1. Promoting Healthy Ecclesias Workshop December 2011
The ecclesia – part 1
Study 4 - The Ecclesia: Many Parts, One Body

2. The ecclesia…definitions
Ecclesia- from two Greek words
ek …out, klesis …(from kaleo to call) hence to call out,
why not “church”
1 association with a system of error
2 association with a building called a church
3 “church” an old Anglo-Saxon word “kirk” pertaining to a lord

3. The ecclesia an assembly of called out ones sanctified or separated
called saints 1 Cor 1:1
the equivalent in the O.T. “kohal” an assembly called together
Stephen used the term “the ecclesia in the wilderness” Acts 7:38. see Deut 9:20, 10:4, 18:16 The Septuagint uses ecclesia in these O.T. quotations

4. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples John 17
disciples to be sanctified (set apart or holy) v16-19
separate from the world v6,15-16
the word of God when understood separates from the world v 6,8,14,17
the ecclesia and individual members are separate from the religious, social and political world
unity should exist between disciples v 21
this unity is based on the unity between the Lord and his Father v 22-23

5. God’s purpose with the ecclesia
to call out a people for his name Acts 15:14
the name of Yahweh expresses his purpose “He who will be “
what will he be? He will be revealed in “mighty ones” who believe the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Ex 3: 14-16
the promises separate the ecclesia from the religious world. They are the basis of the gospel

6. The gospel and the ecclesia
The preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ resulted in the formation of ecclesias Acts 8:12, 28:23
the gospel includes doctrines which separate us from church teaching,eg mortality of man, kingdom upon earth, return of Jesus to reign on earth etc

7. Unity of the ecclesia
the early ecclesia the benchmark for all ecclesias Acts 2:41
based on apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer 1 John 1:3
this results in “one accord” of the 1st century Acts 2:44,46 etc
the ecclesia needs to strive to retain firm adherence to sound doctrine and fellowship based on common belief and practices Eph 4: Cor 1: 1-10