Judging by Scripture, the local church bodies were very important to God. There are over 100 Biblical verses about the local church. Each verse you’ll find throughout this blog post, will be about local churches, not about the universal Church body of Christ. However, each local church makes up the entire Church body.
What do Biblical verses say about the local church? Bible verses explain the fellowship of the local church, as well as the role of local church, and the behaviors of the local church. Bible verses also explain that the local church is apart of the church body, how God views the local church, the identity of the local church, and the gifts of the local church members.
Whether you are looking for specific verses, studying the local church, or would like to see the big picture of how the local church fits in the Bible, then you have come to the right place.
Fellowship of the Local Church
The fellowship of the local church is a crucial aspect of the church body. God created His people to have community and family, and we can see that the role of the local church should provide this for God’s people. The church is to encourage one another, follow teachings, break bread, and worship together. Apart of this fellowship is the leaders of the church. Apart of living in fellowship with another, means submitting to the leaders and elders of the church. Below, you will find what the Bible says about the fellowship of the local church.
Bible Verses
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
— Hebrews 10:25
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
— Hebrews 13:17
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
— 1 Peter 5:1-2
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
— 1 Timothy 5:17
For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you… When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal… do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
— 1 Corinthians 11:18-22
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
— Colossians 3:16
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
The Role of the Local Church
In the verses below, you will find the role of the local church for local church members and the role that the local church must take in the world. The local church is to care for itself, while it is also supposed to represent the wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities of the world. God has left a weighty responsilbity to the church. They are also supposed to pray for the fellow brothers and sisters in the body.
The Roles of the Local Church are:
- to pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock
- to care for the church of God
- to make God known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places
- pray over and anointing the members
- earnest prayer
Bible Verses
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
— Acts 20:28
So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
— Ephesians 3:10
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
— James 5:14
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
— Acts 12:5
Behavior of the Local Church
In the Bible, we also learn that the local church should have a certain behavior. It is not to restrict the body of the church, but rather to allow us to represent Christ. We are to be devoted to teachings, fellowship, communion, and prayer. We are also to be good stewards and to do good. The author of Hebrews also calls us to praise in our congregations. Many church members will be encouraged and strengthened by this.
Behaviors of the Local Church:
- restore your brother or sister in a spirit of gentleness
- devoted to the apostles’ teaching
- to engage in prayer and praise
- doing good to everyone
- stewarding what you have been given well
- encouraging your fellow brothers and sisters
Bible Verses
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…
— Galatians 6:1
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
— Acts 2:42
But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?
— 1 Timothy 3:5
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
— Galatians 6:10
Saying, ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’
— Hebrews 2:12
The Body of the Local Church
Members of the local church make the body of believers. Throughout the Bible, there are verses explaining this concept. In the verse below, you will find how the local church makes up the body of Christ, each member a different part of the entire body. We will also learn through these verses, how powerful and important it is that we are connected as a body.
The Body of the Local Church is:
- to equip the saints for the work of ministry
- for building up the body of Christ
- for unity of the faith
- to share in the knowledge of the Son of God
- for baptism into one body
- to mature in manhood
- to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
- to speak the truth in love
- to let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
Bible Verses
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
— Romans 12:4-5
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
— 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
— Matthew 18:20
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
— Matthew 18:17
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
— Ephesians 4:11-13
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
— Ephesians 4:15-16
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
— Colossians 3:15
Gifts of the Local Church
The gifts of the church are a very important topic, because our gifts as the local church, help to distinguish us from the rest of the world. Paul talks about the gifts, ad he also shows us what they are used for. Likewise, we also learn that those who are not familiar with the Bible or what the gifts may think that we are mad. This is to be expected, because Paul has already mentioned it to us.
The Gifts of the Local Church are:
- To edify the church, not just the individual
- speaking in tongues and prophecy
- for those who are believers or those who are gifted
Bible Verses
Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
— 1 Corinthians 14:5
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
— 1 Corinthians 14:23
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
— 1 Corinthians 14:4
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
— 1 Corinthians 14:12
Identity of the Local Church
In Scripture, we find identity given to the local church. Jesus made sure through His words, that we would know that hell is not greater than His church. We can reassured, knowing that He is leading His people, because we are apart of His body. Christ is the cornerstone of the church, holding us together, as we are continually built into His holy temple.
What God Says that Church Members Are:
- Living stones are being built up as a spiritual house
- no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints
- members of the household of God
- built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
- joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord
- a dwelling place for God by the Spirit
- acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
- sanctified in Christ Jesus
- saints
Bible Verses
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
— Matthew 16:18
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
— Ephesians 2:19-22
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
— 1 Peter 2:5
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours…
— 1 Corinthians 1:2
God and The Local Church
God has a special relationship with the local church, because the local church are the believers in Christ, who are God’s children. In the Bible, we find verses that reveal God’s relationship with the church, which is an intimate relationship through Christ and is under the authority of Christ.
The Relationship of God and the Local Church:
- Is represented by the marriage covenant of a man and his wife
- Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church
- The local church are apart of Christ’s body
- God has a purpose and calling for each church member
- The local church is under the authority of Christ, Christ is the head
Bible Verses
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne…
— Revelation 1:4
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
— Ephesians 5:29-30
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
— 1 Corinthians 7:17
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church…
— Ephesians 1:22
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
— Ephesians 5:23
Specific Mentions of Local Churches
The value of these verses, although to specific to any modern church today, is the fact that we learn how the apostles and how God viewed the first local churches. We also learn historic insight from these passages. Not only can we see that local churches existed, but we can also see how the early church leaders thought about these first churches.
What We Can Learn from the First Local Churches:
- The apostles cared about the individuals in the churches and acknowledged their good works
- there were leaders in the churches
- The church members were often addressed as “saints”
- The early apostles were very thankful for the early churches
- The apostles urged the early churches to continue to follow the truth of the Gospel
- There was suffering that the early churches experienced
Bible Verses
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.
— 1 Corinthians 16:19
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
— Acts 20:17
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia…
— 2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons…
— Philippians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel…
— Colossians 1:1-29
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
— Colossians 2:1-23
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews…
— 1 Thessalonians 2:14