The Christian Church is neither a building of any kind, nor a denomination. Unfortunately, to many, the Church is a building where people go to worship and praise God. So then, exactly what is the Church? The word Church is the English translation of the Greek “ekklesia” meaning a “called out ones” or an “assembly” (of people).
The Holy Scriptures refer to the Church as the “body of Christ” over which He is the Head. The Apostle Paul writes that God “put all things in subjection under His [Christ’s] feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22,23). Paul also wrote to Roman Christians telling them, “Greet the church that is in their house” (Romans 16:5). It is therefore quite clear that the Church is definitely not a building but the “body of Jesus Christ.”
It is important to point out that there is the “universal church” and the “local church.” The universal church consists of Christians worldwide, whereas the local Church consists of individual churches serving Christians their local community. The Lord Jesus created the local Church as an institution to meet the spiritual needs of the people it serves.
The writer of the following excerpt explains the universal church and the local church. “The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.
“The local church is described in Galatians 1:1-2: “Paul, an apostle . . . and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia.” Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches—they had localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local churches. A Baptist church, a Lutheran church, an E-Free church, etc., is not the church, as in the universal church; rather, it is a local church, a local body of believers.The universal church is comprised of everyone who belongs to Christ. Members of the universal church should seek fellowship and edification in a local church.” (Retrieved from https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-the-church.html). This clearly explains the difference between the universal church and the local church.
Sunday is a “day of worship” for many people, especially Christians, and that means attending a local Church to participate in the Church’s spiritual activities. Sunday is referred to, and regarded, as the ‘Lord’s Day’ by many Christians since the local body of believers gather for fellowship, prayer, communion, praise, and worship in loving obedience to God’s word, ”not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:25). Also, the day speaks of our heartfelt gratitude with the call to devote ourselves anew to Almighty God who has provided salvation for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The local Church is absolutely essential for the believer’s spiritual growth, discipline, and accountability. God does make Himself known in and through the local church, which exists for His glory, and where the gospel is preached to surrounding neighborhoods. The Church also provides opportunities for believers to submit themselves to biblical counsel and authority, which is administered through its leaders so that we may continue to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
There is a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness at being in ‘God’s house’ (the building). It seems to beckon us from a world of distraction, confusion, and uncertainty, inviting us to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and into His courts with worshipful praise and adoration. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The scripture exhorts us to: “Give to the LORD the glory due to His name; Bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29). The object of the “beauty of holiness” is the worship of our sovereign God. The Church experience is like no other because Jesus Christ has promised to be with His people whenever the local body of believers meet. He has declared, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am among them” (Matthew 18:20).