What Does the Word "Church" Truly Mean According to the Bible?

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**What Does the Word "Church" Truly Mean According to the Bible?

**Introduction: Common Misconceptions** When many people think of a "church," they typically envision a building used for worship, a broad group of people who believe in Christ, or an organized institution like the Church of England or the Catholic Church. While these ideas touch on aspects of the concept, the Bible provides a more precise and profound definition. The word appears approximately 115 times in the New Testament, indicating its central importance to the gospel. **The Original Greek Meaning: *Ecclesia*** The English word "church" translates the New Testament Greek word ***ecclesia***. This word is a compound of *ek*, meaning "out of," and *kaleo*, meaning "to call." Therefore, its literal meaning is "a calling out." More specifically, it describes an assembly of people called out from their homes into a public place for the purpose of worship. This foundational idea shapes the entire biblical understanding of what a church is. **A Biblical Precedent: The Church in the Wilderness** The term *ecclesia* is not exclusively a New Testament concept. In Acts 7:38, Stephen, under inspiration, refers to the nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai to receive God's law as "the congregation in the wilderness." The Greek word translated "congregation" here is *ecclesia*. This shows that a biblical "church" is a called-out community gathered for the purpose of listening to God's word and worshipping Him together—a pattern established long before the Christian era. **The Practice of the Early Church: A Blueprint from Acts 2** Acts Chapter 2 provides a detailed snapshot of the first Christian *ecclesia* in action, following Peter's preaching. The practices of these early believers form a blueprint: 1. **Acceptance of the Gospel:** They "gladly received his word" (Acts 2:41). 2. **Baptism:** In response to believing the gospel, they were baptized, representing identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:41). 3. **Devotion to Doctrine:** They "continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine," dedicating themselves to the teachings (Acts 2:42). 4. **Fellowship:** They shared a common life and purpose (Acts 2:42). 5. **Breaking of Bread:** They regularly shared the memorial of Jesus' sacrifice, as he instituted (Acts 2:42, 46). 6. **Prayer:** They prayed together (Acts 2:42). 7. **Mutual Care:** They had "all things in common," selling possessions to support any in need, reflecting the shared life of Israel in the wilderness (Acts 2:44-45). 8. **Unity and Worship:** They met "with one accord," both in public places like the temple and in homes, sharing meals and praising God together (Acts 2:46-47). This community, defined by these practices, is the *ecclesia*. **The Foundation: Purchased by God** The church is not a human invention. In Acts 20:28, it is called "the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood"—a reference to the sacrifice of His Son. This connects directly to the gospel promise in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." The church, therefore, is a community founded upon and redeemed by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. Their shared hope of salvation through him is what unites them. **The Place: Church in a House, Not a Building** The New Testament consistently de-emphasizes special buildings. The *ecclesia* is the people, not the place. Scriptures point to believers gathering in homes: * Romans 16:3-5 sends greetings to "the church that is in [the] house" of Priscilla and Aquila. * Similarly, Philemon hosted a church in his home. While there were identifiable local churches in cities like Jerusalem (Acts 11:22) and Antioch (Acts 11:26), the physical structure was not what defined them. The biblical pattern is of communities gathering, often simply, to perform the acts of worship and fellowship we see in Acts 2. **The Scope: Local and Global** The church has both a local and a universal aspect. Believers formed distinct local *ecclesias* in cities like Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome. However, these communities were spiritually connected. As 1 Corinthians 1:2 indicates, Paul wrote to "the church of God which is at Corinth," alongside "all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." Local churches were part of a global fellowship of believers united by the same faith and purpose. **The Metaphor: The Church as a Body** A key metaphor for understanding the church is that of a human body. Romans 12:4-5 explains: "For as we have many members in one body… so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." Each believer has a different function, but all are essential parts of a single, unified entity. **The Head of the Body: Christ's Authority** The body metaphor is completed in Ephesians, which reveals Christ's role. God has exalted Christ as "head over all things to the church, which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus Christ is the guiding and ruling head; the church is the body that carries out his will. Together, they fulfill the purpose of God. **The Bond of the Body: Love and Edification** Ephesians 4:15-16 explains how this body functions healthily. It grows when every part works properly, "joined and knit together by what every joint supplies." The crucial element is the "joint"—that which connects the members. This connecting joint is **love**. Christ-like love, demonstrated through practical care, fellowship, and edification (building each other up), is the glue that holds the *ecclesia* together and enables its growth. **Conclusion: How to Be Part of a Biblical Church** To be part of a biblical church (*ecclesia*) is not about attending a particular building or institution. According to the pattern of Scripture, it involves: 1. Understanding and gladly receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. Being baptized into Christ. 3. Devoting oneself to the apostles' teachings. 4. Joining a community of fellow believers to share in fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayer, mutual support, and worship—all bound together by love. The church is the called-out body of believers, purchased by Christ, with him as its head, working together in love to glorify God and proclaim the hope of the gospel. [We are a Christadelphian team dedicated to providing outstanding, scriptural content to encourage and build up your faith. If you found this presentation insightful, please share it with others.] [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6px-yYOHTA[/embedyt][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/what-does-the-word-church-truly-mean-according-to-the-bible/?feed_id=107673&_unique_id=69426f4d9a48b

'THE' Great Day of God Almighty - End Times Prophecy. End of Year Review 2025

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A @Christadelphians Video: The Sudden Intervention: The day begins unexpectedly, as a "thief in the night," with the personal, visible return of Jesus to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This triggers a time of supreme crisis for the nations, culminating in a final, rebellious confrontation against God at Armageddon. Christ, as God's anointed King, utterly defeats these armies and establishes his authority over all the earth. Judgment and Restoration: The judging process commences. Faithful believers from all ages, both the living and the resurrected dead, are gathered to Christ. The faithful and obedient will be granted immortality by God's decree, bestowed upon Christ. The unfaithful and those who have rejected God's purpose are rejected and sentenced to permanent death. Concurrently, natural Israel, regathered in her land, recognizes her Messiah. The promised covenants to Abraham and David are fulfilled literally: Christ, the descendant of David, rules from a restored Jerusalem over a restored Kingdom of Israel, which becomes the centre of a transformed world government. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv7_i57sUOg[/embedyt] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]If you would like to help us offset some of our substantial costs of providing this service and expedite the development of new features you can do so by clicking this link. Regular or one-off donations will be gratefully received and assist us in promoting the truth of the scripture. (Regular donations help us to budget more efficiently)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css="" css_animation="none"]*************************************************************************************** This video was produced by the ChristadelphianVideo.org project, arranged and supported by Christadelphians worldwide. You can follow us online at.. #1 Our Main site...                      #2 Our podcast on Spotify..      #3 Our podcast on Apple.        #4 Our podcast on Podbean   #5 Our facebook...                      #6 Our Whats App..                      #7 Our Instagram...                     #8 Our X...                                       #9 Our YouTube Channel...     #10 Our Audio site ...                 Watch/read/Listen/ subscribe to  thoughts for the day CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it. #Christadelphianvideo #christadelphianstalk #Christadelphians #bibletruthfeed #openbible #Gospeltruth #gospel #Christadelphian #bibletruthfeed #podcast[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/studyvideo/the-great-day-of-god-almighty-end-times-prophecy-end-of-year-review-2025/?feed_id=107647&_unique_id=69426359d0175

Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 18th (Job 22; Haggai 1, 2; 1 John 5)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Job chapter 22 resumes with the third round of debate which is commenced by Eliphaz. His contention is that Job's wickedness is great. Eliphaz says that humans are not able to do anything that profits God, but at least they should show respect by admitting their wicked ways. He says, "Are you, Job? Job why aren't you fearful to enter a contest with the Almighty?" Eliphaz next lays a series of accusations against Jobverses including not sustaining the starving; sending widows away with any help. This is why you now suffer. Consider Yahweh's greatness and capacity to behold all your evil ways. Return to the just ways Eliphaz counsels. By reaching agreement with your Maker, you will have peace and your former prosperity will be restored (of course Eliphaz' reasoning is unsound and based on the false teaching of exact retribution). Humble yourself, he argues, and submit to your Creator. Though Eliphaz's accusations against Job are wrong we must humble ourselves before the Almightyverses James 4verses8-10; 1 Peter 5verses5-7. We come to the short prophecy of Haggai, whose name means "the festive one". Haggai together with Zechariah prophesied over a short period of 27 months (in the second to the fourth years of Darius) encouraging the returned Exiles to resume the rebuilding of the Temple, which had ceased about BC 521 when the Persian king Artaxerxes had been stirred up by Samaritan and Arabian opposition to the rebuilding project. The background to this time can be found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The two prophets were themselves energised by the LORD to turn the minds of the people from concentrating on building their own homes to refocusing on Yahweh's house. Haggai prophesied over a 5 month and 3-day period around BC 519. The prophet was the son of the Governor - Zerubbabel, whose name means "a shoot out of Babylon". Zerubbabel typifies the Lord Jesus Christ who is described in Isaiah 11verses1 as "a shoot from the stump of Jesse"; and in Revelation 22verses16 as "the root and the offspring of David". In verse 4 the prophet upbraids the nation for their self-interest and preoccupation with their own houses. The theme of the book is stated in chapter 1verses5verses "Consider - Hebrew 'set your mind' - on your ways" (repeated in 1verses15; 2verses7, 18). Rotherham translates this phrase asverses "Apply your heart to your own experience". We would say in modern English, "think very carefully about what you are doing. It was to be for them, as it ought always needs to be so for us, a time for self-examination. They had sown much seed in expectation of a large harvest, but since their attitude was wrong God had greatly diminished their harvest. The clothing which they wore could not keep them warm. It was a time of rampant inflation described poetically by the metaphor of the worker placing his money in a bag with holes. As soon as the money went into the bag it was gone (how much is this like our experiences now). Don't worry about your houses, says the prophet, just go to the mountains with an axe to cut wood for My house (speaking of Yahweh's Temple). Whatever house you build will give Me pleasure and I will glorify it. I will not cease chastising you until you learn my ways, says your God. And so, a drought came on the whole land affecting both people and animals. Verses 12-15 record that the nation responded to the rebuke with actions which brought blessings. In chapter 2verses1-9 we have the coming glory of this Temple, which they were now building, as emblematic of the glorious Temple to be built in Jerusalem by our Lord Jesus Christ soon. We are told in Ezra that when the Temple of the returned exiles was completed there were two different reactionsverses 1) the young rejoiced to see a Temple for the first time in their life; 2) the old cried seeing the new Temple as a pitiful shadow of Solomon's. Comparisons are always odious and we must rejoice in whatever blessings our Sovereign gives to His children. It was, said by the prophet Zechariah that now is "A day of small things" - Zechariah 4verses8-10. Our God, through the prophet, speaks of the brilliance of the glory of the coming Age of Messiah. Haggai says that God's acceptance and glorification of this house, which was now built, would exceed that of Solomon's Temple and prefigures that of the kingdom to come (compare Hebrews 12verses25-27). The shaking and removal of the Mosaic heavens was to occur at the hands of Rome in 70 AD (Hebrews 1verses10-12). The shaken sea speaks of the Gentile nations and the dry land of eretz Israel. The result of this great geopolitical earthquake will be the establishment of Messiah's kingdom and a blessed earth at last at peace. Verses 10-19 speak of blessings to a humble and repentant nation. Mosaic Law defilement was transmitted and so we must act carefully and choose wisely in our associations with others since the Proverbs sayverses "Bad company corrupts good morals". For the same reason, although holiness is not transferable, we need to meet together with those who encourage us in God's Word and ways (Hebrews 10verses23-25). We all need to take heed and "Consider our ways". Zerubbabel in his faithfulness to his LORD is compared to a signet ring, whose engravings show the character of its owner (verses 20-23; see also Zechariah 3verses5-10). And in this the Governor - Zerubbabel - typifies the Lord Jesus Christ and his great work for the LORD's people (Hebrews 1verses1-4). In 1 John 5verses1-5 we are told the source of overcoming the world - by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. And by that faith I live. An early Christadelphian writer, John Thomas said, that this was by a faith, which works by love and purifiers the soul (life). John Thomas was alluding to the early verses of Galatians 5. The Apostle John tells us that such a belief is evidence of our divine begetting. And, for us, it is the assurance ("by this we know") that God is with us. We can be more than conquerors through Him who loves us (Romans 8). The work, spoken of in chapter 2, is not about our love, but we do love the Father with all of our heart. And this love of the Father which impels us was the motive force of the life of the Son of God. Read Romans 8verses31-39 slowly and pause and ponder. Verses 6-12 provide testimony concerning the Son of God. Our Lord Jesus who came by water and blood - the water in which he was immersed at his baptism and the water of the Word of God with which his mind was saturated; and the blood of his sacrificial offering of himself. This offering was sanctified by the Word of God and prayer and pleased his Father. John is alluding to his witnessing of the crucifixion (John 19verses34-37). Verse 7 from the ESV reads, and I quote in full, "For there are three that testifyverses". Most of the better translations recognise the insertion into the text of additional words which aren't found in most of the older manuscripts. The additional words used in the KJV (and some other versions are admitted by most modern translations to be spurious and added by a Jesuit monk, Immanuel Tapsensis). Verse 8 identifies the three witnesses to our Lord's divine Sonship as - the Spirit, the water and the blood. Under the law at least two corroborating witnesses were needed to determine truth. John affirms total agreement among these witnesses. Additionally, God bore testimony, Matthew 3verses15-17, to His Son. And only in His Son, and through His Son's work, we have life. From verses 13-21 the beloved disciple John has written these things for our assurance ("that we may know"). We have known and believed upon the name above every name (Philippians 2verses9-11), and the only name in which there is salvation (Acts 4verses12). And through continuance in this Name salvation is assured. John repeats that the Father's ear is ever open to His children's pleas. Verses 16-17 reiterates that when we love the brethren we will help them (as they will likewise help us) when we stumble (Galatians 6verses1-5). Such advice and correction will prevent rejection at the coming judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ. But, for the habitual and lawless sinner, who has abandoned any attempt to continue walking in the light there remains "no offering for sin" (Hebrews 10verses26-39). Being begotten by God, through His Word (1 Peter 1verses22-25), we overcome in faith and walk in the way of His commandments. The world and its ways allure, but cannot conquer us. Finally, says John, "Keep yourself from idols" - a specific allusion to the Ten Commandments (especially numbers 1 and 10 which bookend all the others). Keeping ourselves from idols is about the tendency within our human nature to always look after ourselves before applying ourselves to living according to the ways of our Almighty Father. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-december-18th-job-22-haggai-1-2-1-john-5/?feed_id=107621&_unique_id=69425ffa8ea62

God's judgement on the nations

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a @Christadelphians Video:

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: God will judge the nations at Armageddon. The prophecies in Ezekiel 38, Joel 3 and Zechariah 14 portray the purpose of God. As God will be the victor, we need to believe on him, be baptized and follow him so we can glorify God in the kingdom forever. This thought-provoking Bible talk presents a powerful and insightful expositional study on a central Biblical theme: God's impending judgment on the nations. We examine three key prophetic passages—Zechariah 14, Joel 3, and Ezekiel 38—to build a compelling, Scripture-based picture of the future. [Revealing] the consistent patterns across these prophecies, we see how God will ultimately gather the nations, execute His righteous judgment, and establish His glorious Kingdom on earth. This presentation provides an outstanding framework for understanding current world events in light of Bible prophecy and ends with a vital, practical application for us today. **Chapters / Timestamps:** 00:00 - Introduction: Confidence in God's Prophetic Judgments 00:47 - Zechariah 14: The Day of the Lord and the Gathering of Nations 05:08 - Joel 3: The Valley of Jehoshaphat and God's Judgment 10:18 - Ezekiel 38: The Prophecy Against Gog and the Great Shaking 17:12 - The Victorious Outcome: God Magnified 20:49 - The Result: The Promises of God's Kingdom 25:02 - The Requirement: Belief, Baptism, and Salvation 27:49 - Conclusion: Time is Running Out [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5OhBrl5zNk[/embedyt] **Bible Verses Featured in This Presentation:** 📖 Zechariah 14 📖 Joel 3 📖 Ezekiel 38 📖 Psalm 72 📖 Isaiah 2 📖 Isaiah 11 📖 Isaiah 35 📖 Isaiah 65 📖 Mark 16 📖 Revelation 21 Tags: God's judgement, Bible prophecy, End times, Ezekiel 38, Zechariah 14, Joel 3, Day of the Lord, Christadelphian, Bible talk, Expositional teaching, Prophetic insight, Kingdom of God, Gospel As a Christadelphian team, we're passionate about delivering powerful, Scripture-based content to strengthen and inspire your faith journey. If this presentation resonated with you, help spread the encouragement—share it with a friend today [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]If you would like to help us offset some of our substantial costs of providing this service and expedite the development of new features you can do so by clicking this link. Regular or one-off donations will be gratefully received and assist us in promoting the truth of the scripture. (Regular donations help us to budget more efficiently)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css="" css_animation="none"]*************************************************************************************** This video was produced by the ChristadelphianVideo.org project, arranged and supported by Christadelphians worldwide. You can follow us online at.. #1 Our Main site...                      #2 Our podcast on Spotify..      #3 Our podcast on Apple.        #4 Our podcast on Podbean   #5 Our facebook...                      #6 Our Whats App..                      #7 Our Instagram...                     #8 Our X...                                       #9 Our YouTube Channel...     #10 Our Audio site ...                 Watch/read/Listen/ subscribe to  thoughts for the day CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it. #Christadelphianvideo #christadelphianstalk #Christadelphians #bibletruthfeed #openbible #Gospeltruth #gospel #Christadelphian #bibletruthfeed #podcast[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/studyvideo/gods-judgement-on-the-nations/?feed_id=107595&_unique_id=6941ac3d01f70