{
 "id": "basics-def-church",
 "question": "What is the Church?",
 "answer": "The Church is the called-out body of the Lord Jesus Christ, derived from the Greek ekklesia. It is a spiritual organism rather than a physical or human organization, as every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13).\n\nThe Church is the possession of Jesus Christ, who is its head (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23). It is formed and empowered for its mission by the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; John 14-16; Acts 1:8; 19:1-7). Throughout all eternity, the Church will serve as the display piece of God's surpassing riches of grace (Eph. 2:4-7).\n\nThe two-fold mission assigned to the Church is evangelism and edification (Matt. 28:19-20). While the Body of Christ consists of all believers, they gather into local churches—geographic assemblies of saints—which serve as the base for training, preparation for service, and the study of the Word of God (Heb. 10:25; 13:7-17; Eph. 4:11-16).",
 "url": "/faq/what-is-the-church/",
 "unit": null,
 "lesson": null,
 "lesson_title": null,
 "question_type": null,
 "tier": 2,
 "faq_class": "definition",
 "aeo_questions": [
  "What is the meaning of ekklesia in the Bible?",
  "What is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the group of believers?",
  "What are the primary responsibilities and roles of a local church community?"
 ],
 "topic_anchor": "Church",
 "derivation": "generated",
 "source_authority": "authoritative",
 "author": "Gene Cunningham",
 "book": "The Basics",
 "source": {
  "doc_id": "btbm-01-TheBasics-8-10-24",
  "ref": "The Basics -- Subject Index entry 'Church' (printed pp. 32, 33, 34, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 154, 156, 157, 158, 159, 231, 233, 267, 271, 272)",
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   158,
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   231,
   233,
   267,
   271,
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  ]
 },
 "scripture": [
  {
   "display": "John 7:37-39",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Acts 1:8",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Corinthians 12:4-31",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Ephesians 4:11-16",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Hebrews 10:25-31",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Matthew 16:13-18",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Matthew 28:19-20",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "John 14-16",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    84
   ]
  }
 ],
 "topics": [
  "Body of Christ",
  "Church",
  "Edification",
  "Evangelism",
  "Greek",
  "Salvation",
  "Service"
 ],
 "topics_context": [
  "Plan of God and Satan",
  "Job",
  "Power and Holy Spirit",
  "strategy and tactics of Satan",
  "Power",
  "Power and angelic conflict"
 ],
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