Home Bible Study: The Church

Many people have different opinions when it comes to church. Some view it as a building. Others think of a certain denomination. Some have fond memories of the church. Others may think of times they’ve experienced hurt in a church.

There are over 350,000 churches in the United States. Churches look different from the outside. Some have steeples and stained glass while others are in rented storefronts or warehouses.

The word church is found only two times in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The idea of a church was a new idea when Jesus introduced it to His disciples.

Nevertheless, the church is important. It is more than buildings, pews, classrooms, and sanctuaries. In this study, we will look at the importance of the church and why we need the church.

What does our church mean to you?

What is your favorite part of church?

Believer

Matthew 16:13–14 NKJV

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

By this point in Jesus’s time on earth, He laid the foundation for what He expected of His people. He knew His time on earth was short. He wanted to make sure His disciples knew who He was.

Throughout the Old Testament God used different people at different times. Whenever God used someone, miracles and supernatural power flowed from their work.

Jesus had a reputation for doing great things. So He asked, what are people saying about me? Who do people think I am?

The disciples told Jesus what people said. Jesus lived before social media or TV, therefore, news spread by word of mouth. People would see or hear something and the news would begin to spread.

Because Jesus lived around the same time as John the Baptist, some thought He was John. They preached a similar message and performed similar miracles.

Others suggested Elijah, who was an Old Testament prophet. There was an Old Testament prophecy that Elijah would return before the coming Savior (Malachi 4:5).

Still others thought He was the prophet Jeremiah, who called on God’s people to repent in the Old Testament. Jesus also called for repentance so people got the two confused.

Jesus listened to what the disciples heard, but He wanted to know what they thought.

Matthew 16:15–16 NKJV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter answered for the group. They knew His identity, He was not John, Elijah, or Jeremiah. He is the Christ, the One chosen by God to fulfill God’s promise of salvation.

It was important that they believe in Jesus as the Savior. Before Jesus introduced the idea of the Church, He began by revealing the importance of believing in Him.

If we do not believe in Him, we cannot be a part of His church. When we believe in Him, we will accept Him as our Savior by repenting (turning) from our sins.

Why do you believe in God?

When did you become a believer?

Builder

Matthew 16:17–18 NKJV

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

After Peter stated his belief in Jesus as the Savior, Jesus showed the source behind our belief. Peter did not learn this because of certain teachings or classes.

God the Father drew Peter close to Jesus and showed him why it is important to follow Christ. Peter and the disciples were not detoured by rumors of who Jesus was. They recognized Him as the Savior.

Then Jesus issued a promise. Because of Peter’s belief in Jesus, He would use people like Peter to build His church.

We know what a church is, but the disciples had not heard this word in this context before. They had met in synagogues before, but Jesus told them of the church.

In the original language, the word church means: a community of called out people or a local community of Christ followers.

Jesus provides a way for people to come to God and receive forgiveness of their sins. He calls us out of darkness into His light. As called out people, He expects us to come together to worship Him.

The disciples did not fully understand this, but Jesus did. He planned to build a world-wide community of follower of Christ who would serve and live for Him.

The church is not a building. In fact, the “church building” does not become a church until those who are saved (called out) enter, then it becomes the church.

As the builder of the church, Jesus takes people where they are and works with the, building them to make them who He wants them to become.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Jesus plans to use people, just like Peter, with all their mistakes and problems. He calls us out and works with us, building us into strong followers.

How has Jesus changed you since you started believing in Him?

What happens if we trust in the world and do not build our lives on Christ?

Benefits

Matthew 16:18–19 NKJV

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

As Jesus explained His vision for the church, He shared two benefits that come with being in the church.

First, He promised protection. The word Hades is also translated as the “powers of hell.” Jesus did not hide the fact that Satan wants to stop His church.

When we believe in Jesus and allow Him to build our lives, making us who He wants us to be, Satan will try to stop us. If we quit and give into his attacks, we lose.

However, we have hope that Jesus will protect us. Being in the church is beneficial because we join with other called out people who are on the same track of drawing closer to God.

Then when the enemy attacks one of the church, they rest of the church is there to pray and trust God with them and eventually the powers of hell will not succeed in its attacks.

Second, Jesus promised the benefit of delegated authority. We cannot wrestle with Satan or demons on our own and win. However, through the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can take authority over Satan’s attacks.

We can pray with power, asking God to bind Satan’s attacks and loosen the power of heaven.

Joining together with other followers of Christ is beneficial. If Satan can isolate us, keeping us from joining in with the Church, we become vulnerable to the powers of hell.

Thankfully there is strength in numbers. Our prayers, praise, worship, and time together is beneficial for everyone involved.

How have you experienced protection for God?

Describe a time where the church prayed with you and helped you get through an attack of the enemy.

Challenge

It is a great danger to view the Church as somewhere we go. It is important to worship together. However, Church is not to become a weekly activity, but a daily reality.

Jesus wants us to live in a way that shows people, we are the Church. When we understand we are the church seven days a week and not just on Sundays, it will effect the way we living.

We have to believe in Jesus every day, not just Sundays.

We have to let Jesus build us into the people He wants us to be everyday, not just Sundays.

We have the benefits of protection and authority everyday, not just Sundays.

When it settles in our hearts that we are church, we will go to church, not to fulfill an obligation. Instead, we will go to church because we know we are the church.

How can you be the church everyday?

What can you do to make your church better?

When was the last time you invited someone to church?

Prayer

Ask God to help us believe and trust Him more

Invite the Lord to keep building us into the people He has called us to become

Pray for divine protection and spiritual authority over Satan’s attacks

Pray for God to help our church