Matthew 16:15-19
The Greek word for church is “ecclesia,” which means “called out.”
In the NT this word is used some 114 times and is translated as “church”, “gathering”, or “assembly”.
The early Christians saw themselves as being “called out.” What were they called out from? Look around you. Check out the news. They were called from the same things we are called out of today.
As the old hymn says, “Jesus call us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea.”
Paul tells the Roman church, “And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people.”
