Little Red Book Ministry

Choosing A Local Church
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”
(Hebrews 10:24–25).

I. The Universal Church
A. The body of Christ and more
The universal “Church” is composed of all the saved of all the world. It differs from the local church primarily in scope and government. The universal Church answers to Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 12:22–23; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27

The relationship of Jesus Christ to the Church is described through a number of symbols in the New Testament:

1. The Head and the body
Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 6:15; 12:12–13, 27; Ephesians 4:4; 5:30; Colossians 1:18

2. The Bridegroom and the bride
2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22–32; Revelation 21:9

3. The Vine and the branches
John 15:1–5

4. The Shepherd and the sheep
John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4

5. The High Priest and the kingdom of priests
Hebrews 2:9, 17; 3:1; 4:14–16; 5:9–10; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6

6. The Cornerstone and the living stones
Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 2:3–8; 1 Peter 2:4–5