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Mark: When we hear the word church, for most of us, we think about church
buildings. The church is not a building, but it is the people who gather in those
structures. Church structures facilitate the role of God’s people, but they do not
fulfill it.

Ekklesia

Cindy: Matt. 16:18 (NASB)

18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 

1. Mark: The revelation that Jesus is the Christ is what the church is built on
2. Cindy: Jesus said, “I will build My church.” It’s God’s main activity on the
earth, so it should be ours too.
3. Mark: The church that Jesus builds is unstoppable

Cindy: Ekklesia – A gathering of believers in Jesus Christ called out of their

individuality to assemble together as one body to worship, glorify and lift up the
name of Jesus and our Holy Father, with the divine purpose of reaching the world
through making disciples. Mark: (It’s a radical departure from the American
mindset of fierce independence. Radical individualism is the American culture. I
was once a radical individualist who then got saved.) Yachid – is Hebrew to
compress and unite and to bring together. Example: Like the skin on alligator belly
compressed in layers.

Cindy: The Holy Spirit gives examples of the church: (like He does for the
kingdom of God, “like a man casts seed upon the soil” “like a mustard seed, which
a man took and threw into his won garden” “upon finding one pearl of great
value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”)
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 Mark: Spiritual House (Worship)

1st Peter 2:4-5 (NASB)

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men,
but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living
stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

 Cindy: His bride (Preparation)

Rev. 19:7 (NASB)

7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of
the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 

 Mark: His army (Purpose)

 Cindy: His body (Work)

Eph. 4:16 (NASB)

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him
who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted
and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper
working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the
building up of itself in love.

Mark: Ekklesia is God’s church – We must commit to be a part of it and to support

it as the fellowship of believers.
Mark: The church is under siege as it has been closed down and people are
leaving.
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Mark: The church is God’s idea and the whole of the new testament from Acts to
Rev. is all about the establishment of the church.