Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!
  • Welcome to Talk Jesus Christian Forums

    Celebrating 20 Years!

    A bible based, Jesus Christ centered community.

    Register Log In

The Church

B-A-C

Loyal
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
11,079
The church isn't something made up by men. It's an institution ordained by God.
The word most commonly translated as "church" is...

ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.
Total KJV occurrences: 115

A church isn't necessarily a building, but typically we call a building where believers meet a "church". But a church can be anywhere. Your house, the park, the beach,... anywhere a group of believers are assembling and meeting
together.

The word "church" is used over 75 times in the New testament.
The first two times we see it, it is spoken by Jesus Himself.

Matt 16:18; "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matt 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.

The last seven times we see it, it is also used by Jesus as well.

Rev 2:1; "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
Rev 2:8; "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
Rev 2:12; "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
Rev 2:18; "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
Rev 3:1; "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev 3:7; "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
Rev 3:14; "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:


It is used 17 times in the book of Acts.

Paul talked about the church more than anyone else. In his letters to the Gentiles, he uses it....

3 Times in Romans.
17 times in 1 Corinthians
Once in 2 Corinthians
Once in Galatians
9 times in Ephesians
Twice in Philippians
5 times in Colossians
Once in 1 Thessalonians
Once in 2 Thessalonians

It's also mentioned in Paul's private letters as well...
4 times in 1 Timothy and once in Philemon.

The book of Hebrews mentions it once.

John uses it 3 times in 3rd John, as well as the 7 times in Revelation that Jesus was speaking ( we already mentioned these above ).

The church is Jesus's figurative body. If you aren't part of the church, you aren't part of the body.

Eph 5:23; For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
Col 1:18; He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Col 1:24; Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

... to be continued ...
 
A person can go to a church building all their life and not be a part of the body of Christ, which is the Church.

If a person is not born again from above by the Holy Spirit, they do not belong to Christ or the Church.

Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

John 4:19-24

King James Version

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
 
If you aren't part of a church body, you're missing out on one of the biggest parts of being a believer.

First no one knows who you are. We can't pray for you, we don't know who you are, or what your problems are.
Second, you can't pray for us, because you don't know we exist and what problems are.
You have no accountability to anyone. ( This is the real reason many people avoid church )
You don't have to give or tithe ( even if you don't believe in tithing, you should at least give something )
You can't give a hug or encouragement to anyone.

You can't "sharpen iron" with other believers.
You have no support group for encouragement to you, no one to mourn for you when you're hurting, no one to rejoice with you when you're happy.
No one to pray for you when your sick and infirmed.

Now some people can't go to a remote church, they are infirmed, or aged, or don't drive, there are many valid reasons. My mother is one of these people.
She lives 1,200 miles away from me, so I can't take her to church. But there are other ways. People from her church visit her frequently.
She has multiple conversations with many of them every day. They pray for her, and she prays for them.

The phrase "one another" is used in the New Testament over 100 times. There can't be "another" if you isolate yourself.
I won't post all 100 verses here, but here are a few examples...

John 13:35; "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 15:12; "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Rom 12:10; Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
Rom 12:16; Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Rom 13:8; Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Gal 5:26; Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Gal 6:2; Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Eph 4:2; with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
Col 3:13; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Col 3:16; Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1Thes 3:12; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
Heb 3:13; But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 10:24; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
Heb 10:25; not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

1Cor 12:25; so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
1Cor 12:26; And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1Cor 12:27; Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

Some people say all I need is Jesus, or I have the Holy Spirit to teach me. Those things are true, but it's not how God designed the church to be a body.
Almost every cult denomination was started by someone who was off in isolation somewhere seeking God.

Yes churches are full of imperfect people ( I'm one of them ) and you are one of them too.
If you don't like the teachings of a particular church, go to another one, and another one until you find one where you fit in.
Find a place to get involved, be a greeter, serve others, pray for others, love others, get involved in a ministry... it'll be the most rewarding thing you've ever done ( literally ).
It'll hurt sometimes, people will make you cry. But you'll have deeper relationships with people than you've ever had in your life.

Why did Jesus leave the 99 to bring the single one back into the flock?
A single sheep is not a "flock", a single believer is not a "church".
 
Back
Top