READING TIME: 1-2 MINUTES
April 22, 2020
Could you please explain the role of the local church?
1 Tim 3:14-15 gives us key information concerning the church: it is the house of God, it belongs to the living God, and it is the pillar and support of the truth. The church is the whole company of the redeemed of all generations between Pentecost and the Rapture (Matt 16:18; 1 Cor 10:32; 12:13-14; Eph 3:5-6).
The purpose of a local church is:
• to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31; Eph 1:6, 12, 14; 3:10, 21) in worship (individual and corporate praise and thanks), in witness (individual and corporate)
• edify the saints (Eph 4:11-16) by equipping the saints for the work of service for building the body for the purpose of coming to the unity of the faith (doctrine) and to attain to a mature knowledge of Christ and have stability in doctrine and life, by speaking the truth in love and functioning in love.
• and to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20 Acts 1:8) by making disciples.
The church gathered is for instruction, edification, worship, prayer, and fellowship. One outgrowth of the church gathered is when the church is scattered throughout the week for evangelism and ministry through making friends (Matt 22:39; Lk 10:33; John 4:4f.; Gal 6:10a; Titus 3:14), and preserving (Matt 5:13-16; 2 Thess 2:6-7). We can also do this through evangelism in general (Col 4:5-6; 1Thess 1:7-8) and by personal witnessing (Luke 10:2), sharing, refuting, reasoning, persuading, and demonstrating & proving (Acts 9:22; 17:17; 18:4, 28; 19:8-9; 1 Pet 3:15).
SOURCES USED
Keathley, J. Hampton, III. “A Biblical Philosophy of Ministry.” < https://bible.org/article/biblical-philosophy-ministry>.
Southern View Chapel (Springfield, IL). Ecclesiology Curriculum Textbook.