EKKLESIA / THE ENVORONMENT
Not an audience.
A functioning Body.
The New Testament word commonly mistranslated to “church” is ekklesia. Ekklesia was invented by the Greeks around 600 B.C. as a democratic legislative assembly. Jesus appropriated this body polity and said He will build His own (Matt. 16:18). The word “church” has a primary meaning of a physical building for worship (where you go to church), and by extension, the denomination (ministry) that owns the building (what church you belong to). Whereas the Lord’s ekklesia is His egalitarian participatory body.
01 / A WORD WORTH RECOVERING
A gathering shaped by its Head.
Ekklesia is not a special building, a weekly performance, or a new organization to join. It is God’s people assembling in a way that makes room for Christ to direct, supply, and build through the members of His Body.
ἐκκλησία
02 / HOW IS IT REALIZED?
Whenever two or three are gathered into His name. Believers can listen, pray, share, serve, encourage, eat, learn, and build one another up around a table, in a living room, at a park, in a café, or wherever Christ brings people together.
HOW IS IT MANIFESTED?
When believers who may have differences and normally are not in fellowship come together to share a meal, fellowship, and remember the Lord. No one dominates; all can contribute equally.
03 / WHAT PARTICIPATION CAN LOOK LIKE
Every member brings a measure.
Receive
Welcome one another no matter the differences of church or ministry affiliations
Listen
Pay attention to Christ and to the grace He has placed in every member
Contribute
Bring a prayer, testimony, question, song, insight, practical help, or word of encouragement, all to honor Jesus as Lord.