How would you explain the nature and function of the Church to a friend? What Scriptures would you use?
I would tell a friend that the Church is not a building or an organization but a living spiritual body — everyone who has trusted Christ, joined to Him and to each other by the Holy Spirit. Its mission is simple and two-fold: to win people to Christ and to build them up toward maturity. The local church is the base for that — where the Word is taught, where we serve, and where we are trained for a destiny that lasts forever.
Also asked: what is the nature of the church according to the Bible? · how do christians describe the purpose and function of the church? · what does the Bible say about the role and mission of the local church?
Source: The Basics The Basics, Unit 2, Lesson 2-2 — The Base–The Church
What this answer is about
Related questions
- What is baptism? What are the two types of baptisms described in the Bible?Matthew 28:19-20 · The Basics
- What is the biblical definition of a local church and its role in spiritual growth?Matthew 28:19-20 · The Basics
- What is spiritual maturity, and how does one achieve it?Matthew 28:19-20 · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about baptisms?Matthew 28:19-20 · The Basics
- What does the Bible teach about death?1 Corinthians 12:13 · The Basics
- What is the difference between the Church and the church?1 Corinthians 12:13 · The Basics
- Is baptism necessary for salvation? If so, which baptism?1 Corinthians 12:13 · The Basics
- What five works does the Holy Spirit perform in the believer at the moment of salvation?1 Corinthians 12:13 · The Basics
See also
- What is the Greek word for “church” and what does it mean?Same lesson · The Basics
- What is the “rock” upon which the Church is built?Same lesson · The Basics
- Who is forming and empowering the Church?Same lesson · The Basics
- What is the two-fold mission of the Church?Same lesson · The Basics
- What were the four priorities of the early Church?Same lesson · The Basics
- When the dispute arose between Hellenistic and Hebrew Christians in Acts 6, why did the apostles say it was not desirable for them to wait tables?Same lesson · The Basics
Scripture recorded with this answer
Where this is taught in the book
Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.