The function of the church is not static but adapts to circumstances and needs as directed by God. The church's primary role is not solely to preach the gospel to the world, though it remains a part of its work when appropriate. Instead, the church must focus on feeding the flock, nurturing spiritual growth, and strengthening faith among its members, especially during times of trial and scattering. This feeding involves providing detailed and intense teaching of the gospel to bring members to maturity, enabling them to trust God implicitly and to be transformed into His image. Not every member of the church performs the same function; just as in a body, different parts have different roles, yet all are necessary. These roles can shift over time as God moves individuals into various positions and responsibilities within the church. Similarly, the church as a whole does not always perform the same operation with the same intensity. Historical examples show that under persecution or other pressures, the church's approach changes, sometimes moving from public proclamation to personal witness or even to secretive gatherings for survival. God's sovereignty directs the church's work, determining when and how it moves or rests, much like the pillar of fire and cloud guided the Israelites. The church must respond to current needs, such as gathering scattered sheep and addressing the causes of their dispersal to prevent further fragmentation. Ultimately, the church's function is to align with God's creative purpose, fostering the development of His image in its members through testing, teaching, and faithful endurance under His control.

Amid a culture where newcomers shop for churches the way they shop for plumbers or schools—seeking preferred programs, preaching styles, or service times—this message challenges that consumer mindset by returning to Scripture to answer a deeper question: What is the Church? Drawing from Jesus' first use of the term in Gospel of Matthew 16:18, it presents the Church not as a building or denomination, but as the "ekklesia"—a called-out assembly of believers built upon and led by Jesus Christ Himself, the true Rock and Head. From the congregation in the wilderness to the Spirit-empowered believers of Acts of the Apostles 2, the Church is shown to be God's divinely initiated work: individuals drawn by the Father, brought to repentance and baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, and gathered into a covenant community that worships in spirit and truth. This assembly is not formed by human preference but by divine calling; its members are chosen, transformed, and trained to live by God's Word rather than cultural trends, putting off the old self and putting on the new. Ultimately, the Church exists as God's spiritual training ground—His teachers' college—preparing a royal priesthood to reflect His image, proclaim His truth, and participate in His unfolding plan, growing into the likeness of Christ as they await His Kingdom.