The Local Church

The local church is God’s plan for the world. The most exciting mission that Jesus has called Christians to be part of is building the local church with Him. He said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18)

The Church is described as
• God’s family.
• The Body of Christ, He is our only Head.
• God’s temple, a “dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).
• A house of prayer and fellowship with the living God.
• God’s city. The OT prophets speak of Zion as God’s covenant people (i.e. chosen by his grace), “Sought out, a city not forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12); see also Psalm 102:16; Zechariah 2:5; Isaiah 60:14 and Hebrews 12:22-23.

Building the local church is the most successful and effective form of evangelism in which we can be involved. In Acts 2:42-46 we read about the first Christians in Jerusalem and how they took the good news from house to house as God added daily to their number: this is building the church!