How The Church Works
Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we're wrapping up our series, "How Stuff Works", with a topic that has many different opinions on it in today's culture: the Church. The Bible is clear on this, though, and today we'll see what is has to say!
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How the Church Works
Big Idea: God designed his Church to involve his people in key purposes that bring about his plans in this world.
No other organization on earth compares to the Church. It’s not simply a building or a weekend service. It’s the living body of Christ, chosen and designed by God to carry out his mission in the world. From the very beginning, Jesus made it clear that he would build his Church—and not even the powers of hell could stop it. (Matthew 16:18)
Let’s unpack how the Church works by looking at four core truths from Scripture.
1. There Is One True Church
When Jesus spoke of “my church” in Matthew 16:18, he wasn’t referring to a specific building or religious organization. The Greek word for church is ekklesia, meaning “the called-out ones”—a gathering of people summoned for a purpose. The Church Jesus established is the community of all true believers in Jesus throughout history. This is sometimes called the “Universal Church.”
It’s important to understand that the Universal Church transcends denominations, traditions, and geographic locations. No single church or association can claim to be “the one true Church.” The true Church consists of everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The Bible uses powerful imagery to help us understand the nature of the Church:
- The Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7) reflects the intimate and loving relationship between Jesus and his people.
- A Spiritual Family and Nation (Ephesians 2:19) shows how believers belong to one household, united under God’s rule.
- A Temple and a House (Ephesians 2:20-21) describes how we are being built together as a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.
2. Jesus Is the Head of His Church
Colossians 1:18 makes it clear: Christ is the head of the Church, which is his body. This means Jesus himself is in charge. He leads through the truth of the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and through biblically qualified leaders like elders and pastors.
Jesus guides the Church like a shepherd leads his flock. In 1 Peter 5:1-4, elders are instructed to care for God’s people with humility and a servant’s heart, always pointing back to the Chief Shepherd—Jesus.
While the Universal Church is invisible and eternal, it takes visible form through local churches. These are the communities where believers gather for worship, teaching, fellowship, and mission. Though no single local church represents the entirety of the Universal Church, each one is a part of the larger body of Christ, carrying out God’s purposes in their unique context.
3. The Church Is a Community
The Church is more than just an organization—it’s a living organism. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 describes it as a human body with many parts, each necessary and interconnected. Regardless of background—Jew or Gentile, slave or free—we’ve all been baptized into one body by the same Spirit.
The early church demonstrated this vibrant community in Acts 2:42. They were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship (koinonia), to meals, and to prayer. The word koinonia carries the idea of sharing life deeply—meeting needs, eating together, and worshiping as a unified family.
This kind of biblical community stands in stark contrast to the individualism of our culture. The Church is a place where people of every race, status, and story can belong because of our shared identity in Christ.
4. The Church Ministers in Three Spheres
God has given the Church three primary purposes, expressed through three ministry areas:
A. Ministry to God: Worship
Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices—our spiritual act of worship. Worship isn’t just about music; it’s about honoring God with every part of our lives. Everything the Church does—from teaching to singing to prayer—is ultimately directed to God as an act of praise.
B. Ministry to the World: Evangelism and Mercy
Jesus commanded his followers to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The Church exists to proclaim the gospel to the lost and to demonstrate God’s compassion through acts of mercy. Whether it's feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, or advocating for justice, the Church reflects God’s character when it serves the world. Deuteronomy 15:10 reminds us that generosity honors God and brings his blessing.
C. Ministry to Believers: Discipleship
The Church is also called to help believers grow into spiritual maturity. Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is a clear mandate to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything he commanded. In the early church, this happened through the Word, fellowship, and shared life. Today, it happens through mentoring, teaching, small groups, youth ministry, and more.
Final Challenge
There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. It’s God’s chosen tool to bring hope to the world.
So get involved.
Worship faithfully.
Serve others.
Invest in the next generation.
Join in God’s mission to the world.
Be the Church.
