THE CHURCH THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

SOURCES  Sacred Scripture  2 nd Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium & Gaudium et Spes  Catechism of the Catholic Church

WHAT DOES CHURCH MEAN?  The Greek word for CHURCH is ekklesia = those who are called forth  All of us who are baptized and believe in God are called forth by the Lord.  Together we are the Church

WHY DOES GOD WANT THERE TO BE A CHURCH?  God wills the CHURCH because He wants to redeem us, not individually, but together.  He wants to make all humanity His people.

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH?  Her mission is to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.  Fourfold dimension of the mission: 1. Share the Message 2. Live in Community 3. Serve Others 4. Worship the Lord

BIBLICAL IMAGES  “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1, 5

 “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me in the same way that the Father knows me and I know the Father. For these sheep I will give my life.” John 10:14-15

 “You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20

 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church…This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the Church.” Ephesians 5:25, 32

THE MODELS OF THE CHURCH  Developed by Fr. Avery Dulles  The Models of the Church are meant to help us better understand the mystery of the Church…

CHURCH AS BODY OF CHRIST/PEOPLE OF GOD  COMMUNITY OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS  PROFESSING THE SAME CHRISTIAN FAITH  CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER  CELEBRATING THE EUCHARIST TOGETHER

CHURCH AS INSTITUTION  STRUCTURED ORGANIZATION  HIERARCHY OF POPE AND BISHOPS  EMPHASIZES AUTHORITY OF CHURCH LEADERS  TEACHING OFFICE OF THE CHURCH- ROLE OF MAGISTERIUM

CHURCH AS SACRAMENT  A SACRAMENT IS A VISIBLE SIGN, INSTITUTED BY CHRIST, ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH, THAT GIVES GRACE  THE CHURCH IS THE VISIBLE, TANGIBLE SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE AND PRESENCE IN THE WORLD

CHURCH AS HERALD OF GOD’S WORD  A HERALD IS AN OFFICIAL MESSENGER, REPRESENTATIVE, AMBASSADOR  THE CHURCH IS THE HERALD OF JESUS CHRIST  CHURCH ACTS AS HERALD THROUGH COMMUNAL PRAYER, PROCLAIMING THE SCRIPTURES, LITURGY, AND MISSIONARY WORK

CHURCH AS SERVANT  THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO BE A SERVANT TO THE WORLD, HOSPITALS, CHARITIES, PARISH MINISTRIES, ETC.

CHURCH AS COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES  CALLED TO LIVE OUT IN COMMUNITY THE CHALLENGE OF DISCIPLESHIP  ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS  EQUALITY BASED ON BAPTISM  CALLED TO GROWTH IN CHRIST  DIFFERENTIATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

THE FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH  ONE  HOLY  CATHOLIC  APOSTOLIC

THE CHURCH IS ONE  “…one Lord, one faith, one baptism…” Eph 4:4-6  Profession of one faith received from the Apostles  Common celebration of divine worship- especially the sacraments  Apostolic succession

THE CHURCH IS HOLY  Not because all her members are supposedly holy, but rather because God is holy and is at work in her.  All the members of the Church are sanctified by Baptism

THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC  She is UNIVERSAL because Christ is present in her in the fullness of His body  Her mission is to the whole human race

THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC  Founded upon the Apostles  She remains faithful to the teaching of Apostles = SACRED TRADITION  Called to continue the ministry and service.

CCC on the CHURCH  777 The word "Church" means "convocation." It designates the assembly of those whom God's Word "convokes," i.e., gathers together to form the People of God, and who themselves, nourished with the Body of Christ, become the Body of Christ.  778 The Church is both the means and the goal of God's plan: prefigured in creation, prepared for in the Old Covenant, founded by the words and actions of Jesus Christ, fulfilled by his redeeming cross and his Resurrection, the Church has been manifested as the mystery of salvation by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. She will be perfected in the glory of heaven as the assembly of all the redeemed of the earth (cf. Rev 14:4).  779 The Church is both visible and spiritual, a hierarchical society and the Mystical Body of Christ. She is one, yet formed of two components, human and divine. That is her mystery, which only faith can accept.  780 The Church in this world is the sacrament of salvation, the sign and the instrument of the communion of God and men.

MEMBERSHIP  All are called to unity of the People of God.  Fully incorporated members of the Church are those who accept all the means of salvation given to the Church, together with her entire organization.  Other Christians do not profess the entirety of the Catholic faith or have not preserved communion with Rome.

OTHER RELIGIONS ?  Jewish people: “The first to hear the Word of God.”  Muslims: profess the faith of Abraham.  Other non-Christians: also search for God.

“MANY WHOM GOD HAS, THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE. MANY WHOM THE CHURCH HAS, GOD DOES NOT HAVE.” -St. Augustine