When we use the word “church,” what do we mean?

In the New Testament the word “church” is mentioned seventy-five times. When we study the different verses in which the word was used, we can understand the biblical meanings of it.

First: The faithful community since Adam till the Lord’s second coming. This church is characterized by the life of praise and holiness that she may be prepared to join the angelic hosts. In the book of Acts it was written that they were, “praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

Second: The local church in a certain country or nation such as the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; 11:26): “So when they had appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23); “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write” (Rev. 2:8). There were also priests and deacons who were ordained for pastoral care, service, and worship in the language that the people understand. These churches were connected to each other in the spirit of unity and love in Christ Jesus, even though they were sometimes organizationally separate from each other and thus it was said, “So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia, and Samaria, describing the conversion of Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brethren” (Acts 15:3).

Third: The expression: “ the church in your house ” (Phil. 1:2) was often repeated. This was meant to describe how some believers opened their houses to be churches where the

924 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 41.7–8 (NPNF I/6:399–400) amended.

believers in the area would gather, since there were no churches yet dedicated for Christian worship and service. The “house” here could also signify a holy family where each family member dedicates their life to the Lord and though their families could be small, it is still a church where God dwells.

The house could also signify the believer himself as the Lord told His disciples: “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). So, when we talk about the characteristics of the Church as God’s kingdom on earth, we feel as though we are speaking about all the believers throughout the ages from Adam and until the end of time. We also feel our commitment to the Church and to the holiness of our homes, our families, and even ourselves for the Holy Spirit dwells within us.