“Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.” (Acts 17:23-24 NKJV)

What church did Jesus promote?

Recently, I listened to a religious commentator who answered questions from his audience. One person asked, “What church did Jesus promote?” I thought that was a very interesting question. I can understand why the person asked because there are so many different churches. In most large cities, you see them everywhere, even next to each other. The simple answer is found in the verse at the top, which says God does not dwell in temples made by hands.

So, what exactly is the church?

According to the New Testament, the name of a city served as an identification for the churches there as a whole. “Church” is the translation of the Greek term ekklesia, and is used in the New Testament to identify the community of believers in Jesus Christ. It literally means “assembly,” “congregation,” or “meeting.” Another term was used in the Old Testament to refer to experiences such as “the day of the assembly,” “the Lord’s congregation,” or “meeting before the Lord.” In the New Testament, no synagogue, temple, chapel, tabernacle, building, or any other meeting place was ever called a “church.” The term always referred to the Christian assembly, and in the New Testament, it was used for both the local community of believers and the overall collection of Christians.

Therefore

 The church is never a building or type of denomination, the church is a group or congregation of fellow believers and followers of Jesus Christ. So, the answer to what church did Jesus promote is simple—it’s all of them!

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Rom. 12:5 ESV)

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matt. 18:20 ESV)

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 ESV) 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24 ESV)

Jesus declared: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18 ESV). And that is a wonderful promise!