What does “church” mean, continued:

The Bible’s use of ekklesia:

Universal spiritual group

• Hebrews 12:18-24
  • See Colossians 1:15, 18 regarding use of the word “firstborn.”
  • “Firstborn” in this passage in Hebrews is plural. This passage is talking about the group of people who are in a saved relationship with God.
• Matthew 16:13-20 – Jesus built His church on what Peter confessed – Jesus’ identity as the Christ. Compare Acts 2:44-47.
• The Bible uses the word ekklesia (church) to mean a group of saved people.
• The term “universal church”
  • The word “catholic” just means “universal.”
• One single savior one single group of saved people (church)

Local spiritual group

• I Corinthians 1:2
• I Thessalonians 1:1

Local church assembly

• I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35

Regional spiritual group

• Acts 9:31 – The textus receptus has ekklesia as plural. Some other manuscripts have the singular form here.

The Bible’s use of ekklesia compared to ours!

• Various examples of phrases we use to talk about the church.