Why is understanding the local church important for Christians?

The local church serves as the primary context for Christian fellowship, instruction, and accountability. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus states, 'For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them,' underlining the church's significance. Moreover, the local church is where ordinances like baptism and the Lord's Supper are observed. This understanding safeguards the true essence of community among believers and protects against misconceptions about the church being merely an invisible entity.