I will build my church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

the Lord added to the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

great fear came upon all the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

great persecution against the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

Saul, he made havock of the church, – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)
entering into every house

they assembled themselves with the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

Herod the king stretched forth his hands – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)
to vex certain of the church

and had gathered the church together – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

And being brought on their way by the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

they were received of the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)
Hmmm? Must be a misprint?

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

Christ is the head of the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

Christ also loved the church, – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)
and gave himself for it

feed the church of God, – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)
which he hath purchased
with his own blood

gave him to be the head over all things to the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

the church is subject unto Christ – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

he is the head of the body, the church – (assembly?) OR (body of Christ, Called out one’s?)

And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.
John 10:16

One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice.

If Not Now, When?

In His Service. By His Grace.

Of course, as Lutherans we understand “church“ in the sense of Word and Sacrament as the marks of the church; hence we assemble around Word and Sacrament, which is church. I think your questions about “trying to go back to the original” is a superficial way to go about (which is what I understand you writing). How the church is manifested in each age is dependent on not getting the form right, but being centered around Word and Sacrament.

I agree, church as we know it in the established sense is man-made, even artificial if I may put it that way. Every established church is not what the early church looked like. We’ve gone far away from the early church. But what should we do about it? Shall we disassemble it and bring it back to what it originally looked like, or think it looked like? Imagine the chaos…the lack of leadership. We still need the programs because they’re what gives the people of God (church) a structure to carry out the mission of God to evangelize, teach and baptize.

Just wondering…

Is there anything in the Bible about “mainline churches?”

Did anyone in the Bible ever “Go To Church?”

If not – Then how can anyone today “Go To Church?”

Is there anything about “the Unchurched” in the Bible?

Does anybody know what the word “church” means?

Didn’t Jesus shed “His blood” for “His Church?” “His Body?”

Did Jesus shed His Blood for a denomination, an institution,
an organization, a business, a corporation?

Should we call a corporation”the Church?”
Should we call a denomination “the Church?”
Should we call an institution “the Church?”

How about, we call Kevin “The Church?”
How about, we call Kevin “The Temple of God?”

How about, we call Kevin “The Church?”
Col 1:18
And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, (the eklesia, the caled out), the church.
Kevin is in “the body of Christ” “The Church.” Yes?

How about, we call Kevin “The Temple of God?”
2Co 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye (Kevin) are “the temple of the living God;”
as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

God no longer dwells in temples made with hands.
Ac 7:48
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands…

You ask
“What are you and your churches doing in the area of mission and evangelism?”

When you say “your churches” what does that mean?