What is “ekklesia”?

By Paul Arndt ekklesia, VlogCast

“Ekklesia” is a greek word that refers to the Church as a “gathering”, an “assembly”, or, as the Apostles Creed states, “a communion of saints”.  In the New Testament it describes those who have been …

called out (1 Peter 2:9-12)

gathered (Acts 2:42-47)

and going in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20)

In the early church, these “ekklesias” met in homes. They devoted themselves “to the apostles’ teaching”, to the “Divine Service” (corporate prayer, praise and the reception of the Lord’s Supper) and they cared for those in the community. (Acts 2:42-47)

Everyone in the “ekklesia” was encouraged, exhorted and equipped to …

be in the Scriptures everyday

be in the Divine Service every week

fulfill his or her God Given vocation in order to love and serve the neighbor everywhere

I currently have an opportunity to do something similar. East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit has called me to be a deployed “Missionary at Large to the Tri-County Metro Detroit Area”.  

The primary responsibility of this Divine Call is to share the Gospel with the un-churched and to connect them to a Lutheran Word and Sacrament ministry that would give to them all of the gifts of the Triune God. East Bethlehem Lutheran Church has asked me to accomplish this through …

  • personal conversations
  • the establishment of discipleship communities (called “ekklesias”) in homes and gathering places throughout the Tri-County Metro Detroit area
  • the teaching of Bible studies, classes and seminars at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church, as well as in the Tri-County “ekklesias”
  • the development of online discipleship resources (“eXPlain it“)
  • the administration of a Word and Sacrament ministry in well established and pastorally instructed “ekklesias”

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:

‘Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers … and the church that meets at their house.

Romans 15:20-21; 16:3-5

Below is a video introduction with some links to helpful resources and a PDF of the presentation notes.