Reclaiming the Ekklesia: What It Means to Be the Church
When Jesus said, “I will build my Ekklesia” (Matthew 16:18), He wasn’t talking about a building, a denomination, or a religious institution. In fact, Ekklesia wasn’t even a religious term; it was a word from the Greco-Roman world that referred to a called-out assembly with authority and purpose. Jesus was speaking about a people, a community set apart to live differently, with a mission that goes beyond Sunday services and church programs. His Ekklesia was meant to carry out His purpose in the world.
Somewhere along the way, we lost sight of that. We’ve turned Ekklesia into something we go to rather than something we are. We made it about attendance instead of action, about routines, traditions, and structures, when it was always meant to be about relationships, purpose, and transformation. But Jesus never told us to just “go to church”; He called us to be the church.
So what does that actually look like today? How do we live as the Ekklesia instead of just going through the motions?
1. The Ekklesia Is a People, Not a Place
For many people, “church” means a building, a Sunday service, or a denomination. But the church was never supposed to be about a building, a service, or a set of programs or theology. The early Ekklesia wasn’t about any of that, it was a community; a movement of people following Jesus, meeting in homes, gathering around meals, and living out their faith in daily life. The Ekklesia wasn’t about where they met, it was about who they were.
But today? We’ve made church about a service to attend rather than a life of faith to live out. We show up, listen, sing, and go home, but if that’s all church is, we’re missing the point. The Ekklesia is a living, breathing movement, not just a club to belong to.
Live it out:
• Invest in real relationships beyond Sunday morning.
• See faith as something that shapes your whole life, not just a part of it.
• Be more focused on how you live out your faith than where you sit on Sunday or a weekend obligation.
2. The Ekklesia Is a Called-Out Assembly
The word Ekklesia means “a called-out gathering.” In the ancient world, it referred to a group of people called together for a purpose; a governing body with real authority to make decisions and lead. This wasn’t just a religious, casual, or societal group; it was a movement with a mission.
That means the church isn’t just a collection of believers; it’s a community with a purpose and it’s a movement with a mission. We are called out from the world’s way of thinking and into a new way of living. It’s not just about being saved from something (sin, corruption, wickedness, brokenness, death), but being saved for something. To be set apart to live differently, love differently, and reflect God’s kingdom in a world that often pushes against it.
Live it out:
• Don’t just believe in Jesus; follow Him. Let your life reflect His teachings.
• Stand for truth, even when it’s unpopular.
• See your life as part of a bigger mission, not just a personal belief system.
3. The Ekklesia Is a Movement, Not a Club
One of the biggest ways we’ve watered down Ekklesia is by treating it like a social club for Christians instead of a kingdom movement for the world.
The early church wasn’t about getting people to come into their church; it was about sending people out. They didn’t wait for people to find them; they went out and served their communities, loved, shared their faith and the gospel in practical ways. Somewhere along the way, we flipped that. Now, we focus on building bigger churches and drawing crowds instead of equipping people to live out their faith beyond the walls of the church. Jesus didn’t say, “Build a great church and hope people show up.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” (Mathew 28:19-20)
Live it out:
• See your workplace, business, career, school, and home as places of mission.
• Serve people where they are instead of just expecting them to come to church.
• Be intentional about sharing faith; not just through words, but through how you live.
4. The Ekklesia Is Unified, Not Divided
The early Ekklesia was radical in its diversity. It brought together Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, men and women, slaves and free people; people who had no business being in the same community.
Today, though, the church is often divided by denominations, theology, and personal preferences. We split over secondary issues, forgetting that Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:21). The Ekklesia was never supposed to be a collection of competing denominations, it was meant to be one body under one King.
Live it out:
• Focus on what unites us in Christ instead of what divides us.
• Love people who think, interpret scripture, or worship differently than you do.
• Remember that being right is never more important than loving each other, as Jesus commanded us to do. (John 13:34-35)
5. The Ekklesia Stands for Something Bigger
When Christianity became the official religion of Rome, the Ekklesia gained influence; but it also compromised. Instead of standing against corruption, it became part of the system. Instead of being a prophetic voice, it sought power.
That danger still exists today. When the church prioritizes power over people, control over compassion, or status over service, it stops being the Ekklesia Jesus intended. The Ekklesia should never be about earthly status, personal gain, or social control. It should be about influencing truth, justice, mercy, and love. That means resisting greed, power struggles, and hypocrisy; even within the church. It means calling out injustice, and not turning a blind eye when it’s inconvenient. And it means remembering that our allegiance is to God’s kingdom, not any earthly system.
Live it out:
• Stay focused on Jesus’ mission, not just religious traditions or institutions.
• Challenge corruption and hypocrisy; even in the church.
• Choose humility, love, and justice over power and control.
6. The Ekklesia Is Known by Love
Jesus didn’t say, “They will know you are my disciples by your theology.” He didn’t say, “They will know you by your big platforms.” He said, “They will know you by your love.” (John 13:35)
The Ekklesia should be known first and foremost by selfless love; the kind that forgives enemies, serves without expecting anything in return, and welcomes the outcasts. But let’s be honest, love isn’t always what the modern church is known for. Sometimes, we’re more known for division, judgment, and self-righteousness than for the kind of love Jesus modeled.
If we want to reclaim the Ekklesia, we have to return to genuine, Christ-like love.
Live it out:
• Love people even when it’s hard.
• Choose mercy over judgment.
• Be known for what you are for, not just what you are against. Let love be the defining characteristic of your faith.
Final Thought: Will We Just Go to Church, or Will We Be the Ekklesia?
The Ekklesia is more than a weekly event, more than a gathering, and more than a religious institution. It is a kingdom movement; a called-out people meant to live differently, a legislative assembly of righteousness, justice, truth, and love, carrying the presence of Jesus into the world.
Being part of the Ekklesia today means:
• Living as a people set apart for something bigger, a mission-driven community.
• Loving others in radical, transformative ways.
• Challenging injustice and corruption.
• Carrying the presence of Jesus into every part of life.
• Seeing faith as a daily walk, not just a Sunday service.
• Focusing on unity, mission, and truth over division and power.
The Ekklesia is still alive. The question is: Are we actually living it?
What Do You Think?
What does being part of the Ekklesia mean to you? What challenges do you face in living it out?
Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!