Question 39 :: What is the Church?

Answer:

The Church is the gathering of believers in fellowship with one another under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

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Children:

The Church is the gathering of believers under Jesus.

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Acts 2:41-47

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

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Commentary:

The word church comes from the Greek ‘ekklesia’ which means ‘gathering’ or ‘assembly.’  It is the gathering together of believers for worship of God in singing praises, lifting prayer and studying His Word.   The terms ‘church’ and ‘body of Christ’ are used synonymously in the New Testament.  The church is the ‘body of Christ’ of which Jesus himself is the Head. In all things the church submits to Jesus Christ. The church is sometimes talked about as the ‘universal Church’ or the ‘local church.’ The universal Church (capital ‘C’) is all believers, at all times, everywhere.  The local church (lowercase ‘c’) refers to individual congregations with membership that meet together. A church does not have to have a set time or location, but without membership there is not a local church.

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Further Study:

Matthew 16:13-19; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:1-16, 5:19-30; Colossians 1:18, 3:12-17