What church-role(s) should a congregation perform?
Discussion question for August 13, 2010.
While discussing the role and characteristics of the “church”, we agreed that there are “church universal” aspects as well as “church local” and “church personal”. Considering a church to be defined as a body of people associated together, what role should that congregation play in the life of the individual believer? How does the corporate group differ from the single person? What core values are consistent throughout the world? What are God’s expectations or desires for this “church”?
Here’s my summary of our discussion.
The church universal performs the role of “body of Christ” bringing the power and character of Jesus as the Son of God to a world that needs Him. In obedience this means the church fulfills the great commandments, to love God and love others.
The body made up of many parts works together to bring unity and maturity to each of the members (Ephesians 4). The church then is a place to discover and deploy the gifts of the Spirit.
Discipleship is important, and the command is to make disciples of all nations. Making disciples of instead of in all nations means the church should be demonstrating leadership, government, and action according to the purpose Christ gave for it.
The reason for the church to gather together is to demonstrate love, work together in unity, accomplish more than any individual can, and to encourage each other. The church then makes disciples, provides accountability, training, and opportunity to serve.
Finally, the church is given the authority of the resurrected Lord (Ephesians 1:22-23), and working and living together is how that authority is expressed.