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• The Bible’s usage of “ekklesia” continued:
  • Local church assembled: I Corinthians 14:26,28
  • Evaluate the following:
    • “I was baptized in the church.”
    • “I was baptized into the church.”
    • “I was baptized into the Benchley church.”
    • “He’s an elder of the church.”
    • “Christ is Head of the church.”
    • “Christ is the head of the church, and elders oversee the church.”
    • “This church established 33 A.D. This building erected in 1994.”
    • The church
      • Its origin: Jerusalem, 33 A.D.
      • Its organization: Elders, deacons, saints, …
• The Bible uses “church” as a collective noun.
  • A collective noun names (collects) a group that is composed of individual members. Examples: A team of players; a pack of wolves; an army of soldiers; a pride of lions; a colony of bats; a family composed of members.
  • Just look at how the word “church” is used. Notice that the Holy Spirit uses the word to refer to a unit of people (either universal or local) who are saved.
    • Acts 8:1,3
    • Acts 11:26
    • Acts 14:26-28
    • I Corinthians 1:2
    • I Corinthians 12:27-28
    • Philippians 1:1 (“church” in Philippians 4:15)
    • Hebrews 12:23
    • Acts 2:41,27 (KJV/NKJV say “church” in Acts 2:47; Acts 5:11)
  • Which is more accurate?
    • The church saves.
    • The church is the saved.