What is the Purpose of the Church?

INTRODUCTION: In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, " I will build my Church." This statement alone signifies that Christ has a specific purpose for His Church. It is not and never has been our job to create the purposes of the Church, but to discover them. We must remember, it is Christ's Church, not ours. He is the one who founded the Church, died for the Church, sent his spirit to the Church, and will someday return for his Church. As the owner of the Church, he has already established the purposes, and they are not negotiable.

As we review what the Bible says about the Church, watch for the answers to the questions below:

Why does the Church exist?
What are we to be as a Church? (Who and what are we?)
What are we to do as a Church?
How are we to do it?

Matthew 5:13-16 The Church is to be the light of the world.

Matthew 9:35 The Church is to reach as many people as possible.

Matthew 11:28-30 The Church is to provide rest to the faint and weary.

Matthew 16:18-19 The Church is to utilize it's authority to loose and bind.

Matthew 25:34-40 The duty of the Church is to preach the gospel.

Matthew 25:34-40 The Church is to minister physically to those in need.

Matthew 28:18-20 The Church is responsible for teaching and baptizing souls.

Luke 4:18 The Church must minister under the control of the spirit of God. The church must be anointed (have God's approval) to minister. We are required to preach to the poor, heal the broken hearted, preach deliverance to captives, recover sight to those that are blind, and give liberty to those that are bruised.