The local church is affirmed throughout scripture as the primary expression of Christ’s body on earth, exemplified by the practices of the apostles and early Christians.
The concept of the local church is consistently supported in the New Testament where gatherings of believers are discussed in terms of accountability, discipline, and mutual support, as seen in Matthew 18:17. The apostolic practices reveal a model wherein churches were identified by their meetings, baptismal candidates, and communal worship. Furthermore, Acts 2:47 illustrates the daily addition of believers to the local assembly, reinforcing the idea that the church functions as an organized body at a specific location, rather than a vague, universal concept.
Commentary