Awesome lessons in Biblical Greek (3 of 3)

Today’s Greek word: “Ekklesia”  church

When we read the word “church” in the Bible we often think of it as the building, or the 501c3 organization on the corner.  That is NOT what is being referred to by the use of the word ekklesia in the Greek.

The word ekklesia could best be translated as “a gathering of people around a purpose”.   It was commonly used of political gatherings at the time and was used to describe the gathering of God’s people around their common savior Jesus.

Jesus didn’t die, rise from the dead and then entreat his disciples to go and franchise churches in His name.  Rather, he said, “Go and make disciples.”  Go, gather, proclaim and invite others into this gathering of people around this eternal and awesome purpose.  I’m not saying that the organized church is inherently a bad thing.  But I do think that this should challenge any organized church to remember what purpose it is gathering around and whom it serves.  This begs the question, what does it mean to be a part of Jesus’ ekklesia today?

Five reasons to ditch the church face

church face: (n.) the false persona one puts on while in the presence of a church or a clergy who serves said church.

5 reasons to ditch the church face:

1) The only one you’re fooling is yourself.  Do you really think  that when you tell the pastor what a great message he spoke that he didn’t notice you sleeping through it.  Or that the God who made everything doesn’t know the real you?

2) If church face is part of your church’s expected dress code, then it’s time to get a new church.

3) Church should be the place where we are the most honest not the most guarded.

4) The very thing that you are hiding is likely the very reason that you most need other people to walk with you.

5) Our best witness to the world is not a pretense that we’re perfect but an honest confession that we’re not.

Key Metaphors (2of3)

Metaphor 2.  Attractional vs. Incarnational

In church world attractional indicates a church that is focused on inviting people into it’s walls.  The image is a of a church that is a desired destination and people out there will bring people into here.

Incarnational is a word that’s meaning comes from the idea of being in the flesh.  This usually indicates a church whose focus is on what people do outside of the church walls.  People taking the message out.  There is no specific epicenter for mission it is everywhere.

We believe that as followers of Jesus we should not be one or the other but rather both.  If the church is doing it’s job it should be a place where others are invited to.  If the church is doing it’s job it should also be equipping people and encouraging people to be sent out.  Or as we typically say it, to “take it to the streets.”

Please Pray with Us

Invitation to Pray.

We are on the search for a new location and invite you to join us in praying for God’s direction.

Lord lead us. May our desires be in line with Your will. Open our eyes to see Your holy and perfect will. If it be within Your will, show us where you want us. Lord, we pray that you would use this process to Your glory and that wherever we land that we would be about Your business and not our own.