Ecclesia Culture

Several years ago I read an interesting book entitled Start with Why by Simon Sinek. Simon took me on a journey to ask why. It seemed to coincide with the last few sermons I spoke at the church I pastored for over 10 years and far beyond my 20 plus years in church ministry and why I created Ecclesia Culture Ministries.

 

As I look at today’s church culture it seems as if the church today has forgotten Christ’s Why.

 

This forgetting is often a result of leaders not well versed in understanding the ecclesia (church). This is why, I believe, many churches are weak and ineffective. “Sad to say but the the cause of this has come from the lack of spiritual leaders understanding their role as stewards of the mystery.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, page 29).

 

1) As a leader and a steward of the mystery, great leaders need to have the ability to inspire people to act within the ecclesia and outside the ecclesia.

 

Whenever Paul ministered he founded local churches comprised of both believing Jews and Gentiles. How? By telling them that they were all “one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). That inspired them but it also unified them towards a greater cause, the manifestation of the Body of Christ in the earth. Here was something that all people could be involved in regardless of nationality or ability. All had a part to play. 

 

2) As a leader and a steward of the mystery, great leaders need to be able to inspire people with a sense of purpose, a belonging.

 

Paul believed it was not enough to simply win people to Christ and form them into a local assembly. He wanted to teach them their wonderful position and activate them in their role in Christ as members of his body (Ephesians 4:11) and their place in the world. To be honest today I think many people seem bored with church and don’t have or feel any sense of connection to it or its purpose because they are simply religiously attending and not engaging with one another or Christ’s cause.

 

3) As a leader and a steward of the mystery, great leaders need to be able to create a following of people by inspiring them with the truth of Christ’s ecclesia.

 

Paul created a following because God revealed to him the great truth of his ecclesia. Christ’s ecclesia was not a divine after thought but was a part of God’s eternal purpose in Christ (Ephesians 3:8-11). When we understand this truth it gives us great confidence and faith in working together towards building true ecclesia.

 

Church was never intended to be an end in itself. It is a vehicle for which God uses to establish people in a Biblical world view that enables them to see the world through God’s eyes and commits itself to win the world for their king – King Jesus.

 

The early church did amazing things because they were inspired by their leaders who understood the purpose of his ecclesia and as a result they became co-labourers with them and together they were willing to pay a premium, endure inconveniences, even personal sacrifice, to fulfill the cause.

 

This is why Ecclesia Culture Ministries was created…..to birth in people an understanding of what God’s purpose is for his ecclesia today. When we understand Christ’s Why for his ecclesia then we can rise up into the many membered body who have the will to fulfill Christ’s cause. 

 

ecclesiaculture@gmail.com