How to pastor a Church

BACKGROUND OF STUDY
What is the church? Is the church a building? Is it the place where believers gather to worship? Or is the church the people—the believers who follow Christ? How we understand and perceive the church is an important factor in determining how we live out our faith. For the purpose of this study, we will look at the church in the context of “the Christian church,” which is a New Testament concept. Jesus was the first person to mention the church: “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16–18, ESV)

Some Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Church, interpret this verse to mean that Peter is the rock upon which the church was founded, and for this reason, Peter is considered the first Pope. However, Protestants, as well as other Christian denominations, understand this verse differently.Although many believe Jesus noted the meaning of Peter’s name here as rock, there was no supremacy given to him by Christ. Rather, Jesus was referring to Peter’s declaration: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession of faith is the rock upon which the church is built, and just like Peter, everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is a part of the church.

Church Definition in the New Testament
The word “church” as rendered in the New Testament comes from the Greek term ekklesia which is formed from two Greek words meaning “an assembly” and “to call out” or “called out ones.” This means the New Testament church is a body of believers who have been called out from the world by God to live as his people under the authority of Jesus Christ:
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:22–23, NLT)

This group of believers or “the body of Christ” began in Acts 2 on the Pentecost through the work of the Holy Spirit and will continue to be formed until the day of the rapture of the church.