Bible Verses About The Church

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

Jesus promises to build his church and says it will not be overcome by the powers of death. Christians have long differed on how to understand the rock he names.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The first believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, meals and prayer, and shared what they had with anyone in need. It is a simple picture of a community that worships and cares.

“Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.”

Paul says believers from every background are no longer strangers but members of God's household, built on Christ as the cornerstone. The church is where outsiders find a home.

“As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Believers are pictured as living stones being built into a spiritual house around Christ. Each person has a place in something larger than themselves.

“The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.”

Paul compares the church to a body with many parts, all joined by one Spirit. Differences in background or role do not break the unity.

“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

No part can say it has no need of the others, and the weaker parts deserve special care. When one suffers, all suffer, and when one is honored, all rejoice.

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Paul lists gifts such as teaching, encouraging, giving and leading, and asks each person to use theirs faithfully. Serving well matters more than serving visibly.

“And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.”

Christ gave leaders to the church to prepare God's people for works of service and to build up the body toward maturity. Leadership exists to equip others, not to replace them.

“As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Paul urges believers to live with humility, gentleness and patience, working to keep the unity the Spirit gives. Unity takes effort, and love makes the effort possible.

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.””

Jesus gives a new command to love one another as he loved, and says this love will show the world who his disciples are. Our care for each other is itself a witness.

“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Believers are urged to stir one another to love and good works and not to give up meeting together. We need each other's encouragement to keep going.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

When someone is caught in wrongdoing, the spiritual are to restore them gently, carrying one another's burdens. Correction and care belong together.

“The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all. There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.”

The early believers were of one heart, and no one among them went without because they shared freely. Their unity showed up in practical generosity.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus calls his followers the light of the world and asks that their good works lead others to praise God. The church is meant to be seen, serving rather than showing off.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

Jesus sends his followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching, and promises to be with them always. The mission comes with his presence.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Peter calls believers a chosen people and a royal priesthood, called to declare God's goodness. Being chosen is for the sake of telling others.