What is the church?
You’re sitting in the row at church — or watching online — and you hear that phrase again. You know, the one that seems to ascribe a personality to a building, yet seems to be addressing the whole congregation — “The Church.” OK, sure. It’s a nice building, but why are we giving a building its own personality? What is the church? Let’s take a look.
From a physical standpoint, the church is considered a building. But it's also so much more than that. The term in the original Greek is “ekklesia,” which translates to “a gathering of those summoned.”
What does the Bible say about the church?
When you think of church, what comes to your mind? Is it an extra-large building with thousands of attendees? Perhaps, the building is extremely ornate and beautiful. Or, maybe it's a quintessential and quaint, white country church where everyone knows everyone else. Like people, there are a lot of different types of churches. But the question still remains: What is the church? Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about the church.
It’s about the people, not the place. The church, according to the Bible, is a gathering of Christ followers. This group of people is called the “body of Christ.” "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many" (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 ESV).
It’s not as big as you think. For many people, church is defined as a building that holds religious services. But the church is so much more than that. In fact, the church doesn’t even need a building to meet — and it doesn’t need a lot of people. You may be surprised to learn that the Bible says that only two people are needed — “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20 ESV). A church that is growing is typically a sign that the congregation is healthy, so don’t think larger churches are a bad thing.
God doesn’t live in the church. Prior to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and miraculous resurrection three days later, only certain people could go into the temple to worship Jesus. But Jesus doesn’t live there, according to Acts 17:24-25 (ESV): “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
Why should I go to church?
Now, you may be asking if God doesn’t live in the church and the church is actually a group of people, what’s the point of going?
The church offers you the opportunity to meet new people and build relationships. The church is designed for fellowship among believers, specifically — acting as a place for Christians to encourage and sharpen each other. But, the church is for everyone. It’s where people can come find hope and love and ask questions. It’s where people can find their purpose and their passion. The Bible is pretty clear about that, too. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, help those in need, and “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” (Matthew 28:19 ESV)
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. And every journey needs a Starting Point.
Starting Point groups are in-person, stress-free and judgment-free groups that meet periodically at Centerpoint Church. Here, you can spend some time getting to know fellow group members, reading and having an open conversation about topics like God, the Scriptures, faith, and Jesus. Completely new to the teachings of Jesus? Returning to church after a long break? Questioning the teachings you were brought up with or just unsure what you believe? Our Starting Point groups are here to help you navigate your faith journey. Get in touch with us to learn when the next Starting Point group is meeting or to join a Starting Point group.