The document is a presentation on the church. It provides biblical references to define the church as both a universal body of believers (Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47; 1 Cor 1:2) and local gatherings of believers (1 Thess 1:1). It discusses that the local church involves a local government of elders/overseers (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-3), maintains a treasury (Phil 4:15-16; 1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 11:7-9), engages in discipline (1 Cor 5:4-5; 2 Thess 3:6; 1

2. "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.”
- Matthew 16:18 NASB
WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Universal Sense
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3. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit."
41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that
day there were added about three thousand souls. 47 praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their
number day by day those who were being saved.
- Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47 NASB
WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Universal Sense
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4. 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.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB
WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Local Sense
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5. 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.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:1 NASB
WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Local Sense
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6. Slide 6 of 31

7. The Word church Comes From the Greek
ekklesia
HELPS Word-studies
1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and
2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out
from the world and to God, the outcome being the
Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the
universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out
from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
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8. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that
divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
- 1 Corinthians 11:18 NASB
WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in an Assembly of Saints for Worship
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9. When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they
had believed.
- Acts 14:23 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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10. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what
remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
- Titus 1:5 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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11. 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders
[Presbuteros] of the church.
28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers,[Episcopos] to shepherd
[Poimaino] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
- Acts 20:17, 28 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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12. 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders [Presbuteros] among you, as your
fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also
of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd [Poimaino] the flock of
God among you, exercising oversight [Episcopos] not under
compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for
sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
- 1 Peter 5:1-3 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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13. 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that
is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of
God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it
over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the
flock.
- 1 Peter 5:1-3 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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14. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
evangelists, and some as pastors [Poimen] and teachers,
- Ephesians 4:11 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Involves a Local Government
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15. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of
the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the
matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in
Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
- Philippians 4:15-16 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Church Maintains a Treasury
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16. 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the
churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week
each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that
no collections be made when I come.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Church Maintains a Treasury
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17. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be
exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9
and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden
to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully
supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden
to you, and will continue to do so.
- 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Church Maintains a Treasury
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18. If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must
assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist
those who are widows indeed.
- 1 Timothy 5:16 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Church Maintains a Treasury
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19. 25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For
Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for
the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
- Romans 15:25-26 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Church Maintains a Treasury
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20. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with
you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Involves Discipline
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21. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not
according to the tradition which you received from us.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Involves Discipline
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22. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if
he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a
drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: The Local Involves Discipline
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23. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear
that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s
Supper.
33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one
another.
- 1 Corinthians 11:11 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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24. On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break
bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and
he prolonged his message until midnight.
- Acts 20:7 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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25. 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the
day drawing near.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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26. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching
and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- Acts 2:42 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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27. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:19 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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28. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
- Colossians 3:16-17 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Assembles Together to Worship
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29. When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the
disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a
disciple.
- Acts 9:26 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Every Christian Must Join Himself to a Local Work
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30. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into
Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to
the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the
body for the building up of itself in love.
- Ephesians 4:15-16 NASB
THE LOCAL CHURCH: Every Christian Must Join Himself to a Local Work
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31. Be on guard for yourselves
and for all the flock, among
which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of
God which He purchased
with His own blood.
- Acts 20:28