Church

Terms used in the New Testament for describing the Church:

Living stones

1 Peter 2:5

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

The Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”.

God’s Field, building or temple

1 Corinthians 3:9

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building”.

1 Corinthians 3:16

 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:17

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple”.

All of these terms have this common: They all refer to people who are true believers in Jesus Christ.

This is critically important to understand. As church leaders, we are called to more than administrating the church, overseeing new buildings, or coordinating church functions. We are called to partner with God in discipling and building people.

We are called by God to pastor and nurture the living Church of the living God, the believing people—and to help them become growing disciples of Jesus Christ. We cannot adequately fulfill this stewardship role without God’s help and power. “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stand guard in vain”…Psalm 127:1.