Ekklesia, Week 3: The First Love of the Community // Carlos Velez

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Do you know what ekklesia means? The English word “church” has a number of meanings, most of which are religious. But the Greek word ekklesia – the Bible word translated for “church” – is different. Non-Christians in the first century wouldn’t have thought of it as a religious word. To them it simply meant “a gathering” or “an assembly.” In the New Testament, church is often used for something new and specifically Christian. The writers of the New Testament chose ekklesia to describe this new thing because its everyday meaning—assembly, gathering—was a good fit for their purposes.

The mission of the church is to point people to Jesus – what he said and did, and what he promises to do. As we often say, we are simply to continue what Jesus started. Right up front, we have to remember that it’s Jesus who makes it possible for his followers to live out his mission as they follow him and are energized by his Spirit. Establishing, building, and developing the church is high on Jesus’ priority list. In fact, we could say that the church is what Jesus started! Therefore, if we are to Continue What Jesus Started, we must be about church as well.

How can ekklesia shape our definition and view of what it means to be about church in 2022? What mission, values, and practices do we pull from this new understanding? How will this change our community or our relationship with God? Let’s tackle these questions and concepts together as we dive into our brand new series, Ekklesia: The Ancient Future Church.

Live on Sunday, July 31, 2022.