What is the Church?

Why should we define what the local church is? When we lose our biblical definition of what the church is and what her purpose is, we then begin to miss the mark on how we do evangelism, discipleship, community, correction, and ministry. Jesus doesn’t say he will build individual disciples in Matthew 16, but he will build his church. The church defined is a local body of believers coming together to meet regularly under the shepherding and teaching of elder-qualified men served by biblically qualified deacons devoted to the exposition of the scriptures, prayer, church discipline, and the ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s Supper). The church’s mission is to glorify God through making disciples which starts with evangelism or the proclamation of the gospel. Paul Washer in his book The Essential Means of Grace said, “A local church is not synonymous with a weekly Bible study, a parachurch ministry, or listening to one’s favorite preachers on the internet.” Accountability and truth must be our foundation which comes through the church Christ built. The church is our beginning for evangelism, discipleship, ministry, etc. and not our last resort. Our mission organizations, parachurch ministries, or non-profits should all be connected to the local church. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” May you be encouraged to stay connected to the pulse of Christ’s mission by being in the local church.