Ekklesia

What is the Church, the Ekklesia?
It is not a building, it is not a place.
It is a calling out, the sound of a voice
Where the shepherd calls by name
Individually, personally, precisely
(place your name here) Come follow me,
You will know the voice, a familiar voice
There will be no mistake
A voice you have heard many times before
Saying "this is the way walk in it."
Then you will know and step out
Leaving behind family ties, the hindrances, the things that bind
Pressing toward the mark, focused on the goal
Of the high calling, the heavenly calling,
Following to places you would not wish to go
Walking beside the still water, and the dark lonesome valley
Just to speak one word to him who is weary
Casting your bread on the waters
That one day they too may hear that voice
Come follow me.

23 June 2008

References:
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

G1577 ekkle¯sia ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church. Strongs

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Jer 4:5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

Ekkleesia in the New Testament never means the building or house of assembly, because church buildings were built long AFTER the apostolic age. It means an organized body, whose unity does not depend on its being met together in one place; not an assemblage of atoms, but members in their several places united to the One Head, Christ, and forming one organic living whole (1 Corinthians 12). The bride of Christ (Eph_5:25-32; Eph_1:22), the body of which He is the Head.There is another way of outreach... Calling the people by name to an event or other that is not precieved to be church. Fausset Bible Dictionary

Invitation by name function, When you arrive you present your token or card, Your name is then checked off the guest list

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd....
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

The Fold: 1) among the Greeks in Homer’s time, an uncovered space around the house, enclosed by a wall, in which the stables stood, hence among the Orientals that roofless enclosure by a wall, in the open country in which the flocks were herded at night, a sheepfold. Thayer

Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Isa 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

RECOMMEND READ: Why I don't go to church anymore

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
© Stephen Share 2008

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