Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tonight’s Study, Session 8: Core Belief #7 – The Church
Introduction: Many people today understand the church to be a building. This is not a Biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as an “assembly” or “called -out -ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but of people.
It’s All about Jesus
The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until Christ’s return. Biblically, we may regard the church in two ways, as the universal church or as the local church.
The Universal Church
The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All true believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ at the moment of conversion (1 Corinthians 12:13). This is not water baptism, but a spiritual baptism. Water baptism follows spiritual baptism into the body of Christ and is a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
1 Corinthians 12:13 – For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. This verse says that anyone who believes is a part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.
The Local Church
The local church is described in Galatians 1:1-2: Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia. Here we see in the province of Galatia there were many churches – they had a localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. A Non-denominational church, a Baptist church, a Pentecostal church, a Lutheran church, etc., is not the church, as in the universal church, rather, it is a local church, a body of believers. The universal church is comprised of everyone who belongs to Christ. Members of the universal church should seek fellowship and edification in a local church.
What is the Purpose of the Church?
Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be 1) teaching Biblical doctrine, 2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s Supper, and 4) praying.
Biblical Doctrine
The church is to teach Biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in our faith. Doctrines of the Bible are essential to our faith and our growth in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
Fellowship
The church is to be a place of fellowship, where Christians can be kind and compassionate toward one another (Romans 12:10), encourage one another (Romans 15:14), be kind and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32), comfort and edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and most importantly, love one another (1 John 3:11).
Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Romans 15:14 – Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 John 3:11 – For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
Lord’s Supper
The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The bread represents the body of Christ which was broken for us, and the cup containing the fruit of the vine represents the blood of Christ that was shed for our sins. Both are symbolic in nature, not sacramental, therefore they have no saving nor sanctifying power. The Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances that Jesus left with the church and commanded the church to observe, the other being baptism.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Prayer
The final purpose of the church according to Acts 2:42 is prayer. The church is to be a place that promotes prayer, teaches prayer, and practices prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer is a Biblical discipline that is appropriated by faith in the believer’s life. Prayer is where our cares and concerns are taken out of our hands and are put into the hands of God, trusting and knowing that He is a God who is more than able to do what we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). He answers every prayer asked in faith according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
The 6 Biblical Goals of the Church
- Glorifying God – The church is to bring God glory through worship and service.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Edifying the body of Christ – The church body is called and commanded by God to comfort and build one another up. This comes through fellowship and nurturing relationships.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
- Purifying the body of Christ – The church is to purify itself by yielding to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work within the body of Christ.
Ephesians 5:26-27 – that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
- Evangelizing the Lost – The church is commanded by God to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
- Being Salt and Light –The church is called to be the salt of the earth to season it and make it tolerable. It is also called to be a light in a dark world, to expose sin and darkness and show the love of Jesus, who is the Light of the world (John 8:12).
Matthew 5:13-16 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Promote that which is good – Because God is good, the church is to promote that which is good for society as a whole.
Galatians 6:9-10 – And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Conclusion: The church is God’s eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet in this world – the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the things and living the way that Jesus Christ would if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following. We may be the only Jesus some people ever see.
Next Week, Session 9: Core Belief #8 – Christlikeness