What is the universal church, and how is it different from the local church?

what does the bible say?

The Greek word ekklesia refers to any gathering of people, and Jesus uses it in Matthew 16:18 when He says He will build His church. Later in Acts 8:1, it refers to local churches specifically in Jerusalem. Then in the context of Acts 8:3, ekklesia refers to the universal church since it is clear Paul persecuted believers from various areas. After Paul becomes a believer and enters into ministry, we see ekklesia used to describe a local congregation in Romans 16:5 but then later used again in reference to the universal church in 1 Corinthians 5:12. The term is also used in Colossians 1:18 to describe Christ’s body—which refers to the universal church. Lastly, Revelation 2—3, is an example of using ekklesia to describe local congregations that its letters are addressed to. Ekklesia can refer to either the universal church or the local church depending on the context of the passage.

from the old testament

• The universal church and local church is not recorded in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• The word in the Bible most often translated as “church” is the Greek ekklesia, which means any gathering of people. When Jesus said, “…on this rock I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18), He was saying He would build His gathering of people.
• When a church is identified with a city or a region, the word refers to local bodies of believers within that region (see Acts 8:1).
• When Paul persecuted the “church,” (Acts 8:3) he persecuted believers wherever he could find them, so in this context the word refers to the universal church.
• Whenever a church is mentioned in affiliation with someone’s home, it refers to a local congregation. (Romans 16:5).
• When Paul gives instruction to “the church” (1 Corinthians 5:12) he is often referring to the body of believers as a whole.
• In reference to Jesus’ church (Colossians 1:18), this includes all believers everywhere.
• Often, “church” refers to a local congregation of believers. For example, in Revelation 2—3, in the letters to the churches, the comments are addressed to specific churches in identified towns.

implications for today

The Greek word ekklesia is used interchangeably in reference to both local congregations and the body of believers as a whole. The difference is found in the context. When people say “church” they often refer to a specific body that meets in a designated place and can be composed of believers and regularly attending non-believers. Our duties to the local church include regular attendance, respect for the leadership, and financial support. It is important for a believer to attend a local church because that is where biblical teaching, serving, and spiritual growth most often occur. The local church is also known as the “church family.” There are also people who use “the church” in a general context, referring to the universal church—which includes every believer in the world, no matter what denomination, and excludes every non-believer even if they go to a Bible-teaching church. Our responsibilities to the universal church include prayer, support, and not causing division because of minor theological differences. It’s important to note that the church universal may include individuals who go to local congregations that do not teach the true gospel. The “church,” whether local or universal, is a group of people seeking God. At no time in the Bible does “church” refer to a building. Despite the money, time, and attention we pay to structures, the true church is God’s people. It is a gift to be a part of God’s church, both local and global. We belong together as God’s people, made up of every tongue, tribe, nation, and generation. And we get to grow together in a local church where we use our gifts, serve and love one another, and build each other up. As we live faithfully in community as part of a local church, we live out the truth that the church is not a place we go but a people we are.

Recap

understand

• The universal church includes all believers everywhere; the local church is a specific gathering of believers in one place.
• The Bible uses ekklesia for both the local and global church, with context determining the meaning.
• The church is God’s people, not a building.

reflect

• How do you view your role in the local church, and how does that reflect your understanding of being part of the universal church?
• How are you being shaped by belonging to a local church family?
• How does seeing the church as God’s people—not a building—change how you live out your faith and see other believers?

engage

• What is the connection between the local and global church?
• What practices help us live out the truth that the church is a people we belong to, not just a place we attend?
• How can we encourage unity within the universal church without minimizing the importance of commitment to a local congregation?