RELIGION

Junior High School Core Grade 9

Quarter II/ WEEK 3

THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF THE CHURCH

GRADE LEVEL STANDARD: The learner demonstrates understanding of the history

and origin of the Church animated by the Holy Spirit, and of her mission and
ministries to love and serve the people of God through the different sacraments.

CONTENT STANDARDS: LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

The learner demonstrates The learners demonstrate understanding
understanding of the life of the on how God works in the History of the
Church after the death of Jesus up Church.
to the present going through all the
persecutions and challenges to The learners demonstrate understanding
remain faithful to the mission on how the Church grows and the Good
entrusted by Jesus Christ. News will continue to extent to
everybody.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
The learner is able to grow in
his/her faith as Catholic Christian
amidst present day persecutions
and challenges of witnessing
Christ’s love and spreading the
Good News.
VALUES INTEGRATION: BENEVOLENCE

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Junior High School Core Grade 9

LESSON 3: The Growth and Spread of the Church

Introduction
The Growth and Spread of the Church presents the growth and spread of
Christianity started by Constantine the Great. It includes all the changes and
accomplishments done for the whole Church. The life and contribution of some saints
during those times are described.

Specific Learning Objectives

1. To demonstrate the Church’s struggles and the perseverance to deal with these
challenges and emerge with a stronger result.
2. To see the good things that can happen in conversion and belief in Jesus.
3. To thank God for the freedom to worship Him in joy.

Key Understandings
 The Church had endured amidst the challenges. God gives them hope to overcome
the trials.
 There are more good lessons to learn from the failures of the Church.
 Even the Church grew in membership, power and temporal matters, the mission to
bring the Good News and to convert the people of God remain.

Essential Questions
1. Why did God permit challenges in the life of Church?

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Junior High School Core Grade 9

Development

What made the Church grow and spread?

- The reason for this growth are diverse. Although Christianity first appeared as yet another
mystery religion, it has promised salvation through a mystical rite, with a God-made-man
who had conquered death – Jesus Christ.

Unlike other mystery beliefs, however , salvation for the Christians required rituals, mysteries and
sacraments. It required moral life as well. Jesus taught and exemplified the way to salvation.

Another factor for the growth and spread of Christianity is the number of perseutions that gave
inspiration to other believers. It had wide significance even if it was relatively small and even the
death of one person.

How did the persecution end and when did the victory of Christianity make a great
impression in the world?
- The end of persecution made by Emperor Constantine marked a big influence in the
growth of Christianity. Constantine legalized Christianity with his famous Edict of Milan and
continued to patronize and support the Church throughout his reign, granting the Church
tax-exempt, freedom from military conscription and many other civil benefits.

Christianity did not come as formal religion immediately after Constantine made it religion of the
empire. It became the formal religion in the year 391 when Theodosius put an end to all pagan
practices and temples.

What happened to the Church after the Edict of Milan?

- From that time being, the Church had developed a structure. This is the start of the Roman
Catholic Church. Catholic means universal. They have established an organized
government. Also, theologians and intelligent Christians developed a systematic theology.
They considered themselves as united in faith headed by their leader, the pope and guided
by their dogmas.
- We see how the Holy Spirit works in all things He wants to happen. He is the authority of
his Church that is why She is standing strongly and divinely. The Church had established
his authority so that we will be united in one, holy, apostolic and universal Church.

Who and what contributed to the growth and spread of the

Church? The Church Fathers
- There are ancient and generally influential Christian theologians, some of whom were
eminent teachers and great bishops. These are called the early Christian Fathers
(Patristic). The term is used to pertain to writers or teachers of the Church, not necessarily
ordained and not necessarily “saints.”
1. St Jerome – Jerome is known for the Latin translation of the Bible as the Vulgate or
common version. His version of the bible became standard version.
- for a short period, he lived as a hermit in the desert. As a priest, he
promoted the spread of monasticism. He studied the Bible, which led
him to the Latin translation
2. St. Augustine – The most important of all church fathers was Augustine of Hippo
better known as St. Augustine.

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RELIGION
Junior High School Core Grade 9
- He was part of the group called Manichaeism (believe that one God
could not be the source of good and evil, so there must be two gods).
But in 387, through the influence of his mother, St. Monica he was
converted to Christianity.
- He was elected Bishop of Hippo in 399 and became one of the four
great Doctors of the Western Church.
- He wrote the famous “The City of God,” which explains the salvation of
mankind and God’s grand plan.
Monasticism
- Monasticism became a religious channel for the people who moved
away from Rome, and left the material world. Some Christians withdrew
themselves from the material world and entered the monasteries and
practiced the life of “ascetic ideals.” They deny pleasures and the earthly
goods to dedicate to prayers, fasting and abstinence.

St. Anthony started Christian, monasticism in the Third century. He lived a life of solitude and
ascetic life. It was St. Benedict who brought order to the monastic movement.

St. Benedict of Nursia was instrumental in providing order in the early monastic movement. He
was known for the Benedictine rule which provided guidelines for people who intend to join and
live monastic life.

Words to Remember:
 Ascetic – a person who lives a simple life, abstains from the worldly
pleasures and material satisfaction.
 Monasticism – a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly
pursuits and devote himself/herself in spiritual matters

Engagement
Conversion
The Church went through changes before she became the community she is now. Like the Church
where we belong, we need to embrace change and conversion.
Write below three things you want to change about yourself and the benefit for doing so.
I want to change… so that…
1.
2.
3.

As a student how can you help the Church to grow and spread? Explain.

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Junior High School Core Grade 9

Assimilation/Assessment
A. Look for the meaning of the following word/s and then write the following statements in each
blank that best complete the statement.
1. Edict
2. Catholic
3. Church Fathers
4. Monasticism
5. Heresy

Emperor Constantine issued an (1) that made Christianity as the official

religion of the empire. After this event, the bishops led each city and the later some of them
became (2) . The Bishop of Roe became the most important bishop. This is the
start of the Roman (3) Church. However some people develop their own sects
within the Church and different (4) appeared. Equally effective in the general
diffusion of Christian ideas and Christianity in general was the (5) .

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Junior High School Core Grade 9

Reflection

I understand that

I believe that

REFERENCE
For additional information, refer to the following website:

Diaz, Jade M. (2016). Signs of the Times “Go and Makes Disciples.” REX Printing Company, INC.

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