God, by His Word and Spirit, creates the Church, calling sinful men out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ’s body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that new redeemed humanity. The Church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ by the power of the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The church also exists in two functions, Universal and local. The Universal church is made up of all the people of God who have placed their faith and hope in Jesus Christ. From the Old Testament all the way into New, God’s people were always meant to be a people set apart (1 Peter 2:9). As God uses His people, the church, those who have been made into new creations, who are free from the bondage and slavery to sin, to go and live in such a way that upholds the Kingdom of God, the Gospel is made visible.
It also exists as a local "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4) to serve Him by faithfully living out His will on earth. This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached and churches planted in the entire world for a testimony. The ultimate mission of the Church is worship, and the means by which this is accomplished is the making of disciples through the preaching and embracing of the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church in which they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer (Acts 2:42-47).
All members of the Church are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. In this context, they are called to walk out the New Covenant as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. The ascended Christ has given gift ministries to the Church (including prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) for the equipping of Christ’s body for the work of ministry, and that it might mature and grow in unity and love for one another (Ephesians 4:11-16). In the context of the local church, God’s people receive pastoral care and leadership and the opportunity to employ their God-given gifts in His service in relation to one another and to the world.