What Does the Bible Say About Building The Church?

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

1 Peter 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Hebrews 10:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Ephesians 5:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Ephesians 4:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Acts 20:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Ephesians 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Acts 20:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Matthew 28:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Psalm 127:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

1 John 2:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 12:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Hebrews 12:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

Hebrews 9:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Titus 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

2 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 3:1-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ...

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Colossians 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Ephesians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Ephesians 4:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Ephesians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

Ephesians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Ephesians 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 1:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

1 Corinthians 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ...

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

Romans 16:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

Romans 12:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...

Acts 14:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 8:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 6:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ...

Acts 5:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 2:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

Matthew 18:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 16:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. ...

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Psalm 32:1-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah ...

Psalm 28:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

63 Bible Verses about Building The Church

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 10:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 127:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 9:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 3:1-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 14:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 8:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 6:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 5:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:46 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 6:1-71 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 32:1-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 28:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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