The Church
The Breakdown: In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes about conduct within the church, describing “how one ought to behave in the household of God.” He describes the church as “the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). First, this shows that the church belongs to God; it isn’t a human institution, but God’s (Matt. 16:18). The church is not so much a house, but a household; not a building, but a family. The church consists of a community of Christians, a body of believers who have been “called out.” And as God’s church, the church serves as “a pillar and buttress of truth,” meaning that it is the foundation and pillar that holds up the truth of God—His divine revelation, including His Word, work, and worth. The mission of the church is to uphold God’s truth.
Activate: The primary way in which the church supports, upholds, and guards God’s truth is by being faithful to God’s Word—by believing, memorizing, meditating, studying, obeying, defending, living, and proclaiming the Bible. Church members must do this both corporately and individually, as they meet with other believers and grow in their own faith.
A Thought: There’s never been a churchless Christianity. Are you part of Christ’s church?
