What Is the Purpose of the Church? | Episode 50

What is the purpose of the church? Is the Christian gathering meant to revolve around one person speaking while everyone else listens, or did the New Testament picture something more participatory?In this episode, we look at the gatherings that preceded the early church, the role of synagogues, sermons, and leaders, and then turn to Paul’s description of the church in Corinth. The contrast raises an important question about participation in the body of Christ: Are believers meant simply to attend, or to share, encourage, learn, discern, and contribute to one another?We also consider how traditions can become so familiar that we stop asking whether they came from Scripture at all. Thinking outside the "box church" does not mean abandoning the church. It means asking again what the church is actually for.Read the companion study and join the conversation:https://wakinguptograce.com/050-thinking-outside-of-the-box-church/