What is a church?

[Logostician]

Mat 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Could it be that simple?

Without any mention of a building?

With so few people?

With so little fanfare?

With no dress code?

With no bickering over denominations?

Yes.  It is that simple.  Jesus and us.

 

[Waggles]

1 hour ago, Logostician said:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Acts 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

G1577
ἐκκλησία  ekklēsia
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.
Total KJV occurrences: 115

The Church (of God) are the disciples of Christ Jesus who believe the gospel of salvation. The church comes together for a worship meeting, people do not go to church; but a meeting can be held in a church building of sorts. 

Entry into the church of God is only by full immersion water baptism and being baptised in the Holy Spirit.
 

[missmuffet]

1. The Church is to teach biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in our faith.

2. The Church is a place that people can participate in the Lord's supper, remembering Christ's death and sledding of blood. 

3. The Church is to be "Christian", Christ-like, and Christ following. 

[johnthebaptist]

12 hours ago, Logostician said:

Mat 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Could it be that simple?

Without any mention of a building?

With so few people?

With so little fanfare?

With no dress code?

With no bickering over denominations?

Yes.  It is that simple.  Jesus and us.

 

It's hard to find a group of people who will agree on every single issue. That's when stress and strain might occur.

[Logostician]

55 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

It's hard to find a group of people who will agree on every single issue. That's when stress and strain might occur.

Jesus should be the one thing we can all agree on.  And yet the world turns it's back on him.  Anything they could ever want is found in him.  Jesus intentionally makes it simple.  He already did all the work, and offers the gift of life with him out of love.  And men make it hard.  But it remains simple and pure, despite their efforts to add burdens and conditions to the will of God.

Mat 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

There is truth to saying, let go, and let God.  We can rest because Jesus never rests.  He lives forever to intercede for us.

Stay strong in him.

[Waggles]

12 minutes ago, Logostician said:

And men make it hard.  But it remains simple and pure, despite their efforts to add burdens and conditions to the will of God.

So everybody is OK with God, and all are doing it his way?

From the Mormons to Syrian Orthodox Church.

[johnthebaptist]

18 minutes ago, Logostician said:

Jesus should be the one thing we can all agree on.  And yet the world turns it's back on him.  Anything they could ever want is found in him.  Jesus intentionally makes it simple.  He already did all the work, and offers the gift of life with him out of love.  And men make it hard.  But it remains simple and pure, despite their efforts to add burdens and conditions to the will of God.

Mat 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

There is truth to saying, let go, and let God.  We can rest because Jesus never rests.  He lives forever to intercede for us.

Stay strong in him.

Jesus taught us that Satan rules the world. Satan tempts us. Satan infiltrates the church. Satan leads many church leaders astray. Satan puffs us up with pride, if we aren't careful, and we do his bidding rather than the Lord's. We have to be careful.

[Paul James]

14 hours ago, Logostician said:

Mat 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Could it be that simple?

Without any mention of a building?

With so few people?

With so little fanfare?

With no dress code?

With no bickering over denominations?

Yes.  It is that simple.  Jesus and us.

 

I wrote an Ebook about what church should be like.  I have attached it here.

YOUR CHURCH Fellowship Centre or Religious Temple.pdf

[Logostician]

6 minutes ago, Waggles said:

So everybody is OK with God, and all are doing it his way?

From the Mormons to Syrian Orthodox Church.

Only those that have a relationship with Jesus are OK with God.

Jno 14:6

I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As for Mormons, Catholics, and others, Jesus is still on the throne, and still has the power to save through simple faith in him.

The only man that has ever done everything right is Jesus.  Fortunately he gives his righteousness to anyone who earnestly asks for it.

[Logostician]

12 hours ago, Waggles said:

Acts 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

G1577
ἐκκλησία  ekklēsia
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.
Total KJV occurrences: 115

The Church (of God) are the disciples of Christ Jesus who believe the gospel of salvation. The church comes together for a worship meeting, people do not go to church; but a meeting can be held in a church building of sorts. 

Entry into the church of God is only by full immersion water baptism and being baptised in the Holy Spirit.
 

The very first churches were people's houses.  Christians were persecuted and did not worship openly in large congregations.  They assembled together and Jesus was with them, and there was a powerful outpouring of the Spirit of God.  These are the roots of the larger churches that would come into being as the kingdom of heaven was enlarged.  Clearly there were church leaders.  The Apostles were sent ones to lead, and others followed.  Obviously Paul was a leader.  But he did not attend every house meeting of Christians and obviously not after he was imprisoned in Rome.  The leaders were consulted, but the assemblies were by plain old Christians like me.

Luk 13:18-19

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like?  And whereunto shall I resemble it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden, and it grew, and waxed a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Jesus is the head of the church.  We are the body.  Jesus can be in all places at all times.  I cannot do that.  So I will assemble with whoever I can, whenever I can, in the name of Jesus.  And whenever I do, Jesus will be with us, and I will consider his presence among his faithful to be a church, just as the first Christians did.  There is nothing new under the sun.  I will also participate in my local "church", and Jesus will be there too.