Biblical Church Nature Purpose Activity Organization Biblical Church

Biblical Church Nature Purpose Activity Organization

Biblical Church What is church for?

Universal church – all those that belong to Christ Purpose: to proclaim God’s praises in the world God/Christ Local churches – groups of Christians in particular places What is the purpose of the local church?

Purpose of the local church • Ephesians 4: 11 -16

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4: 11 -16)

Purpose of the local church • Ephesians 4: 7 -13 • “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, to the building up of the body of Christ. ” • 1 Corinthians 14

One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. … So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. … For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. … What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14)

Purpose of the local church • Ephesians 4: 7 -13 • “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, to the building up of the body of Christ. ” • 1 Corinthians 14 • “Let all things be done for edification. ” • Hebrews 10: 24 -25

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10: 19 -25)

Purpose of the local church • Ephesians 4: 7 -13 • “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, to the building up of the body of Christ. ” • 1 Corinthians 14 • “Let all things be done for edification. ” • Hebrews 10: 24 -25 • “stir up one another to love and good works. ” The local church serves to equip, edify, and stir up those who belong to Christ.