Ekklesia | Community
from aljazeera.com, Olivier Okande/UGC via AP
According to opendoors.org, from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
4, 476 Christians were killed worldwide for their faith
- In Nigeria alone, 3,100
4,744 Christians detained or imprisoned
In India alone, 1,629 Christians were detained without trial and another 547 sentenced to prison
7,679 churches and Christian properties attacked
Gathering as a Community:
The Need
The What
The Who
Gathering as a Community:
The Need
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The church is a group of people regularly gathered in a specific
time and place (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Grace Bible Church Member Workbook
Acts 2:42
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
“The warning about “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some” (Heb. 10:25) was, and is, a call to relationships and friendships with other believers. Friendship is not optional.”
R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man
Christians are called to gather together, not live in isolation. There is no “Lone Ranger Christianity”.
Gathering as a Community:
The Need
The What
Acts 2:42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Christian living is following the commands of God with the people of God.
[The church is] for the sake of God’s glory and unity with one another under His name (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Grace Bible Church Workbook
Romans 15:6-7
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
One of the greatest joys of heaven will be the exalted sound of perfected souls singing their joyful praises to God.
Sam Storms
Gathering as a Community:
The Need
The What
The Who
Revelation 5:9–10
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
The church is the only society in the world that never loses any of its members, even by death.
William Hendriksen