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What does the Bible say about the nature of the Church?

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The Bible describes the Church, or Ekklesia, as a local and visible assembly of believers called out to conduct the business of God's kingdom.

The term Ekklesia, as discussed in the sermon, derives from the Greek and fundamentally means a 'called out and gathered assembly.' This conveys the idea that the Church is not merely an assembly but signifies a specific group organized for conducting business, particularly that of the kingdom of God. Throughout the New Testament, the term is consistently used to refer to local congregations rather than a universal church. In Matthew 16:18, when Jesus mentions building His Church, He refers to His unique Ekklesia distinct from any secular assemblies of the time, emphasizing a local and visible community of believers under His lordship.
Scripture References: Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22, Matthew 22:37-40, Acts 19, Acts 20:17-28, Romans 16:1-5, 1 Corinthians 3:9, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 6:1, Hebrews 3:6, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 3:1, 1 Timothy 3:14-16, Acts 15:36-41, Galatians 1:1

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