What is Church?

Introduction: Do you know that Christians are the largest religious group in the world? 31% of the world are Christians, which are 2.6 billion people. Approximately around 1.3 billion people are members of a church family somewhere in the world.

The FIFA world cup 2018 final match in Russia had a viewership of 1.12 billion viewers. This means more people to go church on a Sunday than on any other world event.

That means around the world, people similar to the population of India go to church on a Sunday.

So the question is: Why Church? Why do so many go to church?

What is Church?

We are going to look at the Biblical vision of the church.

• What is a Church?
• Picture of Church in the Scripture.
• What are the benefits of the church?

The first mention of the church in the Bible. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Mentioned The Word Church.

Matthew 16:13-19

¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (The church is the only victorious entity in the world. This victory is forever.) ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[ loosed in heaven.”

What Does The Church Mean?

The Greek word for church is “ecclesia,” which means “called out.”

In the NT this word is used some 114 times and is translated as church, gathering, or assembling.

The early Christians saw themselves as being “called out.”

Romans 1:6-7 ⁶And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. ⁷To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

The Bible addresses Church As The Universal Church And The Local Church.

The Universal Church

This is the worldwide church. All believers from all times belong to this church. The Bible speaks about the church in general which consists of all believers.

Colossian 1:18 And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church…

The Local Church

The local church is a group of believers in a specific area.

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth…

Romans 16:5 Greet also the church that meets in their (Aquilla & Priscilla) house.

Every local church is a part of the worldwide church of Jesus. A local church is a place where people meet to worship God, have fellowship with each other, read and study the Bible, encourage each other, and strengthen each other in their faith.

When the first church met this is what they did together:

Acts 2:41-42, 46 ⁴¹Those who accepted (believed) his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added (to church) to their number that day. ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

What Church Is Not?

1. Church Is Not A Building.

Most of you when you think of a church, you think of a church building on a location. Going to church means going to a building. Jesus did not die for a building. Church meets in a building, but the church is not a building.

2. Church Is Not A Place For Entertainment.

If you go to church for some musical entertainment and a pep talk to pep you up for the week, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ does not exist for that purpose. We have diluted the meaning of church.

3. Church Is Not A Place For Man’s Business.

Why Is The Church Important?

1. Jesus Died For His Church.

Ephesians 5:25-27 ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

2. Church Will Last Forever.

Ephesians 3:10-11 ¹⁰His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:20-21 ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

3. Jesus Is The Central Focus Of The Church.

More are more people are leaving the church because Jesus is not in the center. Not all gatherings are a church. Some people believe that any gathering is the church. If I go to a concert it is a church. If I bump into another believer that is the church.

A church is a body of called-out ones. From Paul’s writings (in a nutshell), it’s a group of local Christians who celebrate the sacraments and have a leadership structure in place with deacons and elders who orchestrate the mission of the church. The church should be a place where Jesus is at its center, beckoning people toward. It’s not about the leader or people, the church is all about Jesus and believers who is on the journey toward Christ.

It is a sad reality that many are leaving the church because of abusive leaders and churches. Jesus is not the center in such places.

Ways to Spot Spiritual Abuse

Spiritually abusive ministries…

Demand allegiance as proof of the follower’s allegiance to Christ. It’s either his/her way or no way. And if a follower deviates, he is guilty of deviating from Jesus. Abusive leaders demand respect without having earned it by good, honest living.

Use exclusive language. “We’re the only ministry really following Jesus.” “We have all the right theology.” Believe their way of doing things, thinking theologically, or handling ministry and church is the only correct way. Everyone else is wrong, misguided, or stupidly naive.

Create a culture of fear and shame. Often there is no grace for someone who fails to live up to the church’s or ministry’s expectations. And if someone steps outside of the often-unspoken rules, leaders shame them into compliance. Leaders can’t admit failure, but often search out failure in others and uses that knowledge to hold them in fear and captivity. They often quote scriptures about not touching God’s anointed, or bringing accusations against an elder. Yet they often confront sin in others, particularly ones who bring up legitimate biblical issues. Or they have their circle of influence take on this task, silencing critics.

Often have a charismatic leader at the helm who starts off well, but slips into arrogance, protectionism, and pride. Where a leader might start off being personable and interested in others’ issues, he/she eventually withdraws to a small group of “yes people” and isolates from the needs of others. These ministries and churches harbor a cult of personality, meaning if the central figure of the ministry or church left, the entity would collapse, as it was entirely dependent on one person to hold the place together.

Cultivate a dependence on one leader or leaders for spiritual information. Personal discipleship isn’t encouraged. Often the Bible gets pushed away to the fringes unless the main leader is teaching it.

Demand blind servitude of their followers, but live prestigious, privileged lives. They live aloof from their followers and justify their material extravagance as God’s favor and approval on their ministry. Unlike Jesus’ instructions to take the last seat, they often take the first seat at events and court others to grant them privileges. They typically chase after wealth–at any cost, and often at the expense of the very people they shepherd.

Buffer him/herself from criticism by placing people around themselves whose only allegiance is to the leader. These leaders and churches view those who bring up legitimate issues as enemies. Those who were once friends/allies swiftly become enemies once a concern is raised. Sometimes these folks are banished, told to be silent, or shamed into submission.

Hold to outward performance but rejects authentic spirituality. Places burden on followers to act a certain way, dress an acceptable way and have an acceptable lifestyle, but they often demonstrate licentiousness, greed, and uncontrolled addictions behind closed doors.

Use exclusivity for allegiance. Followers close to the leader or leaders feel like lucky insiders. Everyone else is on the outside, though they often long to be in that inner circle. If someone in the inner circle speaks up about abuses, lapses in character, illegal acts, or strong-arming, that insider immediately moves to an outsider. Fear of losing their special status often impedes insiders from speaking up.

Pictures Of Church In The Scripture

The Bible gives us many metaphors or pictures of the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. I want you to observe how connected and involved we as a church is to Jesus.

1. Church Is God’s Flock.

Psalm 23

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Jesus’ church is compared to a flock in the Bible. The Shepherd of the flock (church) is Jesus Christ Himself.

What does the shepherd do for His sheep?

John 10:15 1 am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

How does the sheep respond to the shepherd?

John 10:4 …his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

2. Church Is Jesus’ Bride

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.

Ephesians 5:23 ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

What does the bridegroom desire His Church bride to be?

Holy, blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27 ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

3. Church is Jesus’ Body

In 1 Corinthians 12, the picture of the body is used to represent the relationship between Christ and the church and the relationship of the individual members with one another.

In this picture:

The Church is the body.

Christ is the head of the body.

Members are the parts of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church, he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Christ is the head, and we are the body. The individual members have a variety of functions:

1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

All members of the church have one common bond:

1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 12:24b-25 But God has put the body together, given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts have equal concern for each other.

4. Church is God’s House or household

The Church Is God’s Family.

1 Timothy 3:15 If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this “house.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 ¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself `as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord

We are living stones.

1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

A disorganized pile of stone is of no use. Therefore, it is important that each individual does his part so that there are no gaps.

5. Church Is God’s Temple

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ¹⁶Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Benefits Of Church: Why Do We Need Church?

1. The Church Family Helps Me Focus On God.

We can easily lose focus in our spiritual life with the mundane things of this world. When we face the world and its challenges, problems, trials, difficulties, sickness, etc, we can easily lose focus on God. Coming together as a church family helps me focus on God.

As they went through persecution, difficulties, etc, the NT church came together, prayed, broke bread, and read the letters sent by the apostles enabled them to refocus on God. When we come with all our difficulties and hear the word of God, it helps us to refocus our attention on God, no matter what is happening around us.

2. The Church Family Helps Me Face Life’s Problems – Fellowship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Church helps us to know that other people are in the boat with us. You are not alone. Do you ever get discouraged? Why? Life is tough. But when you go through that difficult phase, the church family helps me face life’s problems.

God never meant for you to go through life and all those problems on your own. The Christian life is never a solo act. God built a support group of people around you, it is a spiritual family and we call that church fellowship.

3. Church is where believers are built up in their faith.

Believers are equipped to be God’s people in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

4. Church Prepares Us For God’s Work.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ¹¹So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Church helps us to fulfill God’s mission. God has placed in the church people with different gifts to serve one another. Through this ministry, every single church member can receive preparation for the service God has called them for.

The NT Church Is Driven By Discipleship.

In Matthew chapter 28, we have some of Jesus’ last words. This is what the risen Jesus said to the community of disciples in that 40-day period.

Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus’ personal presence is at the center of the believer’s community.

What Is The Main Task Or Commission Given Here? Make disciples.

The community of Jesus is a community of disciples.

The Greek word for the word disciple here is “Matheteuo” which means “to become a learner, to learn at the feet of a teacher.”

Conclusion: Do you believe that you have heard the word of God this morning? Well, We will be studying in church for the next couple of weeks. Here is what I want to ask you. You heard what a church is like. Many of you belong to this church and some of you have your own church. Can you make a commitment today that I will connect to my local church? If you make your commitment, can you stand as I stand? Let it be our prayer, “Lord we want us to be a strong church, based on the word of God, where we glorify your name, and are committed to reaching his people in and outside.

If you have gone through abuse or hurt from church? We want to help you, email us, text us or call us; we will speak with you. Let’s Pray.