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Few questions for the church to think through;
– What is a church?
– What is the purpose of the church?
– Is the church, what is is supposed to be?
– What is the general idea of a CHURCH? What do we normally think of church?

Church is considered to be a holy place, a building, a Cross, idols (Jesus, Mary), candles, bells, etc and the list goes on. The idea that we have about church is – “I am going to the church, I am going to the so and so Church.” I am a part of Church is one of a correct pictures of a church, but is it the complete picture?

What is a church? Is church a Community? Is Church man’s plan or God’s idea? Is it a God’s temple or a recreational club? Is Church an organization or an organism? (It can be both at times but primarily it is to be an organism)

When Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of heaven shall not prevail over it” (Matthew 16:18) what did He mean?

We always think that church is not about us but it’s for us. We come to church to be entertained but worship team or preacher is not there to entertain us. Please note that the Church is not a recreational club for believers on a Sunday morning.

Different stages that usually a Church goes through are as follows: –

– A Church is always started by people, based on the vision given by God.

– It then goes on to become a movement.

– Over a period, the movement becomes a routine or a machine or rather an organisation.

– Then it goes on to become a monument (a structure that reminds of good old times).

The Word of God says that a Church is not a place or a building, it’s a living being. Below are the references from the Bible that backs up the above statement.

Matthew 18:17

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.     

“IF CHURCH IF A BUILDING, YOU CANNOT TALK TO A BUILDING.”

Acts 5:11

“And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.”

“IF CHURCH IS A BUILDING, HOW CAN IT FEAR.”

Acts 9:31

“So, the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

“IF CHURCH IS A BUILDING THEN HOW CAN IT HEAR OR HOW CAN IT GROW.”

Acts 11:26

“and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

“IF CHURCH IS A BUILDING IT CANNOT BE NAMED AS CHRISTIANS.”

Acts 12:5

“So, Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

“IF CHURCH IS A BUILDING HOW CAN IT PRAY.”

If church is not a building, then what exactly is a church?

1.) Church’s first identity is that we are purchased or redeemed by the blood of God.

Acts 20:28

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

2.) Church the body of Christ.

Colossians 1:18

“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.”

Ephesians 5:23

“Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour.”

3.) Church is the household of God and we are the pillar and the foundation of Truth.

1 Timothy 3:15

“if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

4.) Church is the bride of Christ

Rev 19:7,8

“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

5.) We are all built together as a holy temple

Ephesians 2:21,22

“in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

6.) A part of manifold wisdom of God revealed to us.

Ephesians 3:8-10

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

7.) Church is the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 1:22-23

“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all”

The church is very dear to God, so much so that He has purchased us with the precious blood of His one and only Son Jesus. As a church, we have been called for an eternal purpose to be the light to the people of this world, to reveal the manifold wisdom of God around us, to give the good news of Jesus to everybody. God has not called us to be comfortable and enjoy our salvation but to tell the world that there is a God who loves them and died for their sins on the cross, was buried in a tomb but rose up from the dead to give them eternal life in heaven. Are we all willing to rise and share Christ with others? Are we as a church willing to fulfil the calling that God has called us to?