Clicky

The Beginning of the Church in the Bible – Viral Believer
Skip to content

The Beginning of the Church in the Bible

Introduction

The Church is a fundamental part of Christianity and has its roots in the Bible. As believers, we are called to be a part of this community of faith, to worship God, and to serve others.

The beginning of the Church in the Bible is an important aspect of its history that provides a foundation for understanding its purpose and significance.

In this blog post, we will explore the origin of the Church, looking at how it started, who were the first members, and what its purpose was. We will examine the early history of the Church as recorded in the book of Acts, and how it grew and spread throughout the world despite facing persecution and opposition.

As we reflect on the beginning of the Church in the Bible, we are reminded of our own call as believers to be a part of this community of faith. We are called to follow Jesus, to make disciples, to build up one another, and to be a witness to the world.

May this blog post inspire and encourage us to fulfill our role in the Church, and to bring honor and glory to God through our lives and our service.

church in the Bible

The Beginning of the Church

The Church began with Jesus Christ himself. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said to Peter, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus was referring to Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus promised to build His Church upon the confession that He is the Christ.

Jesus’ statement was a pivotal moment in the history of the Church. It marked the beginning of a new era in which God’s people would be united under the banner of Christ. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, His disciples began to spread the good news of salvation through Him.

The book of Acts records the early history of the Church, and it shows how the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to carry out Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. The Church began with a small group of believers in Jerusalem, and it spread throughout the world.

The First Members of the Church

The first members of the Church were the disciples of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 1:13-14, we read,

“And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

This group of believers prayed together, waited for the promised Holy Spirit, and shared the gospel with others.

After the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, Peter preached the first sermon to a crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem. Three thousand people believed and were baptized that day, and the Church began to grow rapidly.

Acts 2:42-47 describes how the early Church lived and worshiped together. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They also shared their possessions with those in need, and many signs and wonders were done through the apostles.

As the Church grew, it became more diverse in terms of its membership. The early Church included Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free people.

In Galatians 3:28, Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Church was a community in which all people were equal in Christ.

The Purpose of the Church

The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by making disciples of all nations.

Jesus gave this command to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Church exists to spread the gospel and to help people come to know and follow Jesus Christ.

The Church also exists to build up believers in the faith.

Ephesians 4:11-13 says,

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The Church is a place where believers can grow in their knowledge of God and their understanding of His will for their lives.

The Church is also called to be a witness to the world. In Matthew 5:14-16,

Jesus said to His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The Church is called to live in a way that reflects the character of God and to share the gospel with those who do not yet believe.

The Growth and Expansion of the Church

The early Church faced persecution and opposition from both the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman Empire.

In Acts 7, we read about the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul, who would later become the apostle Paul, was one of the people who approved of Stephen’s death. Saul later had a dramatic conversion experience and became a devoted follower of Christ.

The book of Acts shows us how the Church grew and spread throughout the world. Paul became a missionary and traveled throughout the Roman Empire, sharing the gospel and planting churches. He wrote many letters to these churches, which are now included in the New Testament.

The early Church also faced challenges from false teachers who were promoting false doctrines. The apostles wrote letters to address these issues and to help the believers stay on the right path.

Despite the challenges that the early Church faced, it continued to grow and expand. In the book of Revelation, we see a vision of the Church triumphant, worshiping before the throne of God.

Revelation 7:9-10 says,

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'”

This vision shows us that the Church will ultimately be victorious, and that believers from every nation and people group will be a part of it.

The Church Today

Today, the Church continues to play an important role in the lives of believers. The Church is a place where believers can come together to worship, to pray, and to learn from the Word of God. It is also a place where believers can use their gifts and talents to serve God and to help others.

However, the Church is not without its challenges today. Many churches are facing declining attendance, and some are struggling to adapt to a changing culture. There are also many false teachings and false teachers who are leading people astray.

As believers, we must be committed to being a part of a healthy, thriving Church community. We must be willing to serve others, to share the gospel, and to grow in our own faith. We must also be discerning, and we must be careful to avoid false teachings and false teachers.

Conclusion

The beginning of the Church in the Bible shows us that it was founded by Jesus Christ Himself, and it began with a small group of believers in Jerusalem. The first members of the Church were the disciples of Jesus, who shared the gospel and made disciples of all nations.

The purpose of the Church is to glorify God, make disciples, build up believers in the faith, and be a witness to the world.

As we look at the early history of the Church, we see that it was characterized by unity, prayer, worship, and a commitment to spreading the gospel. The Church faced persecution and opposition, but it continued to grow and spread throughout the world.

Today, the Church is still fulfilling its purpose, and believers all over the world are working to make disciples and to bring glory to God.

As we reflect on the beginning of the Church in the Bible, we are reminded of our own call as believers to be a part of this community of faith. We are called to follow Jesus, to make disciples, to build up one another, and to be a witness to the world.

May we be faithful in fulfilling our role in the Church, and may we bring honor and glory to God through our lives and our service.

Ultimately, the Church is not just an institution or a building, but it is the people who make up the Body of Christ. As believers, we are called to be the Church, wherever we are. We are called to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We are called to use our gifts and talents to serve others, and to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the beginning of the Church in the Bible shows us that it is an essential institution in Christianity, and it was founded by Jesus Christ Himself.

The first members of the Church were the disciples of Jesus, and the purpose of the Church is to glorify God, make disciples, build up believers in the faith, and be a witness to the world.

Today, the Church continues to play an important role in the lives of believers, and we are called to be a part of this community of faith. May we be faithful to fulfill our role in the Church, and may we bring honor and glory to God through our lives and our service.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.