What Is A Church?


A church is a group of believers in Jesus Christ, associated together, under Christ, for His purposes.



The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible says the English word "church" is derived from the Greek word kyriakon, which means something belonging to the Lord.



"`Church' in the New Testament, however, renders Greek ekklesia, which mostly designates a local congregation of Christians and never a building. An ekklesia was a meeting or assembly. Its commonest use was for the public assembly of citizens duly summoned . . . ," according to the New Bible Dictionary.



"Ekklesia was originally employed by the Greeks to denote an assembly or congregation of free citizens summoned or `called out' by a herald in connection with public affairs (Acts 19:39)." (Zondervan)



"In no case is the word used with reference to a building in which public worship is conducted. The word "church" is applicable essentially to people . . ." (Zondervan)



"It is the presence of the living Lord which authenticates the local church which in turn is an expression of the universal Church." (Zondervan)



MATTHEW 18:20 NKJ

20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."



"It is of note that in comparison with the meticulous detail given to Israel concerning Tabernacle and priesthood, little is said in the New Testament concerning church order and administration, although the qualifications of those who hold office are clearly enunciated. The picture presented by the New Testament would seem to suggest that the true unity of the Church is best expressed through a considerable variety of external forms." (Zondervan)



"Of the life and organization of the churches generally, we know very little, except for Jerusalem, which was not typical. Differences of church government, forms of ministry, moulds of thought and levels of moral and spiritual achievement were probably greater than we commonly realize." (New Bible Dictionary)