The Work of the Church

As we look around at the various denominations that claim to be Christians and follow Christ, one may get some strange ideas regarding the work and mission of the church.  Over the years churches have been involved in sponsoring everything from youth ski trips to tax workshops, and financial planning seminars.  Churches have engaged in sports leagues, weight-loss programs, and even some political endeavors.  Yes, we would get a pretty strange picture of the work of the church, simply by looking at the churches around about us.  But, if we truly want to know what the church’s mission and work is, we ought to consider what mission the Bible gives to the Lord’s church.  We will see that it differs greatly from what we often see around about us.  It is our job to study the word of God for understanding (2 Timothy 2:15), and it is our Job to “hold fast the pattern of sound words…” (2 Timothy 1:13).  Let us consider the pattern we find in the New Testament, then we shall have a greater idea of what the work of the church actually is, as it opposes the numerous endeavors of the religious groups that surround us. 

The work of the church is spiritual in its nature.  Paul, wrote to the church of Christ at Rome “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).  In this passage the inspired apostle shows clearly that what characterizes the church, or kingdom of God, is spiritual matters such as “righteousness” and “joy in the Holy Spirit.”   These then being in clear opposition to the physical nature characterized by “eating and drinking.” The Lord, when speaking to Pilate said, “ …My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).  As Jesus explained his kingdom to Pilate, he pointed out clearly that it was not physical; it is “not of this world.”  The work and mission of the church is not social, political, or physical, but rather it is spiritual in its nature, every work and purpose of the Lord’s church has a specific, spiritual purpose. 

The work of the church is broken up into three areas: evangelism (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:8), Spiritual edification (Ephesians 4:12, 16), and benevolence to needy Christians (Acts 4:34-35; 1 Timothy 5:16).   As we earlier noted, each of these has a spiritual purpose.

Evangelism is the preaching of the gospel, it is taking the truth to a lost and dying world.  Paul pointed out that the church is the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).  The church supports and upholds the truth, if it ceases to fulfill this responsibility, it ceases to be the Lord’s church.  Paul pointed out that through the efforts of the church at Thessalonica, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place, your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

Spiritual edification is the building up, and strengthening of one’s faith and faithfulness.  The apostle Paul, in writing concerning the organization of the church, said the organization has a specific purpose “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).  In the same context, Paul wrote “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth, for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).  The Lord, in his wisdom, has established, and organized the church to edify itself. It does not need human institutions, or organizations to do this.

In regard to benevolence to needy Christians, the church bears a responsibility to care for members of the Lord’s church who are in need. In Acts and the fourth chapter, we find the Christians in Jerusalem caring for the needs of those “among them.”   The text records “Nor was their anyone among them who lacked, for all who where possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each one, as anyone had need” (Acts 4:34-35).  The responsibility of the church to care for its needy is a spiritual responsibility, which seeks the best interest of the Lord’s church.  Yet, the Bible does make a distinction between the individual’s responsibility, and the church’s responsibility.  Paul wrote, “if any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows” (1 Timothy 5:16).  The Lord has given each of these responsibilities to His church, they make up the complete work of the church. 

In every case, the Bible is clear on the methods employed to fulfill each of these responsibilities, we will consider in the future each of these, and the Lord’s pattern to fulfill their requirement.  The scriptures supply all we need to be pleasing to the Lord. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof , for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for  every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I will build My church.
- Matthew 16:18

The New Testament Church
By Roy E. Cogdill