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18 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
# Church
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In the New Testament, the word “church” is used to talk about a group of Christians who regularly met together. They met to pray and to hear people preach and teach from the Bible. Often Christians in a city met together in someone's home (see: Colossians 4:25; Philemon 1:2). Christians named these churches after the city where they met. For example, the “church of the Thessalonians” was the church in Thessalonica (see: 1 Thessalonians 1:1). That is, it was all the Christians in Thessalonica.
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The words “the church” can also be used to talk about all Christians in all places (see: 1 Corinthians 5:12; 10:32). When someone is not talking about all Christians in all places, they might use the words “local church.” They are talking about the Christians in their area.
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In the Bible, the word “church” does not mean a building where Christians worship. But today, “church” can mean a building where Christians worship.
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See: Pray (Prayer); [Preach (Preacher)](../articles/preach.md); [Worship](../articles/worship.md)
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#### More Information About This Topic
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In the New Testament, Jesus was the first to talk about the church. This happened after Peter said that Jesus is the messiah and the Son of God (see: Matthew 16:16-19). The church is made of people who also believe that Jesus is the messiah and the Son of God. Jesus loves and cares for the church (see: Ephesians 5:25, 27, 29). The church serves Jesus (see: Ephesians 5:24).
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The church is also described as the “bride of Christ,” the “body of Christ,” and as a “temple.”
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See: [Messiah (Christ)](../articles/messiahchrist.md); [Son of God](../articles/sonofgod.md); [Serve (Servant, Slave)](../articles/serve.md); [Bride of Christ](../articles/brideofchrist.md);[Body of Christ](../articles/bodyofchrist.md); [Temple](../articles/temple.md)
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