Let's start by looking at our inspiration and the example for which we should model our life, the founder of the church, Jesus, and see what his definition of church truly was:
"Simon Peter said, 'You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'
Jesus came back, 'God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.'" (Matthew 16:16-18, TMSG)
Here Jesus had asked his disciples who do you say that I am? Peter, known for sticking his foot in his mouth, blurted out rightly for once that he was the Son of God.
Jesus rewarded by saying that God Himself had shown Peter this. He goes on to say that on the revelation that he was the Son of God he would put together "his church."
The Greek word "ekklesia" means "called out." It was used among the Greeks of a body citizens "gathered" to discuss the affairs of state. In other words, Jesus was saying that he was going to build a gathering of people who were called out to work together for a singular purpose. This purpose was to live out the life he modeled for us.
Later in the New Testament we see the word "church" used to represent the whole of the believers in Christ, those who had made the decision to follow Christ as Lord of their lives.
Next, we'll look at what Jesus really came to do...
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