Structure of the Church

The structure of the church

The pattern of church life

​ NASB95They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

(NASB95) — 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. See also ; (NASB95) — 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, (NASB95) — 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

The house church

; ; ; ; ; ; (NASB95) — 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (NASB95) — 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. (NASB95) — 40 They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. (NASB95) — 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. (NASB95) — 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (NASB95) — 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. (NASB95) — 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

The local church

; ; It is unknown whether there were subdivisions of the church in towns such as Corinth; (NASB95) — 1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (NASB95) — 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; (NASB95) — 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: (NASB95) — 1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. Churches in a region ; ; ; ; ; ; Normally the NT speaks of “churches” in an area rather than of a unified regional structure. (NASB95) — 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. (NASB95) — 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (NASB95) — 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. (NASB95) — 1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, (NASB95) — 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: (NASB95) — 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; (NASB95) — 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, The universal church (NASB95) — 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Referring to the local as well as the universal church: ; ; ; (NASB95) — 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. (NASB95) — 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, (NASB95) — 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (NASB95) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,