What is a Church?

Church Family,

Have you ever found yourself using a word you struggled to explain? This experience is not uncommon. We use words all the time that, if pressed, we would find difficult to define. Definitions are beneficial tools because they sharpen our understanding of our vocabulary.

So, what is a church? How would you define the word?

In Rediscover Church, Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman offer the following definition:

“A church is a group of Christians who assemble as an earthly embassy of Christ’s heavenly kingdom to proclaim the good news and commands of Christ the King; to affirm one another as his citizens through the ordinances; and to display God's own holiness and love through a unified and diverse people in all the world following the teaching and example of elders” (26).

This definition is rich and extensive. Please take a moment and re-read it, contemplating the significance of each phrase. What does this definition include that you might have missed? What does this definition omit that you might have incorporated?

This definition serves as the outline for Rediscovering Church. Hansen and Leeman unpack what a church is phrase by phrase. Rediscovering Church is our book giveaway in October. Pick up a free copy in the resource area as long as supplies last.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas