A term you hear people at church use often is “the local church.” This is interesting, because there is no verse in Scripture that specifically says “the local church.” Is there a local church, do we need one, or does it even matter?

This conversation is specifically needed in our modern context due to the idea of an “online church.” Often I hear from people who do not attend a local church, and their reasoning is because they participate in church online. You can read more about that in my previous articles on these issues “4 Blessings of In-person Worship” or “6 Benefits of Live Local Preaching” 

The point of this article is not to regurgitate those points but to prove that Scripture does contend for believers to be a part of a local church. We will look at churches from regional and local perspectives. 

First, we know the apostle Paul believed in regional churches. He writes letters specifically addressed to them. To those who lived in Thessalonica, he wrote I & II Thessalonians. For those who lived in Corinth he wrote I & II Corinthians. To those who lived in Ephesus, he wrote the book of Ephsians. And so on with the letters of Paul to the churches.

This doesn’t mean that these books have nothing to say to those in other areas. They are divinely inspired, and in part, are for us today. But what it does mean is that when he writes a letter to the church of Corinth, he’s saying that there is a specific group of believers in the city of Corinth who are distinct from believers in other areas.

Now, we may think while the apostle Paul acknowledges regional churches, does he have anything to say about local churches within that region? A great case for this is found in the book of Titus, written to one of Paul’s disciples on the Island of Crete.

The Island of Crete is south of Greece in the mediterranean sea. It is halfway between Italy and Israel. It is about 1 ½ times the size of the state of Delaware. It is believed that at the time the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Titus to him, there were about 75,000 to 100,000 people who lived there. That being said, during that time, there would not have been many believers in that area when Titus was there.

The apostle Paul lets Titus know that he wants him to “appoint elders in every town as I directed you (Titus 1:5).” Elders are spiritual leaders of churches. In other words, he wants Titus to set up local churches with local leaders in every town across Crete. While the apostle Paul believes in the universal church and regional churches, he is also making a case for local churches.

Think About It

Are you a part of a local church?

We could talk about what local means. At best, do you have a local church that you physically attend regularly.

Do you see the need for a local church, not just regional ones?