Church

By modern day definition, a Church is either a physical building or a religious body of people. This definition is sad in that it presents either an inanimate object or some sterile, static concept of church members.

The original New Testament Greek word for church was, “Ekklesia”. This is a compound word of Ek meaning, “out of” and kaleō meaning to call, or “call aloud”.

The definition of Ekklesia is a “Gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

As a church you are called, exposed, separated and designated, which by definition of the latter two means you are also sanctified. That is the church. You are called out, into the world to not only preach the gospel but to be the gospel.

The church is not some closed off, hideout from the world. It’s the exact opposite.

Bill Hitchcock