Lesson : Origin of

the word
“Church”

1. From the - “Qahal Yahweh” – an Hebrew word which means:

Old 1. Qahal - People
Testament 2. Yahweh – God
- Both word means “the People of God called together” or “ an assembly
convoked by God”

2. From the - Ekklesia – is a Greek word defined as “a called-out assembly or

New congregation. “
Testament
- The called-ouy assembly,”is a congregation of believerswhom God has
called out of the world and “into His wonderful light.

- The CHURCH with the capital C “Church” refers to the people belonging to
God or the body of Christ/ Universal Chuch.

- The Church with the small c “church” refers to the building used for public
Christian worship.

Scriptural Images
of the Church

1.The Kingdom of - The kingdom of God was the dominant theme of the public ministry of Jesus
God Christ
- The Good news preached to the people.
- The gift of God, our ABBA, father who sensitive to the needs and suffering of
every human being.
- The gift of Salvation and Eternal Life.

2.People of God - “God has willed to make men holy and save them, not merely as individuals
without any mutual bonds but making them into a single people , a people
which acknowledge him in truth and serves Him in Holiness”

3.Body of Christ Distinguishing Characteristics:

a. Cause: God
b. Head: Christ
c. Members: those who believe in Christ
d. Conditions: Dignity and Freedom of sons/daughters of God.
e. Law: Christ new covenant of love.
f. Mission: To be the salt of the earth, light of the world.
g. Destination: The final Kingdom of God, brought to perfection at the end
 of time.

- “You are the Temple of God and the God dwells in you”
4.Temple of the
Holy Spirit

Church as Mystery - To say that the Church is a mystery, or sacrament, means, in the words of
the late Pope Paul VI, that it is “a reality imbued with the hidden presence
of God.”

Church as - A sacrament is a visible sign of some invisible. The invisible reality is Christ;
Sacrament the visible sign of Christ is the community which makes up the body.

GOSPEL - July 17, 2022 Luke 10:38-42 • Jesus entered a village where a woman whose
name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat
beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with
much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister
has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said
to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many
things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and
will not be taken from her."