Jesus loved the Church and died for it. The Church is also the Bride of Christ. Jesus gave Himself up for the Church. The Church is the people in it and NOT the church building. It is never a place but a group of people. It is YOU who pray and not where you pray. Jesus died for the people, not for a building.
In our text, Paul mentions almost 28 people by name. People were the Church then and still are the Church today. These people were mentioned by name because God wanted them mentioned. He wanted to honor them. God knows all our names in the Church. A man who loves God is known by God. God know us and our every detail. Jesus said He knows all His sheep. We are all known and loved by the Lord. All people are significant to the Lord. God knows you and your name. He knows your name because you are important to Him. God has important things for you to do.
When Jesus chose His disciples, He chose people of all kinds. Jesus didn�t choose impressive people but chose who He wanted to use. God is not impressed by people or their wealth or intelligence. The high and mighty people of this world do NOT impress God! But� the people who obey God and work for His Kingdom, are the ones who impress God. The people who work and labor for the Lord are cared for and honored by the Lord. In our text, these people are honored for all eternity by having their names mentioned in these scriptures. God�s Church is made up of people who do NOT need a �title� to honor God.
The Church, the people of God should be taking care of each other. Be devoted to one another, love one another, accept one another, teach and serve one another. We should also encourage one another and offer hospitality to one another. All these things are what God wants us to do. These things make us different from the people of the world. Jesus washed us with His blood and we are clean and justified by Him. In Jesus�s Church, we are given an opportunity to make a difference in our world. Thank God for the deep Love He has for us.
Sabbath 4/21/18 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater Pastor Keith sermon �We Are The Church�
Posted : 21 Apr, 2018 05:22 PM
Hello
The so called 'church' does not exist in the Word of GOD Almighty. The people of Messiah,those He has called out from the world(ekklesia) are His BODY, not the so called 'church'.
When believers meet together, they ASSEMBLE together, not 'church' together.
Sabbath 4/21/18 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater Pastor Keith sermon �We Are The Church�
Posted : 21 Apr, 2018 06:41 PM
GNWS, the GREEK WORD FOR CHURCH IS ekklēs�a ... AND EKKLESIA MEANS CHURCH IN ENGLISH! Of course, I realize YOU know MORE than all the theologians of old and new put together... because THEY are NOT followers of Messiah... GNWS, you should READ with COMPREHENSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND POST ALL THAT IS WRITTEN AND STOP TRYING TO PUT IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS, AS IF IT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE... according to STRONG'S CONCORDANCE 1577 ekklēs�a(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kal�ō, "to call") � properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) � i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
[The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēs�a ("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."]
Sabbath 4/21/18 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater Pastor Keith sermon �We Are The Church�
Posted : 22 Apr, 2018 06:57 AM
GNWS, Bless your heart... had you taken the time to READ WITH COMPREHENSION this article "The Origin of the Word "church" By Andy Zoppelt, you would fully understand that the point of the article IS NOT TO DENOUNCE THE CHURCH, as YOU try to do, But the author is making the point that people who are Christians and the church leaders of the "church" have and are MISUSING THE WORD "CHURCH", and are not understanding that the word "CHURCH" is meant to signify the BODY OF CHRIST, and NOT a building or denomination... in other words, many Christians and spiritual leaders who are suppose to be leading the people of God in the righteousness of Christ, only see the "church as being a building and fulfilling the administration of their denominations.... whether it be Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or whatever denomination is THIS IS NOT THE CHURCH WHICH CONSIST OF THE FOUR WALLS. The "CHURCH" is the Body of Christ, and as Christians, we're to be out in the community helping the poor and needy and taking care of the spiritual business of the Lord, bringing people to Christ with the Gospel OF JESUS, INSTEAD OF sitting around closed up in a building.
The MEANING of the word "church" is to mean the BODY OF CHRIST IN UNITY AS ONE FULFILLING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY ....THIS IS THE POINT OF THE AUTHOR IS TRYING TO MAKE... This is the intent of Jesus who established the "CHURCH"
As Andy Zoppelt points out in the beginning/start of his article: "Language is the fundamental method we use for conveying information and understanding. The changing of one word can literally change the world. Therefore, translators are given an extreme responsibility in making sure they get it right, especially key words. When Jesus said, �Upon this rock I will build my ekklesia
Our word �Church� is one of those words that has impacted the world and has subverted the purpose for which it was intended. Because the translators used the word �church,� meaning a building, instead of a more accurate word reflecting a functioning body, it has affected our whole approach to the meaning of body of Christ. We have been given a word from the translators that has nothing to do with the original Greek word.� (Mat 16:18)The word is pronounced ek-klay-see-ah. The translators purposely used a word identifying a building rather than the people. I discovered that I had a choice; either I believed what the translators had to say or go to the original language and read what the Jesus and the apostles had to say. I found no mentioning coming from Jesus that He called the translators to represent His authority.
ekklesia - The idea of the �church� being a building was not given by the apostles or the Holy Spirit. It certainly was not what Jesus had in mind when He said, �Upon this rock I will build my believer together (church?).� The early church did not have a clergy distinct from the rest of the body. Clergy with titles and authority was foreign to the early disciples also. It was the rise of this authoritarian clergy that needed a building to control the people both religiously and politically. The Catholic Church and the Church of England both used the word �church� and its meaning as a building to hold the people in subjection to their control. Without a building they would have lost their power over the people. Even today, without a building the clergy system would fall. This system of clergy/laity and the use of a building is what we have come to know as the �institutional� church system. This system was totally foreign to the vocabulary and the life of the disciples of Jesus, who built and depended on the move of the Holy Spirit through all.
Andy continues: To change the true meaning and function of the Greek word �ekklesia� to our English word �church� strengthened the clergy system and their power over the people. The statement, �power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely� has been the downfall and corruption of body ministry. The original intent was relational and not institutional. For in all the writings of the first and second century we do not find an �institutional� treatment of "ekklesia."the people being built together. Therefore the retaining of the word"church" in our translations of the bible became crucial for the survival of the institutional church system even to this day."
So sorry, YOU MISSED THE SPIRITUAL POINT OF THIS ARTICLE. WHICH BTW, this article IS THE SAME MESSAGE , WaitingForJesus posted in this sermon by Pastor Keith �We Are The Church�...that you tried to put down and being wrong.
Sabbath 4/21/18 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater Pastor Keith sermon �We Are The Church�
Posted : 23 Apr, 2018 05:19 PM
Hi Ella:
Yes the so called 'church' does not exist in the Greek Scriptures.
[The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēs�a ("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."]
This word does not exist in the Greek New Covenant Scriptures. The Holy Spirit should be revealing that to you.
The 'church' is the invention of the enemy of GOD Almighty, as Satan uses men to fool the people into believing the 'church' is of GOD Almighty.
Sabbath 4/21/18 Seventh Day Baptist Edgewater Pastor Keith sermon �We Are The Church�
Posted : 23 Apr, 2018 05:23 PM
[The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēs�a ("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."]
Since this word does not exist in the New Covenant it must have been added, and we know what GOD Almighty says about adding to His Word.
