I strongly believe in the local church. Although we do not have a depiction of what the local church looks like in the New Testament, we do have a purpose. Concerning the gathering of the local church: some meet in designated buildings, some in homes, some in offices, etc. However, God’s people do gather.

Two of the purposes of the local church are:

  1. Produce spiritual growth (please read Ephesians 4: 11-16);
  2. Go into the entire world. Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” A local church that is not focusing on growing and going will soon pass away.

Think On These Things

 

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NASB)
11. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15. but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16. from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Matthew 28:19 (NASB)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,