The church (from the Greek word ekklesia) is the assembly of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ both locally and universally. The church was founded by Jesus Christ and is being built by Him on the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-19; Ephesians 2:20). Believers identify with the Lord and the church through their profession of faith by baptism (immersion in water). Jesus Christ loves the church and purchased it with His own blood (Ephesians 5:23-27). He is to have preeminence in all things in the church (Colossians 1:11-18) The church is the expression of the Body of Christ on earth Ephesians 5:22-23, 30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Each local church is autonomous and is ruled by the risen Lord Jesus Christ through His people’s submission to His written revelation, the Bible (Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 5:24).
The Church has two ordained offices; pastors and deacons. Christ calls out pastors (also called elders, bishops, overseers) to provide leadership, wisdom, and care for the church (1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17). The office of deacon is one of ministry and service to Jesus Christ through His church under the leadership of the pastor (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13). The New Testament does not support the notion of deacons as being over the pastor. Their primary role is to meet the spiritual, physical, and temporal needs of the congregation so as to release the pastors to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-7). As such, the pastors and deacons serve as co-laborers in the church.
The church has two ordinances, baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:47-48) and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-38; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34) which symbolize Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and the new life He gives to all believers.
The Church is to meet regularly for worship, edification, ministry, and fellowship (Ephesians 5:18-20; Hebrews 10:19-25). It has been commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to take the Gospel to all people and nations (Matthew 16:19-20; 28:18-20).
Believers are called to assemble on a regular basis for worship, prayer, edification, teaching, fellowship, and ministry (Hebrews 10:25). Christ endows the members of the church with at least one spiritual gift for the purpose of building up the spiritual life of the church (1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:4-16). The church is called to warn erring believers and to exercise church discipline if required (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; James 5:19-20). The church ought to be generous in providing relief to poor fellow members and congregations (2 Corinthians 8-9; Philippians 1:15-18).
