ALL of us talents to be used for the benefit of the Kingdom.  What we don’t use, we’ll lose.  (Just as we do physically by not exercising.) Check yourself with verse 40.  What are you doing for/to others who need help? Many of those are not easy to love.  We love them not because they are “lovable”, but because Christ loves us so much, that he gave everything, (Our life, and  His life!)for us. We’re all brothers and sisters in God’s family.  Nothing pleases a good father more than to see his children care for one another. You can’t say you love God without showing love for all others.  (You can’t say “It’s Jesus and me, and the hell with thee!)

  Key Points: Don’t be a “show” Catholic.  Check your inner thoughts.  Mt24:13-  Once again, we don’t believe in the false doctrine “Once Saved, Always Saved”, at least not the way many non-Catholic Christians do.  We must persevere to the end of our life in our walk with Christ.  (Salvation is not at a moment in time early in our lives, though it can start there.  Salvation is a lifelong journey-it’s important how we complete it.) Everything you have, and everyone you know,  on this earth will pass away.  All that will remain is your eternal relationship with Christ and those who accept His grace. Be ready!  (It’s later than you think!)

  Key Points: Though our invitation to eternal life is a free gift, and we are provided with the “garment” of grace to do good works, we must still prepare ourselves for heaven by cooperating with God’s grace, and doing what God wants. Loving God, and loving your neighbor as yourself sums up the 10 Commandments.  (If you love God and everyone, you won’t want to lie, cheat, steal, covet, murder, etc.  That’s why Augustine said “Love, and then do as you will.”) We’re not just a social service agency:  We have a duty to love God.  We’re not just an adoration group: hence the teaching about loving our neighbor. The two “loves” go together:  You can’t love God properly WITHOUT loving your neighbor (everybody), since we are all a family and are all brothers and sisters.

  Key Points: Jesus did not sin when he overturned tables and chairs and forced the money-changers to leave the temple, because it was His house!  (An owner has the right to remove unwanted intruders!)  He was exhibiting righteous indignation, which we as Christians should do when OUR Church and its doctrines are being abused. Jesus caused the barren fig tree to wither, not because of a temper tantrum, but to illustrate that all Israel is to bear fruit , and will bear the punishment of it’s fruitlessness.  (The fig tree had long been a symbol for Israel, as an eagle is a symbol of the U.S.)

  Key Points: Although a sincere “deathbed conversion” is valid, don’t wait!  Why miss out on the graces of the greatest relationship you can have, for ANY length of time? We are to lead through service, as Jesus did for us. How/who are you serving?

  Key Points: Marriage is a COVENANT, not merely a CONTRACT.  Each partner’s goal should be to make sure the other goes to heaven.  Daily prayer TOGETHER greatly increases the odds of a lasting, successful marriage.  For marriage in general, read CCC paragraphs 2360-2381. Divorce: paragraphs 2382-2385 Annulment: paragraph 1629 The rich young ruler’s wealth was an impediment to a closer walk with Jesus. What’s your impediment?  Pray about your priorities and what to do about them. You can’t earn your way to heaven! (Pelagianism heresy)  It is a free gift from God, but we must cooperate. Eternal life beats any life we could imagine on this earth!

  Key Points: We must have the faith of little children, in the sense that little children instinctively know they must depend on others, just as we must depend on and trust God. Do an examination of conscience-Who have I been a bad example to recently? Go to Confession if necessary. Jesus would have died for you if you were the only person on earth!  He loves you that much!! Mt 18:17-20 is another example of how Jesus intended that there be ONE authoritative Church. We must forgive others principally because God has forgiven us.  (We don’t DESERVE forgiveness, and sometimes the person that offends us doesn’t DESERVE our forgiveness either.  But, we must!) Homework:  Think of someone that you hold a grudge against, pray for them each day for a week, and forgive them, at least in your own heart.  Let it go!(Depending on circumstances, you may or may not decide to communicate with the person directly— if there has been physical abuse towards you in the ...

  Key Points: Matthew shows that Jesus is the “newer, better” Moses. Moses makes it to the Promised Land after all!  (But, as with us, Moses doesn’t reach the ultimate Promised Land until after his death- this world is not our home!) With faith, we can “move mountains”, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD ( which is what we’re here for!) , but not necessarily for our own personal earthly benefit. Jesus didn’t need to pay the temple tax. (As God, the Temple was his house!), but did so as an example for us.

  Key Points: God only changes someone’s name on 3 occasions in the Bible.  Each time, the change denotes the person is to become the leader of God’s people. Peter, (“Rock”) is given the “keys”, the power to “bind and loose”, will represent the authority of God on earth. The Church is to last until the end of the earth, so that authority (keys) is to be passed down. “Apostolic succession.” See linked images for additional support https://drive.google.com/file/d/1at58RsLF1j7OHu-2Xof5lWs9dYH3zoso/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cw6Z8gYqeDAnf7NVx_uLcPe_xhmrW3Vb/view?usp=sharing

Key Points: 15:3-9  Don’t edit the word of God to suit your beliefs.  (Follow the one Church that Jesus founded.) Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  At different moments in our lives, we can be both, and we need Jesus equally in both circumstances. Jesus helped the Canaanite (non-Jewish) woman because of her PERSISTENT FAITH. He indirectly referred to her as a “dog”, I believe, to show the Apostles the error of their ways in assuming that Jesus came only for the Jews, using an epithet that they, themselves, likely used to describe Gentiles.  It was a “teaching moment” that Jesus used, for their benefit.

  Key Points: There is a Hell.  Jesus makes reference to it about 60 times in the Gospels.  (Having said that, Jesus makes about 3 times more references to Heaven.) The Feeding of the 5000 (men, plus additional women and children) was a real miracle of Jesus.  To say otherwise is to deny the divinity of Christ. When we keep our eyes on Christ, we can do more than we ever could without him, as Peter discovered. (14:39)  When we doubt Him, we will “sink.” (14:30)

“ How to get rid of a sinful habit.” and “Is the doctrine held by many non-Catholic Christians of “Once Saved, Always Saved” true? Key Points: Jesus has given us enough signs to trust him.  We don’t need more signs; we need more faith! To rid ourselves of a sinful habit, we must replace the bad habit with a good one.  The vacuum will be filled with something. Jesus’ gift is to all who will follow him, which is more important than even family. The seed sown on the rocky ground shows that salvation can “fall away.” So, NOT  “Once Saved, Always Saved.” We must persevere!  (With God’s grace!) The Parable of the weeds and the wheat growing together describes the Church.

  Key Points: What sin can’t be forgiven? We must look beyond the LETTER of the law to follow the SPIRIT of the law. ( So, if helping an accident victim causes you to miss Mass, helping the wounded person takes priority.)  The LAW is good and needed, but it’s ultimate purpose is to guide us as to how to love God and our fellow people better, not the other way around.  “Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.....” means to reject God’s mercy to the end of our life...either by saying that we don’t need God’s mercy (that we don’t need God at all), or by saying that our troubles are so great that God cannot help us.  (See CCC paragraph 1864.) We will answer for every thing we’ve said and done on the day of judgement. (But, thank God for Purgatory!)

  Key Points: (“Came not to bring pea ce, but the sword”) Your eternal life is more important than your earthly life. How am I acknowledging Christ to others? Jesus causes division.  (But in a good way!) We must choose between following what the world tells us, or following Christ. To “take up one’s cross” is to risk even crucifixion to follow Jesus, as was understood in Jesus’ culture.  10:40 A prelude to Apostolic Succession. Who do you know that needs “a cup of cold water” today?

Key Points: Jesus has power over sin and death. The Church is a hospital for the sick (all of us!), not a country club for the (spiritually) well-off. Who can you “take by the hand” or “touch” to help with their problems? “Whoever endures to the end will be saved”  flies in the face of the “once saved, always saved” theology espoused by many non- Catholic Christians.