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The EcclesiaBishop H. Ransom Jr.

Changing the 'Posture' of the 'Church'Life Enrichment Bible StudyNew Covenant Church International

They Continued .....Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The Church

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Ecclesia Vs. Church

The King James Version

Translation

Two Words that can change our posture.

PostureThe arrangement of the body and its limbs, way one carries their body

attitude, position

Mental attitude

Military - capability, personnel - material (to fight a war)

Greek - 'Baptisma'To Dip

To Plunge

To Immerse

KJV -'Transliterated' - baptism

Word changes posture and practice

'Church'House of a 'lord'a plantation

'Ekklesia' - congregation -or-assembly

When Jesus used the word church...

Matthew 16:18 - Basis of Action in the World

Matthew 18:17 - Executing Judgement

Kingdom of God (or Heaven) is used 127 times

Paul used ecclesia extensively during his preaching in the Greek speaking world.

He used it as a political word as opposed to a religious word. When Paul used this word the people knew what he meant.

Posturing Words ....King James' Rule # 3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. the Word Church not to be translated Congregation &c - Dr. Laurence M. Vance - Brief History KJV

(2) Instead of granting a pure translation to the Greek verb baptizo which signifies “immerse,” the KJV translators (and most others since) have sought to conceal the original meaning of the term in order to placate those who believe that “sprinkling” and “pouring” are acceptable substitutes for immersion. - Professor E.H. Plumptre of Kings College in London (1881)

Acts 15 - An Ecclesia

Acts 15: 1 - 18 - Discussion

19 - 21 - Resolution

22 - 30 - Action

31 - 35 - Results

History - The Greek Ecclesia

All citizens had a voice in government

Assembly 40 times per year

Everyone was required to attend. (ONE CHURCH)

Debates about LAW (democracy)

Acts 19:29-41 (an assembly - non-religious)

Hebrew - qahalassembly

Tabernacle worship (64 times)

Meeting of the Elders (besides worship) (28 times)

Deut. 9:10; 10:4; Neh. 8:5-18, Joel 2:15-16

Judges 20:1 -2; 2 Chron. 30:13, 21, 22

Assembly TodayHebrews 10:25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching

Why Assemble?

Worship

Word (Feeding the inner-man)

Fellowship (sharing - networking)

Accountably

Daily - Acts 2:46; Rom. 14:5

1st Century Ecclesia

Unity

Equality

Mission (Purpose)

Mission (s)

Preaching Christ Crucified (Souls)

Teaching Discipleship

Training

World Changing