Lesson 3: The Spread of Christianity (The Growth of Christianity)
Paul’s Big Influence on Early Christianity 🧔📖
Paul was one of the most important people in spreading Christianity.
Before he followed Jesus, Paul (then called Saul) tried to stop Christians.
But after seeing a bright light and hearing Jesus' voice on the road to Damascus, he changed his life.
Paul traveled around the Roman Empire, visiting places like Greece, Turkey, and Rome.
He started new churches, taught many people, and wrote letters (called epistles) to help Christians live in faith.
➡️ Many of Paul's letters are in the New Testament of the Bible today!
➡️ He helped explain that Jesus’ message was for everyone, not just Jews.
➡️ He taught that people are saved by faith, not just by following the old Jewish laws.
Fun Story:
One night in Philippi, Paul and his friend Silas were put in prison for teaching about Jesus.
Instead of crying, they sang songs to God!
Suddenly, an earthquake shook the prison, and the doors opened.
The jailer was so amazed that he became a Christian too!
What is Persecution? ⚔️😔
Persecution means being hurt, punished, or treated badly because of your beliefs.
Early Christians were often persecuted because:
They refused to worship Roman gods.
They only worshiped one God — not the emperor.
They met in secret groups, and many Romans thought they were strange or dangerous.
Sometimes Christians were:
Arrested,
Thrown into jail,
Or even killed in arenas for entertainment.
This made being a Christian very dangerous!
Why Did Christianity Keep Growing? 🌱🔥
Even though Christians were persecuted, Christianity kept spreading fast!
Here’s why:
Faith and Hope: Christians believed that even if they died, they would live forever with God.
Love and Kindness: Christians took care of the poor, the sick, and even orphans.
Strong Communities: Christians met in small groups where people felt welcomed and loved.
Good Messengers: People like Paul, Peter, and many others traveled far and wide to tell the Good News.
Roman Roads: Because the Romans built many good roads, it was easy for missionaries to travel and spread the message.