“But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
What Does The Bible Say About The Church
The Bible teaches us that the Church is not just a building or a place where people meet. The Church is the group of people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. These people come together to worship God, pray, learn from His Word, and encourage each other in their faith. The Church is called to be a community of believers who love one another and work together to share the message of Jesus with the world.
The Bible says that the Church belongs to God and is very important to Him. Jesus is the leader of the Church, and He cares for it deeply. He brings people into the Church, not because of their good deeds, but because of His love and grace. The Church is made up of people from all over the world, with different languages, cultures, and backgrounds, but they are united because they believe in Jesus.
God has given the Church a mission to help others know Him. The Church is called to serve others, help those in need, and live in a way that honors God. It is also a place where people can find hope, forgiveness, and healing. The Church is like a family, where everyone is accepted and cared for, and where people grow in their faith together.
The Bible also says that the Church is a light to the world. This means that the Church should show God’s love and truth to those around them by how they live and treat others. The Church is called to stand for what is right and to be a voice of hope and love in a world that often feels dark and broken.
In the end, the Church is not perfect because it is made up of people who still make mistakes. But God is working in and through the Church to bring His love and salvation to the world. The Church is a gift from God, and it is a place where His people can gather to worship Him, grow in their faith, and share His love with others.
The Church as the Body of Christ
The Church is described in the Bible as the body of Christ, made up of diverse members united under one Spirit. Each member contributes to the health and mission of the whole, just as each part of a body has a unique role and function. Through this metaphor, the Bible emphasizes the importance of unity, purpose, and the dependence of each part on the whole.
1 Corinthians 12:27
“You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your ‘part’ mean anything.”
Romans 12:4-5
“In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.”
Colossians 1:18
“He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone.”
Ephesians 4:15-16
“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.”
1 Corinthians 10:17
“Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness—Christ doesn’t become fragmented in us. Rather, we become unified in him.”
Ephesians 1:22-23
“The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
The Church as a Place of Worship
The Bible frequently describes the church as a place of worship, where believers gather to exalt God together. It’s a space where people come to meet with God, reflect on His Word, and celebrate His goodness. Worship in the church involves not only singing praises but also offering lives in dedication to God’s service, creating an atmosphere of reverence and community.
Psalm 100:4
“Enter with the password: ‘Thank you!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.”
Hebrews 10:25
“Not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”
Psalm 95:6
“So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us!”
Isaiah 56:7
“I’ll bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the insiders.”
1 Chronicles 16:29
“Bring your best offering and enter his presence! Worship God in all his holy splendor.”
John 4:24
“God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
The Church as a Community of Believers
The Bible often emphasizes the church as a gathering of believers who support and encourage one another in their faith. Through fellowship, they strengthen each other, share their burdens, and experience a deep sense of belonging. This community is rooted in love, accountability, and mutual encouragement, making it a vital part of spiritual growth.
Acts 2:42
“They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.”
Hebrews 10:24
“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out.”
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another.”
Romans 12:10
“Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”
Galatians 6:2
“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this.”
The Church as a Light to the World
Jesus calls the church to be a light in the world, spreading His love, truth, and justice. Through the church, God’s love reaches those in need, and His truth illuminates lives lost in darkness. The church is a beacon of hope, called to shine brightly in a world that often feels fractured, and to draw others toward God’s presence and grace.
Matthew 5:14
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”
Philippians 2:15
“Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
John 8:12
“I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Ephesians 5:8
“For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
“It started when God said, ‘Light up the darkness!’ and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are the ones chosen by God…to be God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him.”
The Church as a Place of Healing and Restoration
The church is often seen as a place where people find healing, restoration, and transformation through God’s grace. It’s a place where brokenness meets compassion, and hearts are mended by the Holy Spirit. The Bible encourages believers to bring their burdens to God and to the community of faith, trusting that they will find hope, healing, and new life.
James 5:14-15
“Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you.”
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.”
Matthew 11:28
“Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.”
Jeremiah 30:17
“As for you, I’ll come with healing, curing the incurable, because they all gave up on you and dismissed you.”
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken.”
1 Peter 5:7
“Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.”
The Church as a Witness to the World
The church is called to testify about God’s love, truth, and salvation to the world. Witnessing isn’t just about words but a lifestyle that reflects Christ’s teachings and example. Through the way believers live and treat others, the world catches a glimpse of God’s character and His message of redemption and grace.
Acts 1:8
“When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life.”
1 Peter 3:15
“Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are.”
2 Timothy 2:15
“Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of.”
John 13:35
“This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
Romans 1:16
“It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan.”
The Church as a Family of God
In Scripture, the church is often portrayed as a family, bound by a spiritual connection deeper than blood. Believers are brothers and sisters in Christ, part of God’s family, called to love, forgive, and bear one another’s burdens. The Bible’s description of the church as a family emphasizes love, loyalty, and a commitment to help each other grow in faith.
Ephesians 2:19
“You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders.”
Galatians 6:10
“Every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”
Romans 12:5
“We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.”
Matthew 12:50
“Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
1 Timothy 5:1-2
“Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers.”
1 John 3:1
“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God!”
The Church’s Mission to Serve Others
Throughout the Bible, God calls His people to serve others and meet their needs, reflecting His compassion and kindness. The church is called to be His hands and feet in a hurting world, embodying love through acts of service and generosity. By serving others, believers bring God’s love to life and demonstrate a tangible, practical faith that reaches beyond church walls.
Galatians 5:13
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
Matthew 25:40
“Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”
1 Peter 4:10
“Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it.”
Romans 12:13
“Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”
Hebrews 13:16
“Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others.”
James 2:15-16
“If you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, ‘Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!’ and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup, where does that get you?”
Christian Quotes on Pride
“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” – Andrew Murray
“Pride is the idolatrous worship of the self.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” – C.S. Lewis
“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people.” – C.S. Lewis
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” – C.S. Lewis
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow.” – Henry Ward Beecher
“If I had only one sermon to preach, it would be a sermon against pride.” – G.K. Chesterton
“The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing. But to be ‘right’ in his own eyes.” – Thomas Merton
“Pride is the mask of one’s own faults.” – Proverb
“Our greatest sin lies in our pride, in our elevating our own wisdom above the wisdom of God.” – John Calvin
Final Thought
The Church is more than a building; it’s a community, a body, a family, and a light to the world. Each of us has a role in its mission to bring hope, healing, and the message of Jesus to those around us. As we live in unity and humility, let us continue to grow as a living testimony of God’s love and grace to the world.