What Is the Work of the Church?
by Kyle Ellison
Recently, I came across a discussion where community members discussed the need for churches to expand their activities.
More physical fitness facilities, more sports options for Christian families, more clothing drives, more dinners, more food drives, more bookstores, improved coffee facilities for first-time guests, and on the list went.
It caused me to reconsider the exact purpose of the local church.
To understand the focus and work of the local church, we must find ourselves searching for a “thus says The Lord” and “it is written.” In other words, what does the Bible tell us that the local church should be doing?
Truthfully, if we take only what the scriptures reveal, our work for the local church will be limited.
- To preach the Gospel.
- To worship through song, eating the Lord’s Supper together, giving, and prayer.
- Support financially those who preach the Gospel.
- Provide Christians with Bible instruction and education.
- Practice benevolence toward the church's needy brethren.
- Practice benevolence toward widows who meet the qualifications set forth by the Apostle Paul.
If we went beyond those five things you read, we would need to invent our own standard. The local church is not charged with goodwill care, providing for every activity, arranging secular education, funding secular education, filling our stomachs with food, or providing recreationally and socially.
All of the things listed above are good works, but they are not works for the church to burden itself with; they are works that God expects individual Christians to engage in daily. The church is to prepare Christians and to help strengthen their hands so they, as individuals, may undertake these good works.
The work of the church of Jesus Christ is spiritual, with a spiritual focus and goal. When we produce spiritual disciples of Christ, they can enter the world and be His light, hands, and feet!
