What is the purpose of the church?
Acts 2:47Each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
The church is not the physical building; instead, it is the fellowship of believers. Together, with other Christians, you learn more about Scripture, you work together to share the gospel in your community and across the world, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, you learn how to truly change for good and influence others.
Ephesians 4:11-12Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
The church exists in part to equip God’s people to do God’s work and to encourage them in their faith. The people in the church bring many various gifts and God uses their gifts to minister in a variety of ways.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
All believers together form God’s family, but only by meeting together can you bond. The church is a place where Christians learn to work together in unity, and where the differences between people are reconciled by the Holy Spirit. When you meet together, you can build one another up and help one another.
Revelation 19:7-8“Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
The church is Christ’s bride—a picture of the intimate fellowship that God’s people will enjoy with him.
Matthew 28:18-20Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
One of the primary jobs of the church is to bring the Good News of salvation to those who haven’t heard it and help them become believers, baptize them, and teach them God’s truth.
Acts 2:42-44All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . . . And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
Key functions of the church include teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer.
Acts 13:2-3The Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
The church is responsible to send missionaries out who will make God’s truth known beyond the local community.
2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
There is a special and unique role for the church to teach and preach. Preaching is the public proclamation of God’s message; teaching includes correcting and rebuking when needed, along with encouraging people in the faith.
1 Timothy 5:3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
James 5:14-15Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
The church should pray for its members who are facing adversity and take special care of widows, orphans, and those in need.
