The Church is the worldwide family of everyone who has ever placed trust in God’s rescue plan through Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Church, both local and global, is to proclaim the good news (gospel) of God’s Kingdom - His loving rescue plan. This is accomplished not only as we tell people about it, but also by the way we visibly display it as we seek to live out together the new life in Christ. The Church is made up of local communities of believers, each like a body where every member has a significant place and role to play in its life and purpose. The essence of the new life of the Christian, and so the Church, is an out-working of love and unity commanded by Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20; John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; 17:22-23; Romans 15:5-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 1:22; 4:2-3, 15-16, 29, 32.