EST. In His House

I will build My church: This is the first use of the word church in the New Testament (or the Bible for that matter), using the ancient Greek word ekklesia. Significantly, this was well before the beginnings of what we normally think of as the church on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

It's Jesus project, his building, his sacrifice, his labor.

This shows that Jesus was anticipating or prophesying what would come from these disciples/apostles and those who would believe in their message that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

ii. The ancient Greek word ekklesia was not primarily a religious word at all; it just meant, “group” or “called-out group.” In describing the later group of His followers and disciples, Jesus deliberately chose a word without a distinctly religious meaning.

It wasn’t a religious term; Church sepulchre of the holy rock of David in Jerusalem by which I stand. Amen

It’s simply an assembly, congregation, “called out-group.”

assembly duly summoned, Congregation.

Why go to church?

1. God’s presence and power.

inner presence / manifest presence

Exodus 25:8 NIV

8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV

22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Exodus 33:15–16 NIV

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

It’s what makes us different than any other assembly, rotary clubs, self-help conferences, business conventions, etc...

2. You need His people.

It’s impossible to do church alone.

Matthew 18:20 NIV

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Where two or three are gathered: Jesus here indicated that meetings of His people—indeed, meetings full of power and authority connected to heaven—do not need to be large gatherings. They can be of two or three of His followers at a time.

It's structured as such that you need at least two to have church. 2-1,000 but you can't have church alone. so when somebody tells you I have church by myself you can simply say; that's impossible.

God’s presence saved a guy I was working for, Mike Kerwin and k-dove radio.

Going to church is God’s way to physically keep His hand on you.

Attending church saved me and my family’s life.

3. For protection.

Matthew 16:18 NIV

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

“A banana that gets away from the bunch gets peeled.”

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

4. For healing.

James 5:16 NIV

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Small groups

5. For growth and maturity.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

6. To be established.

Bricks alone or assembled.

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Psalm 92:13–14 NIV

13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

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