Since church is a community of believers who are saved by God’s amazing grace in Christ, its first and foremost function is to worship God. Worship is bowing down before God and lifting Him up in adoration. Church is called to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. It is the best way to express our love and gratitude to God.

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“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1

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“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Church is a spiritual family of believers in Christ that is called to love one another as Christ has loved us. Biblical fellowship is about loving each other by being devoted to one another, honoring one another, living in harmony with one another, accepting one another, serving one another, being kind and compassionate to one another, and encouraging one another in faith. Fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. 

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“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

Christ has commanded His disciples to go and make disciples by teaching them to obey everything He has commanded. Teaching believers for spiritual growth, becoming like Christ in every area of one’s life, is an essential function of the church. It is God’s will that every Christian mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  

 

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

God has entrusted every parent with the responsibility of raising their kids in a godly way, nurturing them with the love of Christ and the word of God so that they grow to love God and live for His glory. Nurturing is a vital function of the church that requires collaborative efforts of all adult members, passing our faith to the next generation in ways that our children walk with Christ for the rest of their lives. 

 

“Train up a child in the way he/she should go; even when he/she is old, they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

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“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

God revealed Himself to His people in the Old Testament as “Jehovah Rapha,” the God who heals you. Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus demonstrated the compassionate nature of the God who heals by healing the sick and setting them free from all kinds of bondages. As Jesus commanded His disciples to heal the sick, church is called to minister to those who are in need of God’s healing grace physically and souly. 

 

“I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26

 

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Luke 10:9

Every Christian is called to use the resources and talents God has blessed them with to serve the church and the community they are in. Church must help every member find their ministry for the kingdom of God and equip and empower them to serve as faithful stewards of God’s grace for the benefit of others. 

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“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

It is God’s desire that all people to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ greatest passion was to seek and to save the lost, and He has commissioned His church to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. His followers have the privilege and duty of being His witnesses in the world and spread the powerful and life-changing message of the cross to the lost. 

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“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

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“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Since God is the creator of the universe and everything in it, every people group and nation around the world belongs to Him. God is a missional God. He wants all nations under heaven to embrace His offer of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, and the church is called to fulfill the task of preaching the good news to them. As Christ has left heaven and came to this world to save us from sin and death, His church is to go to the ends of the earth and make disciples of all nations.

 

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:3

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“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19