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MEDIA PRESENTATION

Movie: "Paul, Apostle of Christ -- beginning session

THE PERSON OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

The Gospel

JOHN 20:30-31

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Gospelthink: My life was portrayed by John's Gospel. Do I follow the Gospel as closely as I can?

The story of the movie "Paul, Apostle of Christ" is both factual and fictional. It takes place during the last years of Paul's life while he is in prison and under the curse of Nero. Nero had decreed that all Christians should be killed since Nero told everyone that it was the Christians that were responsible for burning Rome. The time was approximately 67 AD. The movie presents Paul and his internal struggle. He had survived much--floggings, shipwreck, starvation, stoning, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure. Yet as he waits for his appointment with death, he is haunted by the shadow of his past misdeeds. Even as a man of deep faith, he struggles with a feeling of abandonment and sometimes doubt. Luke, his friend and scribe, encouraged and supported him and eventually Paul grew even stronger in his love of Jesus Christ.

As the beloved disciple closed his rendition of the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as he describes him, he comments that Jesus did many other things that led the people of his time to accept Jesus. Jesus influenced many people, leading them to accept what he taught, directing them to a path previously unknown to the human race.

Among the people who were influenced by his doctrine was one Saul of Tarsus. We are not sure whether he met Jesus personally, but Paul was alive when Jesus was preaching. He knew what Jesus' doctrine was all about, and since he was a Pharisee, one of the religious leaders in Israel who mostly disagreed with Jesus, he believed with all of his heart that Jesus was misleading Israel. The New Testament documents that he vowed to remedy the situation until the Lord himself appeared to Paul and changed him completely.

Paul's mission after his conversion as he came to understand it was to spread the message of Christianity to the ends of the earth. He set out to do it first for the Jews themselves, but then made the decision to take his message to the Gentiles. Throughout all of what we call Asia Minor now, Paul spread his message. He established Christian churches and appointed leaders to continue his message in his place. After many miles and continued work spreading Christianity, he ended up in Rome as described in the book of Acts and the story of the movie "Paul, Apostle of Christ."

One of facts exemplified in the movie was that Paul sometimes had doubts about his ministry. Most Christian authors would say that "doubt" may be too strong a word. There is no indication that Paul ever doubted the Gospel he was preaching. He does refer to a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7) which probably had something to do with his pride in preaching, but he was able to rejoice in even that because the weakness only made him stronger.

We are called to listen to the message of Paul and at the same time to accept the challenge to be a little of a missionary ourselves.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, You give us the great Apostle Paul to be a guide of Your doctrine. Enable us to read and accept Paul's message so that we may follow you more clearly. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Paul was a staunch follower of Jesus even though he had some misgivings.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 50 minutes)
1. What scene during this session is most striking and why?
2. Analysis: the statement from Luke's Gospel that Jesus did many other things not recorded in his Gospel. In your opinion, what are the most important things that Jesus did?
3. Review one of the stories of Paul's conversion from Acts 9, 22, or 26. What is most striking about the passage?
4. In general, why did the religious leaders not accept the teaching of Jesus?
5. As you study what Paul did--his missionary journeys and accomplishments--what is most striking to you and why?
6. It stands to reason that there were many times when Paul wondered whether what he was doing was worthwhile or not. What do you think would have been his largest challenge?
7. Analysis: Our weakness makes us stronger. What is your understanding of this statement?
8. How can we be missionaries in the world in which we live?

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike