This week, we are going to introduce a new series on the New Testament Church as it is seen in the Scriptures. In this series, we are going to explore the following questions and more. What is the church? Who is the church’s creator? What is the church’s purpose? What function do individual church members serve in the church and the community? How should church government function? Should the church be autonomous or under a governing counsel of some sort? Should there be many different “churches,” all with different doctrines?

What is the role of the Scriptures within the church? What is a Christian? How does one gain entrance into the church? What is the role of women in the church and is it different than man’s role? What is the role of the paid preacher? Is the preacher a pastor? What is an elder? What is a deacon? How should we worship God? Should a congregation take of the Lord’s Supper every week? Is Sunday the only day of the week that the Lord’s Supper should be observed, or can it be partaken of on different days? What emblems should be used in the observance of the Lord’s Supper; are 100% grape juice and unleavened bread the only emblems that should be used? Are choirs acceptable or should everyone sing? Should instrumental music be allowed in God’s worship today?

Is denominationalism acceptable to God? Should men interpret the Bible differently? What makes the Bible hard to understand, or is the Bible hard to understand? Does absolute truth exist, and can man know what it is? How important is church attendance to God? Is a Christian obligated to attend all the services of the church, such as Sunday night and Wednesday night? Is it acceptable to miss gospel meetings and other such activities of the church? Does God require a Christian to attend worship when they are on vacation, or does the Christian get a pass that week? Should the church change to keep up with the times, or should the times change to keep up with the church? Should culture mold the church or should church mold the culture?

The church plays such a vital role in the life of a Christian that it is time we have a better understanding of the church and its role in our lives. Hebrews 10:22-25 gives us the reason God created the church: “draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

He created the church for us to draw near to Him by being baptized so we can hold fast our confession without wavering, so that we can consider one another in order to stir up love and good works by not forsaking the assembly. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, placed an extremely high importance on telling Timothy how to conduct himself in God’s house, which is the church. Shouldn’t we place the same importance on understanding how God wants us to conduct

? “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15). Is it not time we understand better the church that Jesus died to establish?

Just something to consider.