In scripture, the church is the Bride of Christ, and is the institution for which Christ said He was dying to establish. The word “church” simply means “assembly,” and therefore, the church is actually anassembly of believers, not merely a building or organization. It was this assembly that was and still isprecious to our Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 16:18b “…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Mark 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”