What Is the Church?

This week on Cultivate, we kicked off a new series on ecclesiology—exploring what “the church” truly is and why it matters. Charlie and Abigail dug into the popular and biblical definitions of church, clarifying the difference between the universal (capital “C”) Church and local churches. Drawing from Jesus’ words in passages like Matthew 16 (“on this rock I will build my church”), we discussed how church isn’t just about a building or a Sunday service, but about a called-out community on mission together.We unpacked the Greek word ekklesia, meaning an assembly or gathering of people with a purpose, and wrestled with what really distinguishes a church from other Christian ministries or small groups. Through honest questions and personal experiences, we explored how being part of the church can shape our understanding of faith, belonging, and following Jesus in everyday life.We encourage you to reflect on what “church” means for you, and how you can live out your faith both inside and outside Sunday gatherings.