Module 9: Understanding the Meaning and Importance of The Church

Introduction

The church is misunderstood by many people, including believers.

• Some think of the church as merely a building, while others consider it a congregation of believers who come together to help each other.
• Some say that it is an organization of businessmen seeking to solicit money from people.
• Some think it is just a place to network and connect with the community of believers.

However, these are legalistic interpretations of the church. The church holds a much deeper meaning and importance in the life of a Christian and the broader community. In this module, we analyze this meaning and create a deeper understanding.

Defining the Church

From church history, the original Greek word for “church,” and the revelation of Jesus Christ, there are three distinct definitions of the church – they cannot be separated to mean three different things:

1. The Ecclesia
2. The Body of Christ
3. Personal Revelation of Jesus Christ

1. The Church – Ecclesia

The primary meaning of the church is “legislative assembly,” derived from the Greek word ecclesia. Ecclesia is the Greek word for church used in Matthew 16:18.

Scriptural Reference

• Matthew 16:18: “I give the name Peter, a stone. And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church – my legislative assembly.”

Ecclesia is a classical Greek term that means a selected group of people. It refers to an assembly that gathers together to govern the affairs of a place, region, or city.

• The church, therefore, has governmental authority over a territory. When people gather to seek and call upon the name of the Lord, they essentially form a church.
• While the building has significance as a place for fellowship and worship, it does not define the church.

2. The Church – The Body of Christ

The church can also be viewed through the lens of the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church – the body.

Scriptural References

• 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
• Ephesians 5:23: “… even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.”

Unity in the Body of Christ

Though the church (ecclesia) consists of many members, they are all part of one body. Each body part supports the other, and one cannot function without the other. Therefore, there should be no divisions in the Body of Christ.

Scriptural References

• Romans 12:5: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:25: “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

This revelation should address conflicts, confusion, and divisiveness within the church. Symbolically, this is why the Body of Christ could not be broken or divided upon His death on the cross.

Scriptural Reference

• John 19:36: “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.”

In whatever area God calls you to serve, ensure that you abide in that calling. Serve the body, not just the members, as you are also a member serving a higher calling—Jesus Christ, the head of the body.

Scriptural Reference

• 1 Corinthians 7:20: “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”

As you advance in ministry, understand that whichever ministry God has called you to, you are to work towards the edification of the Body of Christ. Avoid exercising false judgment on any office, especially on doctrinal matters. The aim is to build, not tear down, the Body of Christ.

Scriptural References

• Ephesians 4:11: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
• Ephesians 4:12: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
• Ephesians 4:13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The Body of Christ is inclusive and not limited to the Jews. There is no segregation based on race, gender, or cultural backgrounds.

Scriptural Reference

• Ephesians 3:6: “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”

Although there are many denominations, the universal church is considered one Body of Christ. There is no distinction between Jew or Gentile, one group versus another.

Scriptural Reference

• Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ.”

3. The Church – Personal Revelation of Jesus Christ

When Jesus told Peter that He would build His church upon “this rock,” He meant that He would build the church upon the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Scriptural Reference

• Matthew 16:18: “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

This scripture is often interpreted with a focus on Peter as “the rock.” However, the context of this statement by Jesus is rooted in the previous verse, where Christ emphasizes that the revelation was given to Peter not by man but by God.

Scriptural References

• Matthew 16:13: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”
• Matthew 16:16: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• Matthew 16:17: “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Thus, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ that prompted Christ to tell Peter and the disciples, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” The TPT translation emphasizes this truth:

• Matthew 16:18: “…And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church.”

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Ecclesia is derived from the compound words “ek,” meaning “out,” and “kaleo,” meaning “to call or summon.”

Reflect on the day Christ Jesus called you out:

• Perhaps you heard a summons from a man of God.
• Maybe you were in a crusade or church where you’d been attending since childhood.
• Perhaps you felt something deep inside you reaching out.
• It could have been the day you prayed the prayer of salvation, inviting Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to dwell within you.
• Some may have been downing their last bottle of the night.
• Others might have been healed of a terminal disease or saved from a tragedy that could have claimed their lives.
• Maybe you read the Word of God, and it cut so deep into your soul that you began to cry and feel a longing for the Lord, Jesus Christ.

All these experiences are unique to each person and form the foundation for our personal revelation of Jesus Christ. From that moment, you developed a desire to know the Lord and fellowship with Him—a heartfelt response from the deepest depths of your soul to the love of Christ. Jesus Christ no longer felt like a distant figure but someone present with you. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the true Son of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit. It is the same revelation Peter received that forms the foundation of the church.

Jesus Christ the Mystery

The person of Jesus Christ is a mystery hidden since the foundation of the world. We need the revelation of who He is through the Word of God.

Scriptural References

• Matthew 13:35: “… I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
• Ephesians 3:4: “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”

Paul, for example, was persecuting the church until he had an encounter with the Lord on his way to Damascus.

Scriptural References

• Acts 9:4: “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
• Galatians 1:11: “That the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.”
• Galatians 1:12: “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

After this encounter, the Lord Jesus Christ began revealing the gospel to him—the mystery of who Jesus Christ is. Paul describes his task as enlightening others about this mystery.

Scriptural References

• Ephesians 3:8: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
• Ephesians 3:9: “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.”

The Commissioning

You will notice that after receiving the revelation of who Jesus Christ is, He commissions you to your calling.

Scriptural Reference

• Ephesians 1:18: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling…”

Throughout the Bible, after individuals encountered Jesus Christ, they were called to witness and “go tell” others that they had seen the true Son of God. Examples include:

• The disciples (Matthew 28:10)
• The Samaritan woman (John 4:29)
• The apostles (Acts 2:32)
• Paul (Acts 15:35)

God calls believers to intercede, worship, shepherd, serve, pastor, evangelize, teach, preach, give, and prophesy, among many other areas of service. This is the calling out of the church.

The Importance of the Church

As a born-again individual, the church is important because it provides the union that allows you to fellowship with the person of Jesus Christ. Scripture says that whenever two or three gather in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord is there in their midst.

Scriptural Reference

• Mathew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

It is critical to note that every time you fellowship with other believers, it is not by your own doing but by the drawing of the Spirit of the Lord. Remember that Jesus Christ said that unless the Father draws you to Him, you cannot come to Him.

Scriptural Reference

• John 6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

It is the Holy Spirit that draws you to Christ. Therefore, to have intimacy with Him through prayer, fellowship, and worship, you need to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit that lead you to a place of communion or fellowship with other believers.

Scriptural Reference

• Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another…”

What you receive from the assembly of believers is very different from your individual or solitary communion with God. In a fellowship where the members of the body are united in love, the Spirit of the Lord will move. Members of the body receive prophecies for edification, exhortation, comfort, love, peace, and joy, and share in sound doctrine.

Further Activity

1. Pray that God leads you to a faith-based charismatic church.
2. Discipline yourself and commit to fellowshipping with other believers.
3. Cultivate a life of prayer for at least an hour a day.
4. Make yourself available in your church to serve in any position where you are needed.
5. Ask the Lord to show you where He has called you – read His word and seek Godly counsel.
6. Cut off every weight or distraction that limits your time or opportunities for fellowship.

Digest Questions