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The

New Testament
and the

Church

Chapter 22

The Mission of the Church

Chapter Summary
The Mission of the Church
This chapter will cover how the Church is a community.
We will study three important images of the Church:
People of God, Body of Christ, and Temple of the Holy
Spirit.
We will also explore the meaning of the four Marks of the
Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
Like Christ, the Church is both human and divine.

Introduction
(Handbook, pages 232233)

The Church is a unique assembly of people


who come together in response to Gods
call.
The Church is a unique community with a
purpose unlike any other.
The Church calls together people with
many gifts to achieve its mission.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, Gods
people can do great things, bringing the
Good News of salvation to all people.
Nicolas McComber/www.istockphoto.com

Introduction
(Handbook, pages 232233)

Activity
Your group will be assigned a Bible
passage. Summarize the story your
group reads, and respond to the
following questions.
What unique challenges did each
person face in responding to Gods
call?
What did God see in them?
What does this say about what God
sees in us when he calls us?

Blablo101/www.istockphoto.com

Images of Church
(Handbook, pages 234237)

The Church can be identified as the People of God, the


Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Peter reminds
Christians that they are
the People of God.

VvoeVale/www.istockphoto.com

Images of Church
(Handbook, pages 234237)

Paul calls the Church the Body of Christ, emphasizing the parts
of the body and their roles.
Paul reminds Christians that
they are Gods temple, and that
Gods Spirit lives in them.

Discussion Questions
How do the images of the Church help you understand the Church
more fully? Which image inspires you the most?

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The Marks of the Church


(Handbook, pages 237241)

The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and


Apostolic.
The Church is One, professing one Lord,
one faith, one Baptism, one Body, and
one Spirit who unites all the members of
the Church. The Church is Holy, blessed
with the presence and love of God.
Mgov/www.istockphoto.com

The Marks of the Church


(Handbook, pages 237241)

The Church is Catholic, proclaiming the


fullness of faith in a truly global way.
The Church is Apostolic, spreading the Good
News around the world, through the ministry
of the Apostles successors, the bishops.
Discussion Question
What gifts do you and others bring to your
parish to help spread the Good News of
Jesus Christ?
davidf/www.istockphoto.com

The Church Is Human and Divine


(Handbook, page 242)

The Church is both human


and divine.
Through the action of the
Holy Spirit, the human
aspects of the Church put us
in touch with its divine
aspects.
dndavis/www.istockphoto.com

The Church Is Human and Divine


(Handbook, page 242)

The Holy Spirit guides


the Church, despite its
human sins and failures.
Our mission as
Christians helps us share
in the divine life of the Trinity.
Activity
Name your favorite superheroes.

hrandza/www.istockphoto.com

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