12 questions · The body of Christ
The church is not a building. It is a people—those whom God has called out of darkness into His marvelous light. The Greek word ekklesia means "assembly" or "gathering." You belong to something bigger than yourself.
Jesus promised to build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). From a small band of disciples in Jerusalem, the church has spread across the globe for two thousand years. It includes every nation, tribe, and tongue.
The church is both local and universal. You gather with believers in a specific place—your local congregation. But you also belong to the worldwide body of Christ, including believers throughout history. The "communion of saints" stretches across time and space.
Church can be messy. It is filled with imperfect people. You may have been hurt by a church. You may wonder if you need church at all. Scripture says you do. You cannot flourish in isolation. You need the body, and the body needs you. Each member has gifts to contribute.
The questions below address what the church is, why it matters, and how to engage with it faithfully. May you find your place in God's family and experience the blessing of Christian community.
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:4
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
1 Corinthians 12:27
"This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me... This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:19-20
"Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup."
1 Corinthians 11:28
Baptism is the outward expression of an inward faith—a public declaration of belief in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. While baptism doesn't save, it's an act of obedience commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19).
The church is the community of all believers in Jesus Christ—His body on earth. It's not primarily a building but people called out by God to worship Him, grow together, and serve the world. The local church gathers for worship, teaching, fellowship, and mission.
Communion (the Lord's Supper) is a sacred practice Jesus instituted at the Last Supper. Believers eat bread and drink wine (or grape juice) to remember Christ's body broken and blood shed for our sins. It proclaims His death until He returns and examines our hearts before God.
The Great Commission is Jesus' command to His disciples (and all believers) to 'go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded' (Matthew 28:19-20). It's the church's primary mission—spreading the Gospel to every people group until Christ returns.
Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 indicate that communion should be taken with self-examination and sincere faith. Those who eat and drink 'without discerning the body' bring judgment on themselves. Most Christian traditions agree that communion is for baptized believers who have examined their hearts. Churches differ on whether communion is 'open' (any Christian may participate) or 'closed' (only members of that congregation or denomination). The key biblical principle is that participants should approach the table with reverence, repentance, and genuine faith in Christ.
The Bible does not prescribe a specific frequency for communion. Jesus said 'do this in remembrance of me' (Luke 22:19) without specifying how often. Acts 2:42 says the early church devoted themselves to 'the breaking of bread,' and Acts 20:7 mentions gathering on 'the first day of the week' to break bread, suggesting weekly practice. Churches today range from daily (some Catholic and Anglican parishes) to weekly (many Reformed and early church traditions) to monthly or quarterly (common in some Protestant churches).
At the Last Supper, Jesus broke bread and said 'This is my body,' then took the cup and said 'This is my blood of the covenant' (Matthew 26:26-28). Christians have debated the meaning ever since. Catholics believe the bread and wine become Christ's actual body and blood (transubstantiation). Lutherans believe Christ is really present 'in, with, and under' the elements (real presence). Reformed Christians believe Christ is spiritually present through faith. Baptists and many evangelicals view the elements as symbols that represent Christ's sacrifice. All agree the meal proclaims Christ's death and anticipates his return.
The Bible does not restrict communion to a church building. The early church broke bread 'in their homes' (Acts 2:46), and the Last Supper itself took place in a private upper room. However, communion is inherently communal — the word itself means 'sharing' or 'participation' (1 Corinthians 10:16). Most traditions encourage taking communion within a gathered community of believers rather than alone, since it expresses unity with the body of Christ. Home groups, small gatherings, and house churches can legitimately celebrate communion. Those who are homebound due to illness have historically received communion from church elders who visit them.
In the New Testament, 'church' (ekklesia) refers to the universal body of all believers (Ephesians 1:22-23) and to local congregations (1 Corinthians 1:2). A denomination is a distinct organizational body within Christianity that shares common beliefs, governance, and practices — such as Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Catholic. Denominations emerged over centuries through disagreements about doctrine, worship style, church governance, and cultural context. While Christians debate whether denominations are healthy diversity or sinful division, Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 ('that they may all be one') remains the aspiration.
The New Testament describes two primary leadership roles: elders (also called overseers/pastors) and deacons. Elders are responsible for teaching, shepherding, and governing the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9). Deacons serve the practical and administrative needs of the congregation (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Paul and Peter both emphasize that leaders must be people of character — not domineering but serving as examples (1 Peter 5:2-3). The qualifications focus more on character and maturity than on education or skills.
Jesus instituted communion at the Last Supper, the night before his crucifixion. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' He then took the cup and said, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood' (Luke 22:19-20). These words connect communion to three realities: Christ's sacrificial death ('my body given'), the new covenant ('new covenant in my blood'), and the command to remember ('do this in remembrance').
The Bible describes the church's role through several images and functions: worshiping God (Colossians 3:16), making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), building up believers through teaching and fellowship (Ephesians 4:12-13), caring for the poor and vulnerable (James 1:27), and being 'the pillar and buttress of the truth' in the world (1 Timothy 3:15). The church is both a community gathered (worshiping together) and a community scattered (serving and witnessing in daily life). It exists to glorify God by continuing Christ's mission on earth.
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