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Answer
Acts 2:42 can be viewed as a mission statement for the church: “They dedicated themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” As per this verse, the objectives/activities of the church should include 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing a community for believers, 3) partaking in the Lord’s supper, and 4) engaging in prayer.
The church is tasked with teaching biblical doctrine to establish our faith. Ephesians 4:14 states, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” The church is meant to be a place of fellowship, where Christians can be devoted to one another and show honor «Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; », (Romans 12:10), instruct one another «And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. », (Romans 15:14), be kind and compassionate to one another «and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.», (Ephesians 4:32), encourage one another «Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. », (1 John 3:11).
The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The concept of “breaking bread” “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”, (Acts 2:42) also carries the idea of having meals together. This is another example of the church promoting fellowship. The final purpose of the church according to Acts 2:42 is prayer. The church is to be a place that promotes prayer, teaches prayer, and practices prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Another commission given to the church is proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20;Acts 1:8). The church is called to be faithful in sharing the gospel through word and deed. The church is to be a “lighthouse” in the community, pointing people toward our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is to both promote the gospel and prepare its members to proclaim the gospel “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”, (1 Peter 3:15).
Some ultimate purposes of the church are outlined in James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being tainted by the world.” The church’s mission is to serve those in need, encompassing not only spreading the gospel but also meeting physical needs such as food, clothing, and shelter as required and suitable. Additionally, the church is responsible for equipping believers in Christ with the necessary tools to conquer sin and stay untainted by worldly influences through biblical instruction and Christian fellowship.
So, what is the church’s purpose? Paul provided a compelling analogy to the Corinthians. The church represents God’s hands, mouth, and feet in the world—the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are called to carry out the actions that Jesus Christ would perform if He were physically present on earth. The church is meant to embody being “Christian,” Christ-like, and followers of Christ.
