What is the church? Why the church? How is the church governed? What are the most important rituals of the church? What does the church do?
What is the church?
The Greek Term
The early church borrowed a Greek term, meaning a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into a public place. From the Greek word ekklésia we call the study of the church ecclesiology. The word church can describe a home church in a certain city, as most churches were in those days.
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB)
The word church can mean the church in a region or province.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31 NIV)
The word church can even refer to the universal church.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11 NLT)
The Hebrew Term
This Old Testament word for church also meant “assembly, company, and congregation.”
You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. (Exodus 12:6 NASB)
As we have seen, in the Bible the word church usually refers to the people of God not a building.
Metaphors of the Church
The church is called the body of Christ, a family, a vine and branches, the pillar and ground of the truth, God’s field, God’s building, a spiritual building, a living temple that is still under construction, a holy temple, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, composed of living stones built around a cornerstone, salt and light.
Why the church?
Jesus said that he would build his church and that the gates of Hades, a pagan Greek term referring to the abode of the dead, would not prevail against the church. In other words, the church would not cease as each passing generation dies.
And 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. (Matthew 16:18 NIV)
One purpose for the church is a place where the Lord gathers those who will be saved.
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47 KJV)
The church is a gathering of disciples to be taught what Jesus taught.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20 NLT)
The church is a place for testimony about what God has done.
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. (Acts 15:4 NIV)
Church gatherings are for believers to be strengthened in faith.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5 NKJV)
The church is a place to be spiritually fed.
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. (Acts 20:28 NIV)
The church is a place for prophecy or inspired preaching.
… one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. (1 Corinthians 14:4 NLT)
The church is a place for collections for the saints.
Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. (1 Corinthians 16:1 NLT)
The church is a gathering to learn of God’s wisdom.
His 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 (Ephesians 3:10 NIV)
The assembly of the saints is a place to get spiritually cleansed.
… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 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… (Ephesians 5:25-28 NKJV)
The church is a convocation to sing God’s praises.
… “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” (Hebrews 2:12 ESV)
The church is also a place to be healed.
… Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:13-15 NKJV)
How is the church governed?
Holy Scripture is flexible enough to allow variety in the manner that we govern churches, called church polity. There is great leeway for adaptability to local culture and the leadership styles and personality types of local leaders. Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, and unstructured formats exist. Each preference has strengths and weaknesses.
Formal Leadership
Church leaders are called elders, and sometimes presbyters or priests.
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23 NIV)
Bishop originally was an alternative to the word elder, an overseer of a local church.
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons (Philippians 1:1 NKJV)
Alongside the elders came a group of men and women who took care of church business called deacons.
In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity… (1 Timothy 3:8-13 NLT)
Some churches approach these offices very formally and others very informally, yet all churches have leaders who fit into these same broad categories of leading or serving, and ought to be qualified by living within these minimal standards of Christian conduct.
What are the rites of the church?
The two most important rites of the church are observed by all Christians. One rite uses water. The other uses bread and a cup.
The Water
Baptism has always been a practice of the church. It was instituted by Jesus himself.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)
The Bread and Wine
On that Passover before his crucifixion, at the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the elements of bread and wine.
“This is my body [“is” is a mystery, a sacrament], which is for you; do this [do is an ordinance] in remembrance of me [communion is a memorial].” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is [again “is,” a mystery or sacrament] the new covenant in my blood; do this [again “do,” an ordinance], whenever you drink it, in remembrance [again, a memorial] of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26 NIV)
Summary
The church is a gathering, or assembly. It does not primarily refer to the building, but the congregation. The church is a gathering for those who will be saved, a place to be taught, a place for testimony, to be strengthened in faith, to be spiritually fed, for prophecy or inspired preaching, for collections for the saints, to learn of God’s wisdom, to be spiritually cleansed, to sing God’s praises, to be healed, to be baptized, to receive the Lord's Supper, and to bless others.
