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Honest answers
How many churches are there in the world?
Answer
No one has an exact count, and estimates vary widely into the millions of congregations worldwide. The Living Bread maps real churches from open data (OpenStreetMap); you can see live counts by country and city in its directory. What matters most is that Christ's church is his people, gathered around him, not a building.
“Matthew 16:18” the Bible points here. Read more Scripture.
At a glance
| Topic | How many churches are there in the world? |
|---|---|
| Scripture anchor | Matthew 16:18 |
| Scripture text used | King James Version, Public domain |
| Language of this page | English |
| Authorship of this page | Written in English by The Living Bread |
The Scripture this answer points to
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
Quoted from the King James Version, read from the stored text and never typed from memory.
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. Readers most often set these passages beside Matthew 16:18.
- Ephesians 2:19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
- 1 Corinthians 3:9-11: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Isaiah 28:16: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
- Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
- Psalms 125:1-2: They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
- John 1:42: And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Questions people ask
Where does this answer come from?
It is a short, honest answer in plain words, grounded in Matthew 16:18. It is not the last word. The last word belongs to Scripture and to Christ.
Can I talk with someone about this question?
Yes. On The Living Bread you can ask the family of God to pray with you, free and without an account, and a real person will pray for you by name.
Where should I read more?
Begin with Matthew 16:18 in your own Bible, then read the related questions below. Test everything against Scripture.
Take one step this week
- Read Matthew 16:18 slowly in your own Bible, twice.
- Tell one trusted person what you are asking, and listen to what they say.
- Pray one honest sentence about it today, in your own words.
How this page is made
This answer was written by The Living Bread in plain words and grounded in Scripture. Scripture is read from the King James Version (Public domain), never typed from memory. Cross references come from OpenBible.info (CC BY). If something here is wrong, write to support@living-bread.org and we will correct it.
Take the next step
You do not have to sort this out alone. On The Living Bread you can ask the family to pray with you, ask Simon anything about faith, read the Word, and find a church near you.
