What does the Bible teach about the nature of the church?

The New Testament portrays the church as a local assembly of believers who have been called out from the world to worship Christ together. This is affirmed in Acts 2:47, where the early church is noted for their fellowship and collective devotion to the apostles' teaching. Furthermore, Ephesians 2:19-22 describes the church as a household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This highlights that the church is not merely a building or organization, but a living entity composed of the body of Christ, where all members are to contribute to its growth and health in unity and love.