Who Is The Church

Lesson Objective

To enable believers to articulate a clear biblical definition of  “who” the Church is as God’s redeemed people in Jesus Christ, rather than merely a building, event, or institution. Believers will be able to identify and explain key Scripture images of the Church - such as the people of God, the body of Christ, and the household/temple of the Spirit - and use these truths to correct common misconceptions.

Lesson Introduction

Many believers think of “church” primarily as a place, a service time, or a set of programs. Scripture presents something deeper: the Church is not mainly an event to attend, the Church is a people called by God, formed by Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s frame today’s lesson - study this way:

• Identity is not something the Church invents; it is something the Church receives.
• The Church comes to know its true identity when it returns to the One who names it (God the Father) and then lives consistently with that calling.

Let’s familiarize ourselves with a term that will be used in this study: 

Present Truth

This term refers to biblical truths that God highlights as particularly relevant and urgent for His people at a specific time in history, guiding their understanding, obedience, and mission amid contemporary – today’s challenges.

The Church Is a Called People (Belonging by God)

• The Church exists because God calls and gathers.
• The Church does not create itself. 
• The Church’s identity begins with God’s grace, not our performance.

Present Truth: Since God calls the Church into being, the Church’s identity must be received from Him, not built around preferences, culture, or tradition.

Scriptural Reference

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ERV)

“But you are His chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things He has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light. In the past you were not a special people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now God has given you His mercy.”

The Church Is the Body of Christ (United, Interdependent, Living)

• The Church is not an audience; it is a body. 
• Every believer is a vital member, designed to function, serve, and build up others.

Present Truth: The Church is not “the pastor and a crowd.” The Church is the whole body living under Jesus Christ, the Head.

Scriptural Reference

1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (TPT)

“But some of our body parts don’t require as much attention. Instead, God has mingled the body parts together, giving greater honor to the “lesser” members who lacked it. He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices. You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.”

The Church Is God’s Household and Dwelling (Family and Presence)

• The Church is described as a family and as a place where God’s presence dwells - not in a building first, but in a people built together.
• God’s presence is meant to be evident among His people through holiness, love, unity, and worship.

Present Truth: If the Church is family, we commit to one another. If the Church is God’s dwelling, we pursue holiness and worship.

Scriptural Reference

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ERV)

“So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family. You believers are like a building that God owns. That building was built on the foundation that the apostles and prophets prepared. Christ Jesus Himself is the most important stone in that building. The whole building is joined together in Christ, and He makes it grow and become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Christ you are being built together with His other people. You are being made into a place where God lives through the Spirit.”

The Church Is a Sent People (Witness, Service, and Mission)

• The Church is not only gathered; it is also scattered – called to “go out.” 
• We gather to be formed, then we go out to represent Jesus Christ.

Present Truth: Mission is not a program the Church does; mission is part of who the Church is.

Scriptural Reference

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (CEV)

“God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between Himself and us, and He has given us the work of making peace between Himself and others. What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And He has given us the work of sharing His message about peace. We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.”

Scriptural Reference

John 20:21-22 (CEV)

“After Jesus had greeted them again, He said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent Me. Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Common Misconceptions About The Church

• X-Misconception: “Church is a building.”
• Correction: The church may meet in a building, but it is not a building.

• X-Misconception: “Church is a weekly service.”
• Correction: A service is one expression of the gathered church, but the church is a people living as Jesus Christ’s body daily.

• X-Misconception: “Church is only leaders.”
• Correction: Every believer is a member with gifts to serve. 

Lesson Summary

The Scriptures teach that the Church is the redeemed people God has called, united to Jesus Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Church is the people of God, the body of Christ, and the household and dwelling place of God - gathered for worship and formed by the Word, then “goes out” - “scatters” as Jesus Christ’s witnesses and servants. When we reduce “Church” to a building, an event, a service, or a select group of leaders, we shrink what God designed. However, when we embrace the truth - we are the Church - we begin to live with clarity, unity, and mission.