Local Church

“We don’t go to church, we are the church”

Ekklesia - “The assembly of citizens summoned for legislative or other purposes” (Davis Dictionary of the Bible 4th Edition). Ekklesia is also used in the NT to describe other types of Assemblies; see Acts 7:38 (II Hebrews 2:12) - Acts 19:32,39,41.

Look at some times the NT uses this word Church

“Church” almost always refers to local bodies like us – not primarily to the global bride.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 (ESV)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Acts 15:41 ESV

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

1 Corinthians 11:18 (ESV)

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,

3 John 10 ESV

So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Behavior in it

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV

if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Discipline

Matthew 18:17 ESV

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 5:12 ESV

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

Churches Sending Teachers/Missionaries

Acts 15:3 ESV

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

Philippians 4:15 ESV

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

Caring for Widows

1 Timothy 5:16 ESV

If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

Servants of Certain Churches

Romans 16:1 ESV

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

GLOBAL

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:23 ESV

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Definition of a Christian Church? Was it a big assembly in each city? Was it many house churches?

(House church - “Well thats the way we should be doing it! That’s the Biblical way!” Really? Where else would they have met? (Solomon’s Portico) - Weren’t buildings like that, certainly didn’t have the resources. What if a house church outgrew a home, needed more space, had a few wealthy members . . . )

Appointed Elders in every Church

Acts 14:23 ESV

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Does refer to assemblies in houses as Churches themselves, so they weren’t not churches unless the whole city was gathered

Romans 16:5 ESV

Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

Romans 16:23 ESV

Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

Colossians 4:15 ESV

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

“Churches” of an Area - not just Church singular

1 Corinthians 16:1 ESV

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.

2 Corinthians 8:1 ESV

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

1 Corinthians 16:19 ESV

The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.

Now, was there 1 elder in each house church and occasionally the whole area churches would gather together with all the elders and deacons where there were more big decisions made and appointing of offices? Maybe. Ac 15:6, 22:5, 1 Tim 4:14

But it does seem the regular pattern was 1st day of the week (Ac 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2, Rev 1:10) assembly in these house churches where they would sing (Col 3:16, Eph 5:19, 1 Cor 14:15, Heb 2:12, ), have Lord’s Supper (Ac 20:7, 1 Cor 11:17-34, 10:16-17), pray (1 Tim 2:8, 3:14-15, 1 Cor 14:12, 14:26), read scripture (1 Tim 4:13), and be taught probably by an elder (1 Tim 4:13, 1 Tim 5:17, 2 Tim 4:2, 2 Tim 2:15, Ac 6:2, 2 Cor 8:18).

(Elder Teacher - “Able to Teach” - Especially those who labor . . . doesnt seem to be a teaching office outside of elder)

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.