Purpose Of The Local Church

[RED that's ME]

People have different views on the local church and why they should or shouldn't attend and be a member.

What do you think the Bible says about the purpose of the local church?

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

John 13:34-35

 

[OracleX]

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

What does this have to do with attending or being a member at a local church?

 

[~WildRoseCowgirl~]

And also there is the verse... I canna think of where it is but it goes something like this; Not forsaking the gathering together of yourselves as the manner of some is.........

 

[OracleX]

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

[BronxBriar]

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

What does this have to do with attending or being a member at a local church?

The the original post asked this question:

What do you think the Bible says about the purpose of the local church?

I think John 13:34-35 answers it nicely. By being together as "Church" we hope to engender love in one another through the grace of God.

 

[BT]

God's plan is the local church, which is a better way of stating it than "the local church is God's plan". Though both would be true. I think the Bible says alot about the local church, directly and by implication. 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus are my references ;-)

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

What does this have to do with attending or being a member at a local church?

love in the verse is agape love which come from the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23 and if one walks in the Spirit Gal 5:17-18 one can use their gift from God with other believers 1 cor 12:4-14:40

and your suppose to do this more with Believers than unbelievers Gal 6:10

 

[RED that's ME]

Ok we have established that we are to love each other how does your church do that and is there anything else besides loving each other the the local church purpose is for?

 

[the Colonel]

Ok we have established that we are to love each other how does your church do that and is there anything else besides loving each other the the local church purpose is for?

First and foremost, as has been stated, it is a fellowship of believers who love, support, admonish, and lift each other up --a place of rejuvination.

Secondly, it is an outreach and witness to the community within which it is located --a witness to the local community, made of those who are from that community.

Thirdly, it is a place that fellow believers can come together, as part of the family of God, to use their gifts that God has given them. Serving God doesn't mean you have to be a preacher, Sunday school teacher, song leader or organist. It may mean you're an encourager, a server/servant, a greeter, and all manor of gifts/personalities that God gives us to use for His kingdom as a part of the body of Christ.

I'm a firm believer (as a pastor of mine would say all the time) that we a saved to serve, not saved to sit.

--CK

 

[A Brethren IN CHRIST]

Ok we have established that we are to love each other how does your church do that and is there anything else besides loving each other the the local church purpose is for?

love goes into admonishing, ediefying, bearing one burdens,

 

[Andyman_1970]

Isn't the job of the pastors / teachers / "aspostle" / prophet / evangelist is to prepare / train (katartismos) the saints (hagios) for the ministry (diakonia).

It would seem the purpose of church is to train the saints (the Body) to go do ministry.

 

[the Colonel]

Isn't the job of the pastors / teachers / "aspostle" / prophet / evangelist is to prepare / train (katartismos) the saints (hagios) for the ministry (diakonia).

It would seem the purpose of church is to train the saints (the Body) to go do ministry.

Certainly that is part of it, but there is more.

 

[BronxBriar]

DELETED BY ME

 

[BT]

Yes indeed, especially when the teaching of the priesthood of the faithful is taken seriously. One reason I left my former 'church' was that is was being run by an elite class of 'priests' who felt only they could run the show. We in the pews were essentially told to pray, pay, and obey and leave the worship and ministry to the professionals.

That's so sad. When will people in ministry realize that we are SERVANTS, in a position of servant-leadership (in that order) servants first leaders second. Servants to the Lord first, the body next and ourselves a distant last. Ack!

 

[eldermike]

Ac 1:8
But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Your church should be reaching three areas: believers in your area, lost in your area and supporting believers and reaching the lost in all parts of the earth.
There are books on "how", but they are of no use until you agree that this is the purpose of the church.

 

[RED that's ME]

Each church should be doing 5 basic things:

Evangelism (outreach)
Exaltation (worship)
Encouragement (fellowship)
Edification (discipleship)
Equipping (service)

Each church should have a burden to reach the unsaved and guide them to Christ.
Each church should have a vision as Matthew 28:19-20 says.
To reach, teach & send.

Many of you are right it's not the pastor's job or the staff job alone to do the work in the church. We are all the body of Christ and need to work together.

~The church isn't a hotel for the saints
but a hospital for the lost.~