The Local Church Is And Is Not.

The Church is...not "Where two or three are gathered." I am sorry that scripture reference is not a good proof text for the local church. One must look to the word usage of church and discover that "church" means an assembly or a gathering, not simply a hang time with your buddy Ted! Furthermore the church has a function and specific practices that make this group of people, set apart as God's bride, a local church. Here are four fundamentals of the local church.


1.) Profession: Professing believers must be present. Pagans don't make up the church.
2.) Ordinances: Baptism, communion are a normal practice of the local church.
3.) Preaching: There is no church apart from the proclamation of gospel. The New Testament describes the church as being led by gifted people set apart for the ministry of the word.
4.) Organization: Organized for ministry: is part of the local church (Ac 14:23). So hanging with Ted at the pub doesn't count. An informal gathering of believers is considered fellowship and is good, but it's not the local church. There are gifted leaders, that help serve the congregation, empowering people. There is purpose for doing God’s will. People are organized and encouraged to be open and available for ministry to all age groups in all parts of the world.

Therefore, I would define it as "An assembly of professing Christians gathered together for the preaching of the gospel in organized way to practice church ordinances and minister to others."