Christ and His Church (Is the Local Church Important?)

See full series: 2026-sermons
See full series: what-god-has-and-has-not-joined-together-2026-theme

Christ and His Church (Is the Local Church Important?)

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Ephesians 1:22-23


Downloads

AudioVideoPowerpointOutline/Text
MP3 Youtube PPT Outline

WHAT GOD HAD JOINED TOGETHER (7)

Today, we continue our 2026 theme, “What God has (and has not) joined together).  In this lesson we will notice how the church belongs to Christ.  And while this is something most denominations acknowledge, there are many who believe that while we need Christ, we do not need the church – ESPECIALLY the local church.  That will be our focus in this lesson.

  1. The Church is Related to Christ
    1. What is the church? Simply described, the church is the body of all who are saved.  The Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia ) is found about 115x in the NT.  All but 5 are translated “church”.  (The others translate it as assembly or congregation – and use it for something other than the church of Christ).  The word means to call out from.  We are called out of the world and into a holy calling and fellowship.  Together, the saved are the church. When one obeys the gospel (Acts 2:38), he is added to the church (Acts 2:47 – NKJV).
    2. The Bible clearly states that the church belongs to Christ.
      1. Matthew 16:18-19 -Jesus built it AND identified it as His. “I will build My church”
      2. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 notes that he is the foundation. Ephesians 2:19-20 describes Him as the chief cornerstone (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-7)
      3. Ephesians 5:25, Acts 20:28 – He purchased it with His own blood
      4. Ephesians 1:22-23 – it is His body. Jesus is the head of the church.  Cf. Acts 28:18.
      5. He is the Savior of the body – Ephesians 5:23, as Paul compares the husband/wife relationship to that of Christ and His church.
      6. Romans 16:16 attributes the church of Christ by name. 1 Corinthians 1:2, 10:32, 1 Timothy 3:5, etc. use the term, “church of God” (8x).  The point being the church belongs to Him.
    3. These texts alone establish that the church belongs to Christ and that God has joined them together. And most of the Christ professing world (denominations/Catholicism/etc.) understands this, though there is misunderstanding as to its purpose, organization, work, terms of admission, worship, etc.
    4. BUT, there is an attitude among some professed believers in Christ that the church, especially the local church, is not necessary.
  2. The church as part of God’s pattern?
    1. Ephesians 3:10-11 – notes that it was a part of His eternal plans and a manifestation of His manifold (many-sided) wisdom. We will come back to this.
    2. The term church is used basically in 2 senses –
      1. Universal – the body of all who are saved. This would included those who have died “in the Lord” and all who are faithfully now part of His body.
        1. Matthew 16:18 – when Jesus said He would build His church; this is what He had in mind.
        2. Ephesians 1:22-23 describes the church as His body.
        3. Ephesians 3:21 notes, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  This text notes that Christi is glorified in His church.
        4. Hebrews 12:22-23 describes the saved in various terms including, “the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven…”
      2. Local – based upon those believed to be saved (part of the church universal), it is a group who joins together in a location to do the work God has assigned us together.
        1. It can be a specific congregation –1 Corinthians 1:1, Acts 11:26, 13:1 – in Antioch, etc.
        2. It can also have reference to several churches – Acts 8:1, 3, 14:23 (in the singular)
        3. And in the plural – Galatians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 19, Revelation 1:4 – the seven churches of Asia, etc.
      3. There is more to these descriptions (variants), but basically when the term is used it has one of these two (or possibly both) concepts in mind.
      4. NOTE: IT is equally important to understand what the term church is NOT. It is not: 1) a building; 2) the worship service (e.g., “Let us go to church”); 3) a denomination among many; 4) a social center for community gatherings or general benevolence; etc.
    3. Is the local church part of God’s pattern?
      1. It is my conviction that the local church is just as much a part of God’s eternal pattern (Ephesians 3:10-11) as the church in its universal sense.
      2. First because the local church is the entity through which God (and Christ) accomplishes certain works – worshipping Him collectively, supporting the preaching of the gospel – both locally and abroad, helping needy saints when other means are exhausted, etc.
      3. Acts 14:23 – Paul and Silas sought to establish churches in every city when they converted souls. If it was not needed, the why?
      4. 1 Corinthians 11:18 – they came together as the church. See also Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1, etc. to worship God.
      5. Much of the New Testament letters are directed to churches with instructions for congregations AND Christians within. It is through examples (esp. in Acts) and these letters (epistles) that we learn about what local churches are expected to be and do. Note 1 Timothy 3:15 – where Paul described the church as “the pillar and ground of the truth”  It is foundational and a means through which God’s word is established and practiced.
      6. As the church was growing in the first century, they gathered to LEARN what God would have them to do. That has not changed.  When established, it was with the assembled saints that Paul would first go within a city – Acts 15:36 – Paul’s desire to revisit congregations; Acts 20:6-7 – he stops in Troas and waits 7 days to meet with the saints.
  3. Do I need to be part of a local church?
    1. Considering the observations of our previous point, it is necessarily implied that God WANTS you to be part of a local church.
    2. As you read and study your Bible you will see that our faith was never intended to be lived in isolation. A local body of believers is part of avoiding that.  Acts 2:42, immediately after the church/kingdom began, we read, And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Whatever “fellowship” involved, the Christians were joined together in it.
    3. Some of the ways the church is described implies local fellowship (joint participation)
      1. We are the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 – Paul noted how we all have individual functions and are NEEDED for the body to fully function.  Ephesians 4:16 also emphasizes this.
      2. We are “the temple of God” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 a context addressing the church of God at Corinth. Ephesians 2:19-22 describes us as stones in this temple.  Also, a temple is where priests do their work.  We are a “royal priesthood together – 1 Peter 2:5, 9.
    4. Except for temporary circumstances, the NT implies that Christians sought to join a local church
      1. Cf. Acts 9:26-27 – Paul sought to join (to become part of, to attach oneself to) the church in Jerusalem, 11:26 & 13:1 – Paul was a part of the church in Antioch, for a year.
      2. Are there those in the NT who definitively were NOT members of a local church? Some examples I think of – Acts 8:39 – the Eunuch having been baptized went on his way rejoicing; examples of those moving from one place to another, 3 John 9-10 some whom Diotrephes put out of the church. BUT these are temporary circumstances.
    5. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together – Hebrews 10:24-25. The writer is clear that we need to be an encouragement to one another.
    6. Various acts of worship are carried out within a local assembly:
      1. The Lord’s Supper is an act intended to be done within a local church. Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:17ff.  But one might say, “I assemble and take the Lord’s supper when I want to”.  And while you might do that, understand that IF there were no local church you could not do that (scripturally).
      2. We are to sing together – Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16 and thereby teach one another. The implication is a gathering.
      3. A local church has a treasury and contributions on Sundays (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) to address needs both locally and beyond.
      4. NOTE: 1 Corinthains 11:18 in describing worship said, “WHEN you come together as a church” 1 Corinthians 14:26, says, “WHENEVER you come together.”  Note Paul does not say, “IF you choose to come together.”  Assembling IMPLIED a local church.
    7. We need each other – the local church is a community of like-minded believers. Living in a hostile world, we need each other.  The very idea of fellowship involves joining ourselves to one another.  Also the Bible is filled with “one another” admonitions that demonstrate the fellowship – Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:10 – preferring one another; 1 Thessalonians 5:11- comfort and edify one another.
    8. Some say:
      1. But I don’t like going to “church”. “I don’t get anything out of it. I don’t need a local church.”  That is on you!  Typically, you will get out of something what you put into it (What is your attitude? What is your intent?).  This is an emotional response that does not address what the Bible says about the local church.
      2. “But churches are full of hypocrites and problems”. TRUE for some, but not all!  Still, that does not address what God’s word says about the local church.  The answer is NOT to dismiss it but try to make it pure.  The NT is filled with admonitions to do what you can to promote purity in doctrine and living.
    9. Finally, the future of a church depends on Christians keeping it going.

If God has joined together Christ and His church as part of His eternal plan, and if the local church is part of His plan, then if possible, we need to see the importance of the local church and be a part of that.  Faithfulness to Christ and His body demands this.  Furthermore, if the local church is part of God’s eternal plan, can anyone deny that it is good thing?  What are you saying about God’s will when you dismiss its importance?

Uncategorized , , , , ,