What should churches be doing within their communities?

I don't go to church much so pardon me if I sound like I'm not well informed.

What, if any, are the responsibilities or obligations of a church to their local community? What is the church as a whole supposed to do?

I have found a church that I like so I'm planning on attending church a lot more. I'm just curious about what to expect.

Please don't limit your response to my questions below.

Some of my questions about what should churches do:
1. Do churches have to grow in size? I have noticed some churches grow rapidly and some never grow. Some churches even lose members and fade away.
2. Is a church or it's members required to spread information about Jesus?
3. What, if anything, should churches do to help their community or individual people in the community?
4. What does it mean to minister to a person's needs?
5. Do people normally approach churches when they need something and have nowhere else to turn? People in need of food, shelter, financial help and so on. How would a church respond to this?
6. Do churches ever request that people not come back or refuse membership to people? If so, why?
7. What exactly is the function of church membership?


Thank you.

You may look to see the assembly takes care of widows and orphans intheir needs and practices hospitality towards the stranger.; according to Jamaes this is religion that is pure..

Guess it depends on church revenues, I don’t think there’s any egalitarian society on earth, food is for the most part not free.

Churches are like tree forts, some may not be wise to climb up into then others you scoot right up.

the first couple of steps can tell a lot before proceeding.

Hi Rick, I see that you are still pretty new around here, so first off, welcome to CChat

It's late, so for now I will leave you with a link to a number of short articles about the church that I hope will prove useful to you.

https://www.gotquestions.org/questions_church.html

Talk to you tomorrow (Dv)

~Deut

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It's been exactly two years since I posted this. I appreciate the replies. I did attend church for a few months but fell away for personal reasons. I hope to start attending again. Some of my questions were answered but many were not.

Thats a lot of questions for one thread, do you want to post again any that you feel are still unanswered?

My response would be that the church is a gathering of believers to worship the Lord, love Him and demonstrate His love to others. It can be as few as two or three people gathered is name or as many as 5000.

Jesus had this picture of a light...not placed under a bushel but on a stand for all to see.

First off raising their children in the admonishment of the Lord.
Second accurately preach and teach the word
Third disciple members so they know how to minister
Fourth learn who is in the community and help the widows and the fatherless
Fifth put back and prepare to help anyone who falls under extraordinary burden

The ' Churches ' Today are nearly irrelevant in the main .

Good post/questions..
- Especially question #7.
----
Membership/more members is important in many churches.
- It means..'more revenue, status, recognition, etc..'
* I did 'membership check'(annual evaluation)..at one of the churches.
I was involved in several churches.. from 1970's.
- Denominational & Non denominational.
---
Many 'committed' Christians have been leaving churches
(established church)..for years.
- In United States.
They are tired of 'church politics, money/assets issue, status, etc..'
- Searching for the meaning of the 'Church' again..