Dynamic New Teaching from Bestselling Author Ed Silvoso The word church has many connotations; we think of it as a specific building, as a group of people, even as a long service to sit through. We hardly ever think of it as world-changing--and neither does society. Yet this is exactly what the first-century ekklesia was. In these vital, eye-opening pages, bestselling author Ed Silvoso takes you back to the first days of the church. Digging into Scripture, he shows how the New Testament church--devoid of buildings, professional clergy, and religious freedom--was able to transform the hostile, pagan places into which it was born and set in motion a process that changed the world forever. Even more, Silvoso offers a roadmap back to becoming the ekklesia Jesus called his church to be. In the midst of the social, economic, political, and moral chaos in our world today, we possess the hope that people and nations so desperately need--and we can become the revolutionary, transformational, life-giving voice Jesus called us to be. A new, in-depth curriculum kit--which features a DVD with 12 brand-new teaching sessions, a group guide for both leaders and participants, and a copy of the book--is also available. Expounding on the book's dynamic teachings, each kit contains everything you need to equip your group to transform the world around them.

DIVToday there is a lot of emphasis on building within Christianity. We speak of building the kingdom and building the church, neither of which are our responsibility. The Father has given us the kingdom and Christ said He would build the church. In the New Testament, the word translated as church is Ekklesia. /div

As a result of the growing worldwide prayer movement, powerful changes have taken place in the Church and in scattered cities transformations beyond anything imaginable only a few years ago. Of the revelations to come out of this movement, perhaps the most dramatic and promising is the rediscovery of biblical principles for changing the spiritual climate over entire cities and regions. Fulfillment of the Great Commission is no longer a distant hope but rather is a fast-approaching reality for a Church that will take hold of and utilize the biblical principles for changing cities as described in "That All Should Hear." In it Ed Silvoso shares his heart and his passion for reaching cities the way the Early Church did it: the whole Church modeling the whole gospel to the whole city thorugh prayer and prayerful evangelism.

Just released 224 pages, more than 400 full-color, original photographs, hard cover with striking dust jacket, 11" by 11" coffee-table book showcasing the beauty of the Greek Orthodox Churches of the Midwest! ECCLESIA, Greek Orthodox Churches of the Chicago Metropolis, by Panos Fiorentinos, takes the reader on a photographic and historic journey through all 59 churches of the Chicago Metropolis, one of the nine regions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. This one-of-a-kind photographic chronicle captivates the reader with the unique beauty and rich tradition of these parishes, some of them established more than 100 years ago and located in cities and towns throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minneapolis, Missouri and Wisconsin. In addition to showcasing these churches through stunning photography, Fiorentinos has chronicled, for the first time in one place, their individual histories. ECCLESIA educates through scholarly essays that explain the Greek Orthodox Church's architecture, fundamental beliefs and history, as well as the meaning of its icons and symbols. It also provides a historical perspective about the Greek immigrants who founded many of these churches, while paying tribute to the various ethnic groups and converts who are now part of these parishes' heritage. This book will appeal to those interested in the architecture and interior adornment of churches, the establishment and growth of religion, genealogy, immigration, and regional history, and will be a unique addition to the historical, religious and photography collections of colleges, universities and local and regional community libraries.

How did Paul's term ekklesia formulate the Christian self-understanding? Young-Ho Park finds the answer in its strong civic connotation in the politico-cultural world of the Greek East under the Roman Empire. By addressing his local Gentile congregation as ekklesia in his letters, Paul effectively created a symbolic universe in which the Christ-worshippers saw themselves as the honorable citizens who represented the city before God. (Publisher).

In The Origin and Meaning of Ekklēsia in the Early Jesus Movement, Ralph J. Korner explores the ideological implications of Christ-follower associations self-designating collectively as ekklēsiai. Politically, Korner’s inscriptional research suggests that an association named ekklēsia would have been perceived as a positive, rather than as a counter-imperial, participant within Imperial Greek cities. Socio-religiously, Korner argues that there was no universal ekklēsia to which all first generation Christ-followers belonged; ekklēsia was a permanent group designation used by Paul’s associations. Ethno-religiously, Korner contends that ekklēsia usage by intra muros groups within pluriform Second Temple Judaism problematizes suggestions, not least at the institutional level, that Paul was “parting ways” with Judaism(s), ‘Jewishness’, or Jewish organizational forms.

JESUS PROMISED TO BUILD SOMETHING. DO WE EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS? Fill in the blank: "Upon this rock I will build My ________?" For generations, we have been taught that Jesus promised to build His "church" in Matthew 16:18, so we've dutifully tried to build the church with Him. But there's a big problem: that's not the word He used. Instead, He announced something far more potent: "I will build My ekklesia!" Have you ever wondered why the established church culture so often seems stuck in neutral? If Jesus gave His disciples authority and keys to bind and loose, why are so many churches either apathetic or chronically weak in prayer? The reason is because a motherlode of identity and mission separates those two words. In Ekklesia Rising, you'll learn: The DNA of ekklesia: how revelation produces dominion The "keys" Christ gives, and how to receive and use them Divine design: masculine authority with bridal love The role of the Divine Council in heaven and on earth The inner constitution of contending, covenantal communities Make no mistake, Jesus will build His ekklesia. His Father's house will be a "House of Prayer for All Nations." For hundreds of years, we have been the church. Finally, let us become His ruling ekklesia.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “church?” The Bible tells us in Matthew 16:18 that Jesus said He would build His church. What would the disciples have thought Jesus meant since they had not heard the word “church” before? When Matthew wrote his gospel, he used the Greek language. The word he chose that is translated as “church” in English is ekklesia. Ekklesia was a common word during the time that Jesus walked the earth. Over time, we have lost the true meaning of this word and how it applies to us today. In Genesis 1:28, God commissioned man at creation with fruitfulness, multiplication, and the task of subduing and ruling the Earth. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave us a commission that restates God's original assignment to disciple the nations. I wrote this book to help people understand the true meaning of what Jesus said He would build. We will discuss the history, usage and application of this word for today. This book, however, is just the beginning. It will help us rediscover Jesus' original intent when He said, “upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

What is a church? This can be a difficult question to answer and Christians have offered a variety of perspectives. Gregg Allison thus explores and synthesizes all that Scripture affirms about the new covenant people of God, capturing a full picture of the biblical church. He covers the topics of the church's identity and characteristics; its growth through purity, unity, and discipline; its offices and leadership structures; its ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and its ministries. Here is a rich approach to ecclesiology consisting of sustained doctrinal reflection and wise, practical application. Part of the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series.

Why, asks Kelly Johnson, does Christian ethics so rarely tackle the real-life question of whether to give to beggars? Examining both classical economics and Christian stewardship ethics as reactions to medieval debates about the role of mendicants in the church and in wider society, Johnson reveals modern anxiety about dependence and humility as well as the importance of Christian attempts to rethink property relations in ways that integrate those qualities. She studies the rhetoric and thought of Christian thinkers, beggar saints, and economists from throughout history, placing greatest emphasis on the life and work of Peter Maurin, a cofounder of the Catholic Worker movement. Challenging and thought-provoking, The Fear of Beggars will move Christian economic ethics into a richer, more involved discussion.