St. Thecla First Female Martyr

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St. Thecla First Female Martyr

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St. Thecla First Female Martyr. St. Thecla – First Female Martyr. 1st Christian woman to suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ Parents were pagans (idol worshippers) Believed in Jesus Christ after hearing St. Paul preach Offered her life to Christ living in virginity (not married) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of St. Thecla First Female Martyr

Page 1: St.  Thecla First Female Martyr

St. Thecla First Female Martyr

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• 1st Christian woman to suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ

• Parents were pagans (idol worshippers)

• Believed in Jesus Christ after hearing St. Paul preach

• Offered her life to Christ living in virginity (not married)

• Angry parents handed her over to city’s ruler

St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

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• Thrown into fire• Big flames did not

touch her!• Our Lord Jesus sent

rain to put out fire• Her first martyrdom

St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

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• St. Thecla followed St. Paul to Antioch

• Refused to marry a rich man

• Ruler of the city threw her in with wild beasts, 3 times!

• Nothing happened … the beasts licked her feet!

St. TheclaFirst Female Martyr

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• The ruler tied her to 2 ox (cows)

• The Lord made the rope break

• St. Thecla was unharmed!

• Ruler asked the source of St. Thecla’s power

• “I am the servant of God”

• Powerless, the ruler set her free

St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

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• Continued to preach in Maa’aloola – lived in cave

• Brought new believers to Christ, helped the poor …

• Performed many miracles - healed the sick

St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

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St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

• Doctors upset when they lost all their patients!

• Tried to have St. Thecla killed

• God split rock open in mountain for escape

• Lived in the cleft until she departed

• A monastery was built

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St. Thecla – First Female Martyr

1) How did St. Thecla offer herself to God?- Gave up all : rich & comfortable life, family (ungodly parents)- Suffered persecutions- Life dedicated to God: preached, help the poor, healed the

sick …

2) Why do we need to offer ourselves to God?- Because He offered Himself for us by dying on Cross

3) How can we offer ourselves to God?- By imitating Him & obey His commandments: to love, to

forgive, to give, to serve, to help the poor/sick/needy

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WHY do we PRAY?

1. To Imitate the Lord Jesus (He taught us to pray)

2. Prayer is the secret to Success & Happiness

3. To expressLove & Thankfulness

4. Prayer is a True Help to us all

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We PRAY because ...Our Lord Jesus taught us to Pray!

Please remember your A-B-C-D-E ...

+ Pray AFTER (school, wake-up, getting a blessing, …)

+ Pray BEFORE (starting the day, meals, any activity, bed)

+ Pray CONTINUOUSLY (all the time)

+ Pray DURING (the day – Jesus prayer)

+ Pray for EVERYONE (family, friends, those who hurt us)

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Verse“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2

This Week …• Pray before dinner using all verses• Ask for the intercession of St. TheclaMemorizing

“which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelations to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2: 31-32

St. Thecla – First Female Martyr