God’s Word has a lot to say about the church of Jesus Christ. This collection of scripture quotes will help you understand the meaning of the church and how Christians can encourage one another in their faith in God.
Scripture Verses that Reference the Church
- Matthew 16:18 Jesus will build his church Bible verse.
- Acts 20:28 The church of God obtained by the blood of Christ scripture reference.
- Psalm 122:1 Let us go to the house of the LORD Bible verse about church attendance.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 Do not forsake meeting together Bible passage about the importance of church.
- Colossians 3:16 The Apostle Paul describes what the church should do when they worship together in this Bible verse.
- Ephesians 2:19-22 The church is the household of God according to this biblical passage.
- Romans 12:5 The church is the body of Christ Bible verse.
- Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name” scripture about the church.
- Acts 2:46-47 Bible passage about the early church.
- Ephesians 1:22 Christ Jesus is the head of the church Bible verse.
- 1 Timothy 3:15 The church is the household of God and the pillar of truth according to this scripture.
- FAQ about the Church in Scripture
- More Bible Study Resources about the Church
Matthew 16:18 Jesus will build his church Bible verse.
Matthew 16:18
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(MSG) And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
(NIV) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
(NLT) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Acts 20:28 The church of God obtained by the blood of Christ scripture reference.
Acts 20:28
(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.
(KJV) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
(MSG) “Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.
(NIV) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
(NLT) “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
Psalm 122:1 Let us go to the house of the LORD Bible verse about church attendance.
Psalms 122:1
(ESV) A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
(KJV) A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
(MSG) A pilgrim song of David. When they said, “Let’s go to the house of GOD,” my heart leaped for joy.
(NIV) A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
(NLT) A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 Do not forsake meeting together Bible passage about the importance of church.
Hebrews 10:24
(ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
(KJV) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
(MSG) Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,
(NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
(NLT) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Hebrews 10:25
(ESV) 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.
(KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
(MSG) not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
(NIV) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Colossians 3:16 The Apostle Paul describes what the church should do when they worship together in this Bible verse.
Colossians 3:16
(ESV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
(KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(MSG) Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
(NIV) Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
(NLT) Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Ephesians 2:19-22 The church is the household of God according to this biblical passage.
Ephesians 2:19
(ESV) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
(KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
(MSG) That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.
(NIV) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
(NLT) So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
Ephesians 2:20
(ESV) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
(KJV) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(MSG) He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone
(NIV) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
(NLT) Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Ephesians 2:21
(ESV) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
(KJV) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
(MSG) that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God,
(NIV) In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
(NLT) We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22
(ESV) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
(KJV) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(MSG) all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
(NIV) And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
(NLT) Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Romans 12:5 The church is the body of Christ Bible verse.
Romans 12:5
(ESV) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
(KJV) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
(MSG) The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body,
(NIV) so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
(NLT) so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name” scripture about the church.
Matthew 18:20
(ESV) For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
(KJV) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
(MSG) And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
(NIV) For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
(NLT) For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Acts 2:46-47 Bible passage about the early church.
Acts 2:46
(ESV) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
(KJV) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(MSG) They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
(NIV) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
(NLT) They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
Acts 2:47
(ESV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(KJV) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
(MSG) as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
(NIV) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(NLT) all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Ephesians 1:22 Christ Jesus is the head of the church Bible verse.
Ephesians 1:22
(ESV) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
(KJV) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(MSG) He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church.
(NIV) And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
(NLT) God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
1 Timothy 3:15 The church is the household of God and the pillar of truth according to this scripture.
1 Timothy 3:15
(ESV) if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
(KJV) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
(MSG) you’ll know how things ought to go in God’s household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth.
(NIV) if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
(NLT) so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
FAQ about the Church in Scripture
The scripture makes clear the church is important to the world and the faith of individual Christians. Here are some more questions about what the Bible says about the church and what it means to belong to the congregation of God’s people. In religion, a church is a local congregation that hosts worship services devoted to Jesus Christ.
A church (or local church) is a religious organization or congregation that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by clergy or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek non-profit corporate status.
The Bible has a lot to say about church membership! In fact, church membership is one of the most important things you can do for your faith. It strengthens your relationship with God.
Church membership commits you to a local body of believers who can help you grow in your faith. By being part of a church, you’ll have access to things like Bible study groups, prayer meetings, and other opportunities to learn more about God. Additionally, the support of fellow believers can greatly encourage you in your journey with Christ
No. A person does not have to attend church to go to heaven. However, church attendance is one way of showing God that you love Him and want to please Him. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). If you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you will go to heaven when you die.
The Old Testament says a lot about the church – in fact, the church is mentioned more than 300 times throughout the Bible. In general, the Old Testament portrays the church as a community of God’s people who are called to love and serve Him faithfully. The book of Psalms, for example, speaks of the church as a “company of priests” who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God (see Psalm 149:1). And in Jeremiah, we read that God has chosen Jerusalem “to place my name there” and that He will gather together “the dispersed of Israel from all around” and bring them back into their land (see Jeremiah 3:14-17).
Yes. The Bible speaks of the Church as a visible, spiritual institution composed of all believers in Jesus Christ. In Scripture, the Church is called the “body of Christ”, and individual Christians are members of that body. Church membership signifies our identification with other believers and our commitment to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ together as a community. It also provides us with opportunities for fellowship, worship, discipleship, and service. Membership in a local church is one important way we can live out our faithfulness to God.
More Bible Study Resources about the Church
Read the following webpages to further your biblical knowledge about the church in scriptures.