The church is a central theme in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Here are some key Bible verses about the church and what God intends it to be:
The church as God’s temple/dwelling place
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
“What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'” (2 Corinthians 6:16)
These verses speak of the church as the dwelling place of God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The church is called to be holy as God is holy.
The church as the body of Christ
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body…Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:14, 27)
These verses speak of the interconnectedness of believers in the church, with Christ as the head. Each member has a vital role to play for the health of the whole body.
Unity and fellowship in the church
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
These verses emphasize the importance of unity, fellowship, and mutual encouragement within the church. Coming together regularly is vital.
Gifts and service in the church
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8)
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Every believer is given gifts and abilities by the Spirit to use in service to Christ and others in the church. Using our gifts in unity brings glory to God.
Church leaders/overseers
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:1-3)
These verses speak about the responsibility of church leaders/overseers to care for, shepherd, and set an example for the church. Church leadership is a privilege and solemn responsibility.
Church discipline/dealing with sin
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:15-16)
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.” (1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
These verses speak to the responsibility of the church to lovingly yet uncompromisingly confront sin and unrepentance within the body, for the sake of the offender and the purity of the church.
The mission of the church
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The Great Commission and these words from Jesus make clear the outward, missional calling of the church to make disciples and spread the gospel to the nations.
Worship in the church
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:15-16)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Singing, thanksgiving, teaching the Word, and offering ourselves to God are key aspects of worshiping together as the church. corporate worship is a beautiful expression of Christ’s body.
Church purity/holiness
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7a)
Christ’s sacrifice and the power of the Word are key to the sanctification of the church as Christ’s holy bride. Compromise and sin are not to be tolerated.
Generosity and giving in the church
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3)
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2)
The early church was marked by radical generosity and sacrificial giving to meet needs, support gospel ministry, and care for each other. Regular giving and stewardship characterize a healthy church.
Church as family
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)
“Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15)
The church functions as an adoptive, spiritual family where we treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Future hope and Christ’s return
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
“…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
The church lives in eager anticipation of Christ’s return, which gives us hope and motivation to walk in holiness and encourage one another.
Conclusion
The church is God’s beautiful plan to gather, grow, and deploy his people to fulfill his redemptive purposes in the world. According to the Bible, the church should be holy, united, missional, worshipful, generous, familial, and hopeful. When we embrace God’s design and purpose for the church, we experience the spiritual vitality and impact he desires.