The church serves several important purposes according to the Bible. First and foremost, the church exists to glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6, Matthew 28:19-20). It is a gathering of believers who come together to worship God, be taught from His Word, and encourage one another in the faith (Hebrews 10:24-25). The church is described as the body of Christ, with each member having a unique role and purpose in building up the whole (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Some key purposes of the church found in Scripture include:
- Worship – The church gathers to worship God through prayer, praise, singing, preaching, and observing the ordinances (John 4:23-24, Acts 2:42, Ephesians 5:19). Corporate worship brings glory to God and unites believers.
- Discipleship – The church teaches biblical truth to equip believers to live for Christ and become more like Him (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This includes Bible studies, Sunday School classes, and biblical counseling.
- Fellowship – The church provides a community for believers to grow spiritually and relationally as they share life together (Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:3). This happens through small groups, serving together, and informal gatherings.
- Service – The church is called to serve God and others, both within the church and outside in the community (Mark 10:45, Galatians 5:13). This can include meeting practical needs, evangelism, and ministry to specific groups.
- Prayer – The church unites in prayer for each other, the community, and the world (Acts 2:42, Ephesians 6:18). Prayer fuels the work of the church.
The church is meant to function like a unified spiritual family, with members using their diverse gifts to build up one another and fulfill God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-8). Believers are given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to serve the church so that it builds up in love (Ephesians 4:11-16). As Christians gather regularly under biblical preaching and teaching, they encourage each other to grow in Christlikeness and to live on mission for God’s glory.
In summary, at its core the church exists to glorify God by making disciples who reflect Christ. Key purposes include worship, discipleship, fellowship, service, and prayer. The church is a gathering of diverse believers who each play a vital role in building up the body of Christ. When the church functions according to God’s design, it displays His wisdom and glory to spiritual forces and serves as a light to the world (Ephesians 3:10-11, Matthew 5:14-16).
The Church as a Place of Worship
One primary purpose of the church is to be a place where believers come together to worship and glorify God. Corporate worship is an essential part of the Christian life and a key purpose of gathering together (Hebrews 10:25).
Through worship services and times set aside for adoration of God, the church participates in worship that brings glory to God and expresses love and gratitude to Him. Singing praises, prayer, hearing the Word preached, celebrating communion, and giving financially are all acts of worship (Psalm 95:1-7, Acts 2:42, Hebrews 13:15-16). As believers gather together in awe of who God is, they join with all of creation and the heavenly realms in bringing glory to the name of the Lord (Psalm 148, Ephesians 3:10).
The church was designed as a place where believers can join their voices together as one to magnify God’s greatness. As Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 14, when the church gathers together in corporate worship, the Holy Spirit works among them and God is glorified. Lifting their voices in song and responding to the preaching of the Word causes them to be built up together.
True worship flows from hearts filled with love for God and recognition of His worth. The church has the privilege of cultivating worship within its people – both individually in their daily lives and corporately when they gather. This happens through worship services, prayer meetings, times of testimonial praise, and ministry that awakens affections for God.
The church is intended to represent a glimpse of heaven on earth, where people from every tribe and tongue join together in exalting the Lamb who is worthy (Revelation 5:9-14). As the redeemed of God, the church has the honor of magnifying His glory through acts of worship until the day He makes all things new.
The Church as a Place of Preaching and Teaching
Another vital purpose of the church found in the Bible is instruction in sound doctrine and the preaching of God’s Word. From the earliest church description in Acts 2, teaching the apostles’ doctrine was central to the church’s practice (Acts 2:42). Paul appointed elders to be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2), and leaders are charged with equipping the saints through teaching sound doctrine (Titus 2:1, Ephesians 4:11-13). Biblical preaching and teaching build up believers in the truth so they can avoid false teaching (Ephesians 4:14-15).
Faithful preaching by gifted leaders brings the light of God’s Word to His people, nourishing their souls through the power of the Holy Spirit. As the Scriptures are opened and applied to listeners’ lives, their minds are renewed, faith is strengthened, and wisdom for practical living grows (Psalm 119:130, Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Preachers who diligently study the Bible to understand its meaning by the Spirit’s illumination can feed God’s sheep from His ordained source of truth (2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 20:27-28).
Not only does the church appoint leaders to preach and teach regularly, but instruction in the Word is to be part of the believer’s everyday life. Parents are called to impress Scripture on their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Paul’s letters were intended to be read to entire church gatherings as a source of teaching and admonition (Colossians 4:16). Songs of worship contain doctrine for instructing one another (Colossians 3:16). This immersion in God’s Word equips the people of God to know divine wisdom.
The church is designed to uphold God’s truth in a confused world. As Paul wrote Timothy, pillars and buttresses support a structure. So in the church, the foundation of God’s Word is upheld through faithful preaching, discipleship, and adherence to sound doctrine that accords with godliness (1 Timothy 3:14-15). The teaching ministry of the church nourishes believers so they can stand firm.
The Church as a Community of Fellowship
The New Testament also describes the church as a community of fellowship and belonging. The first church was characterized by a depth of unity and care for one another as they bonded together in Christ (Acts 2:42-47). Not only were they committed to the apostles’ teaching, but they shared meals, prayed together, and supported those in need.
This portrayal of rich fellowship is what God intends the church to be. Believers have the profound privilege of being adopted into God’s family when they embrace Christ (John 1:12-13). Joined together by the Spirit, the church experiences the tender relationship of brothers and sisters in Christ. They are members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19).
Throughout the New Testament, language about family relationships illustrates believers’ connection in the body of Christ – they are children of God, siblings to one another, accountable to spiritual fathers and mothers, cared for by church leaders as a shepherd tends his flock (1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, 1 Peter 5:2-3). Nurturing these spiritual family ties leads to maturity and a haven where hurting souls find healing through grace (Galatians 6:1-2).
The church family is called to bear each other’s burdens, restore those who fall, honor one another, encourage the timid and weak, and live in harmony (Romans 15:1-7, Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Peter 3:8). As Christians fellowship through the Holy Spirit and show love to one another, they reflect God’s character to the world (John 13:34-35).
This kind of fellowship requires humility, patience, kindness, and perseverance as believers accept one another with grace (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12-15). But it results in incredible joy, consolation, comfort, and glory to God as the redeemed find a taste of heaven on earth together (Philippians 2:1-4, 1 Peter 4:13).
The Church as a Center for Service
Service to God and others is also upheld in Scripture as a central purpose of the church. Each member has a vital role to play in building up the body through works of service (1 Corinthians 12:4-27, Romans 12:3-8). Spiritual gifts are given by God for believers to minister to one another and meet tangible needs.
The first deacons were appointed to oversee a fair distribution of food to Greek and Hebrew widows so the apostles could focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-7). Dorcas was known for charitable works of making clothing for the needy (Acts 9:36-39). Paul collected an offering from Gentile churches to aid the poor believers in Jerusalem, fostering unity in the early church (Romans 15:25-27).
Works of service build up others while also testifying to Christ’s love. Jesus said His followers would be recognized by their love and care for each other (John 13:35). As the church exercises spiritual gifts in an orderly way to meet needs, God is glorified and the church functions in a healthy manner (1 Corinthians 14:40). Diverse people working together in service displays God’s supernatural reconciling power.
Some key ways the church serves include supporting ministers financially, sharing meals, providing counseling and prayer support, giving generously to help those in need, maintaining church facilities, organizing assistance efforts, and visiting the sick or imprisoned. These practical expressions of love require sacrifice and wisdom, but boldly demonstrate the compassion of Christ.
The Church as a House of Prayer
Prayer is fundamental to the church’s purpose. Acts 2 highlights how the early church was devoted to prayer, and Paul urged the Ephesians and Colossians to be watchful, persevering, and thankful in prayer together (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2). Praying for one another develops intimacy with God that overflows into unified prayer for unbelievers, leaders, missionaries, and more (1 Timothy 2:1-4, Matthew 9:38).
Through prayer, the church depends on God and acknowledges its need for His power. Without Christ the church can do nothing – it is designed not to be “self-sufficient human social institutions but as the living manifestations of Jesus Christ among and in His people” (Living By Revealed Truth by Tom Nettles). United prayer aligns the church with God’s purposes as they seek His will together (James 1:5, Matthew 18:18-20).
As church members and leaders pray, God develops their faith, wisdom, and character to reflect Christ. Their corporate prayers unleash divine power to transform hearts and advance the gospel. Even as Jesus gave His life for the church, He now intercedes and sympathizes as an advocate and high priest with the Father (Hebrews 4:14-16). The church’s prayers join with Christ’s effectual prayers.
Prayer meetings, prayer chains, days of fasting and prayer have brought revivals and renewals. Maintaining a vibrant prayer culture is vital for the church to walk in the Spirit’s power and experience intimacy with God. Through prayer, members care for each other’s daily needs and cry out together for God’s work in the world.
The Church Displays God’s Glory
As the church fulfills its God-given purposes, it displays the wisdom and glory of God to spiritual forces and authorities (Ephesians 3:10-11). Worship, discipleship, fellowship, service, and prayer all put God’s power and grace on display when done in a way that lines up with Scripture. The beauty of Christ is reflected to the world through His redeemed, purified people who gather to magnify His name and walk in His love (1 Peter 2:9-12).
In the messiness of real community, the church resists worldly methods as it resolves conflicts, forgives wrongs, and respects leaders (Matthew 18:15-20; Hebrews 13:17). This testifies to the supernatural love only possible by Christ’s redeeming work. As people surrendered to Jesus and filled with His Spirit gather imperfectly as His church, His glory still breaks through. The gates of hell cannot overcome Jesus’ church (Matthew 16:18).
The church exists not for its own perpetuation or comfort, but to exalt Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord until He returns. All of the purposes explored above serve this ultimate aim of glorifying God as His wisdom is put on display (Romans 11:33-36). By God’s grace, imperfect vessels who have received eternal life through faith can joyfully promote Christ together until He comes to make all things new.
