The Leader of a Church or The Churches. Because of Geography it is really a Group of Churches meaning One Church (umbrella) as a Whole. Notice the City Churches. The Epistles/Letters Are addressed to Cities.
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
The New Testament: The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
The New Testament: The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
The New Testament: The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
The New Testament: The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
The New Testament: The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy
The New Testament: The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to Titus
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
The New Testament: The Epistle to the Hebrews
The New Testament: The Epistle of James
The New Testament: The First Epistle of Peter
The New Testament: The Second Epistle of Peter
The New Testament: The First Epistle of John
The New Testament: The Second Epistle of John
The New Testament: The Third Epistle of John
The New Testament: The Epistle of Jude
The New Testament: The Book of Revelation
Also Notice the end of the Bible.
REVELATION 22:
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony FOR THE CHURCHES. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
TO GIVE YOU[A] THIS TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCHES.
It is Through The Churches.
Read Revelation chapter 2
It tells you exactly what happens to churches who have lost their first love and become legalistic .
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
What does that candlestick represent ?
What happens to a church whose light is removed ?
Are they now in darkness ?
What does darkness represent ?
I think not. Not one of those said “through” the church. It says “to” the church. Trying to inject some organization between Jesus and His “called out assembly” has lead to grave error as exhibited by the RCC.
The New Testament: The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
Who do you guys think you are talking to??? You couldn't possibly be more wrong...
The bible defines itself and tells anyone and everyone that the church is a called out assembly of believers...The church is the people in the pews...THEY are the Body of Christ...
Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
The people in the pews...The local congregation...
Yours is one of the worst perversions of scripture I have seen...