The word translated as church in the Bible actually means “assembly.” A church is a community of believers who come together regularly to love and serve one another as the Body of Christ. If you live too far away to attend Bellevue regularly, we encourage you to join a Bible-believing church near your home and become an active member there.

We invite you to visit a Life Group as a guest. However, because spiritual growth happens best in close accountability with other believers, we encourage everyone who attends regularly to become a committed member of our church.

Since the word church means “assembly” and membership is about being part of the church body, we believe that attending the class in person is the most effective way to get connected as a member. If you’re unable to attend in person due to your circumstances, please reach out to Nathan Stanfield at nstanfield@bellevue.org for more info.

The Church is very important because Jesus founded it.

The Church is referred to in the New Testament in several ways:

• Paul called the Church “Jesus’ Building.”
  • “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20
• Jesus is referred to as the Foundation of the Church, the very stabilizing Rock upon which it is built.
  • “For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
  • “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18
• Jesus is called the Church’s Cornerstone.
  • “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20
• Paul speaks of the Church as Jesus’ Body.
  • “Because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.” Ephesians 5:23
• Christ is the Head of the Church.
  • “He is also head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:18
• Christians constitute the members of Jesus’ Body. We function together as a unit under His leadership and authority.
  • “For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body.” Ephesians 5:29–30
• The Church is pictured as Jesus’ Bride. Jesus is married to us by means of salvation, and He is our Faithful Bridegroom.
  • “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her.” Ephesians 5:25
  • “Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.’” Mark 2:19–20

The New Testament Greek word for church is ecclesia, which means “those who have been called out.” Christians have been called out and set apart (i.e., sanctified) from this world.

• We are Christ’s chosen people—in this world but not of it.
  • “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
  • “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” John 15:19

Usually, when the word church appears in the New Testament, it refers to a specific congregation of baptized believers in a particular geographical area. These believers had united themselves together under Christ’s lordship to be the Body of Christ and to minister to those around them for His glory. A church is made up of people who have been saved.

The local church is at the heart of Christian activity on earth. The universal Church (i.e., all Christian believers) is made up of individual Christians who should belong to local churches. Every believer should be an active member of a local church because if you love Jesus, the Head of the Church, you should also love other Christians, who are the Body of the Church. If you love the Foundation of the Church (Jesus), you should also love the Building (other Christians). If you love the Groom (Jesus), you should also love the Bride (the Church).

Generally speaking, the two primary requirements for joining a Baptist church are (1) knowing that you have been saved and (2) being scripturally baptized. You should consider joining only a church that believes basic biblical doctrines such as:

• The entire Bible is the inspired Word of God.
• Jesus is the divine, virgin-born, sinless, sacrificial, resurrected, returning, saving Son of God.
• Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
• Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
• Christians should witness to lost people so they can be saved.