The Church and Its Significance

The Church and Its Significance

The Church is not a human idea, it’s God’s design for revealing His wisdom to the world. Through it, the manifold wisdom of God is displayed even to spiritual powers (Ephesians 3:10). The Church is the centerpiece of God’s plan for humanity.


“Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church”

In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus asked His disciples,

“Who do men say that I am?”

Their answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah reflected His character but missed His identity. Peter, however, received divine revelation:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus responded,

“Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Here, Peter (Greek: Petros, a small stone) differs from rock (Petra, a massive foundation). Jesus wasn’t building on Peter’s personality but on the revelation of who He is: the Christ. The Church’s strength rests on that revelation, not on charisma, tradition, or popularity.

Where revelation is alive, the Church grows. Where it fades, relevance fades. The Church is built not by human wisdom but by divine revelation.


1. The Universal Church

The universal Church also called the invisible or global Church includes all true believers, past, present, and future, who have been redeemed by Christ’s blood.
It transcends denominations, nations, and time.

“He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body.” — Ephesians 1:22–23

Key traits of the Universal Church:

• Membership is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life, not on paper.
• It’s united spiritually, not geographically.
• Its citizenship is heavenly, not earthly.
• Christ alone is the Head.
• It is eternal outliving movements and generations.

2. The Local Church

The local church is the visible expression of the universal body in specific places like Corinth, Galatia, or the seven churches in Revelation 2–3.

It’s a community of believers who gather to worship, grow, and live out Christ’s mission under spiritual leadership.

Key traits of the Local Church:

• Visible and organized—meets for worship, teaching, and service.
• Led by pastors, elders, and deacons (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1–13).
• Practices baptism and communion.
• Provides care and accountability.
• Equips believers for ministry (Ephesians 4:11–12).
• Focuses on mission—serving as a local embassy of God’s kingdom.

“The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail”

In Scripture, gates symbolize authority and power. When Jesus said,

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,”
He declared that no force of death, deception, or darkness can overcome His Church.

The Church is not defensive, it’s advancing.
It plunders darkness and extends God’s kingdom wherever revelation is alive.


Key Takeaways

• Revelation precedes construction, you can’t build what you haven’t seen.
• The Church stands on Christ’s identity, not human effort.
• Hell cannot prevail where Christ is revealed.
• The clearer we see Christ, the stronger we stand in victory.

Review the slides and listen to the session recording.


When Christ is revealed, the Church becomes unstoppable.