The church stands as a beacon of hope in a hopeless world. It is a sanctuary where individuals come together to experience the love that stands at the center of the Christian faith. This love is reflected in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (all scripture quotations are from the ESV). It is within the church that this commandment is lived out, providing a place of love where all are welcome.

The church also serves as a pillar of encouragement where the members lift up each other through our daily struggles and share in each other’s triumphs. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in chapter 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” This highlights the church’s role in fostering a supportive and encouraging community.

Support is another cornerstone of the church’s purpose. It offers care and assistance to the members who need it. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The church fulfills this command by providing a place of support where burdens are shared, and the load lightened.

This sense of belonging is foundational to the church’s purpose, creating an environment where individuals are not strangers but a family where each of belong. Ephesians 2:19 emphasizes this, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” This verse reminds us that the church is a place to belong, a place where everyone is part of a larger spiritual family.

Lastly, the church is a place to learn and be challenged to great faith, and the teachings of Christ are applied to daily life. The Bible encourages this growth in knowledge and faith, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The church is a place where we learn the word of God, where His wisdom and understanding are learned.

In conclusion, the church is more than a building. It is a living, breathing community where love, encouragement, support, belonging, and learning joins together to help us accomplish the purposes of Jesus Christ. It is here that we stop being individuals and find a place of support, strength, and direction, guided by the teaching of Jesus in Scripture. The heart and purpose of the church is fulfilled when we are committed to these foundational elements, which creates a haven for all who enter its doors.

J. Arnette

              CHCOC