What is a local church?

There is a difference between an individual and a local church.

• Matthew 18:15-17
• I Timothy 5:3-4, 16
• Some say whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but …
  • Individuals marry each other (I Corinthians 7:2-5)
  • Individuals get jobs and make a profit (James 4:13; I Thessalonians 4:11-12)
  • Individuals have certain family responsibilities (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5)
  • Local churches cannot do these things.
• A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
  • I Corinthians 2:7; 7:2-3
  • I Thessalonians 1:1; 4:11
• A letter addressed to an individual may contain some instructions pertaining to a local church
  • I Timothy 1:2; 3:1-13; 5:16
  • Titus 1:4-9
• The word “ekklesia” is a collective noun (i.e., refers to a group of people).
  • Acts 8:1, 3
  • Acts 11:26
  • Acts 14:26-28
  • I Corinthians 1:2
  • Philippians 1:1; 4:15
  • Hebrews 12:23
• The Bible never uses the word “church” to refer to a group of congregations.
  • There is a word that means “a group of congregations”: denomination.
  • I Corinthians 12:12

When do you have local church action?

An individual Christian (or several Christians) doing something is not necessarily church action.

• Matthew 18:15-17
• I Timothy 5:16
• Although … Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18

Even if ALL members of a church act together, that’s not necessarily church action.

• Acts 19:39
• Church action isn’t determined simply by the number or percentage of members involved (Philippians 2:25), but by the nature of the action.

Church action occurs when the members act together in Christ.

• I Corinthians 14:23
• I Timothy 5:16
• Acts 4:32-5:4
• Matthew 18:15-17
• Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18
• I Corinthians 11:17
• Philippians 1:27