Why is the local church so important?
Introduction. The term "church" (ekklesia) is used in a variety of ways. However, the two most common are the church universal and the local church. The term church means the called out (ek - out of; klesis - a calling). The church universal is made up of the saved or called out of (Matt. 16: 18). The local church is comprised of those in a geographic location who profess to be Christians (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 2). The Lord adds the obedient to His church (universal), and the saved join a faithful local church (cf. Acts 9: 26).
Christians are commanded to be a part of a local church. The writer of Hebrews exhorted: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Heb. 10: 25). To forsake is to fall away from Christ (vs. 26-31). The early Christians were bound together in local churches (Acts 2: 42, 5: 11; 1 Cor. 12, 14, etc.).
A number of specific commands are performed in the church (assembly). The scriptures teach that Christians are to provoke one another to love and good works (the assembly is involved, Heb. 10: 24, 25), build up one another in song (Eph. 5: 19), give of their means into the local treasury (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2), and experience sound preaching (2 Tim. 4: 1-5; Acts 20: 7). It is in the local church environment that the Lord's Supper is observed (Acts 20: 7; 1 Cor. 11). Moreover, the local church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3: 15).
Conclusion. The world belittles the church and much of denominationalism presents it as nonessential. Beloved, when we speak of the church, we are not referring to a denomination. All the local churches in the First Century were the same (cf. 1 Cor. 4: 17: Rom. 16: 16). They preached (ideally) the one faith and for that they contended (Eph. 4: 4, 5; Jude 3). Indeed, the church is important. Put another way, the church is an essential element or component to pristine Christianity.
Christians are commanded to be a part of a local church. The writer of Hebrews exhorted: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Heb. 10: 25). To forsake is to fall away from Christ (vs. 26-31). The early Christians were bound together in local churches (Acts 2: 42, 5: 11; 1 Cor. 12, 14, etc.).
A number of specific commands are performed in the church (assembly). The scriptures teach that Christians are to provoke one another to love and good works (the assembly is involved, Heb. 10: 24, 25), build up one another in song (Eph. 5: 19), give of their means into the local treasury (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2), and experience sound preaching (2 Tim. 4: 1-5; Acts 20: 7). It is in the local church environment that the Lord's Supper is observed (Acts 20: 7; 1 Cor. 11). Moreover, the local church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3: 15).
Conclusion. The world belittles the church and much of denominationalism presents it as nonessential. Beloved, when we speak of the church, we are not referring to a denomination. All the local churches in the First Century were the same (cf. 1 Cor. 4: 17: Rom. 16: 16). They preached (ideally) the one faith and for that they contended (Eph. 4: 4, 5; Jude 3). Indeed, the church is important. Put another way, the church is an essential element or component to pristine Christianity.