Jesus first mentions the church in Matthew 16.18. What is the church? It is God’s people.

1. “I Will Build My Church”

2. church
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

3. First time
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

4. ekklesia
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

5. ekklesia
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

6. Before this...
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

7. “Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand”
Matthew 4.17, CB NT p. 6
Jesus preaching

8. “Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4.19, CB NT p. 6
Jesus preaching

9. “And Jesus went throughout all
the cities and villages, teaching
in their synagogues and
proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom”
Matthew 9.35, CB NT p. 17
Jesus proclaiming

10. “When he saw the crowds, he
had compassion for them”
Matthew 9.36, CB NT p. 17
Jesus proclaiming

11. Why use “ekklesia” now?
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

12. What about ‘synagogue’?
“often denotes ... any
gathering or bringing together
of persons or things”
R. C. Trench

13. What about ‘synagogue’?
“the places set apart for
purposes of worship and the
reading and expounding of
the Word of God”
R. C. Trench

14. What about ‘synagogue’?
“synagogue ... always signifies
an assembly joined and
gathered together, although
bound by no strong bond; ...”
R. C. Trench

15. What about ‘synagogue’?
“but ekklesia ... designates some
multitude which makes up a people
joined together by laws and
bonds, although frequently they
happen not to be assembled or
are not able to be assembled.”
R. C. Trench

16. Hebrew Greek
“ekklesia” in the Septuagint

17. “Gather the people to me, that I
may let them hear my words”
Deuteronomy 4.10; CB OT p. 276
“ekklesia” in the Septuagint

18. “on them were all the words that
Jehovah had spoken with you on
the mountain out of the midst of
the fire on the day of the
assembly”
Deuteronomy 9.10; CB OT p. 285
“ekklesia” in the Septuagint

19. Common usage “ekklesia”

20. “for the assembly was in
confusion”
Acts 19.32; CB NT p. 245
Common usage “ekklesia”

21. “it shall be settled in the regular
assembly”
Acts 19.39; CB NT p. 245
Common usage “ekklesia”

22. “he dismissed the assembly”
Acts 19.41; CB NT p. 245
Common usage “ekklesia”

23. What is “ekklesia”?
“church”
is a noun.

24. What is “ekklesia”?
“church”
is a collective noun.

25. Herd

26. Flock

27. School

28. What is “ekklesia”?
“church”
is a collective noun.

29. What is “ekklesia”?
“church”
is a group of people.

30. What did Jesus mean?
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

31. A group of people...
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

32. not an institution.
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

33. “It doesn’t sound religious.”
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

34. What did Jesus build?
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

35. What did Jesus build?
“built on the foundation
of the apostles and
prophets”
Ephesians 2.20-21,
CB NT p. 338

36. What did Jesus build?
“Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone”
Ephesians 2.20-21,
CB NT p. 338

37. What did Jesus build?
“in whom the whole
structure, being
joined together”
Ephesians 2.20-21,
CB NT p. 338

38. What did Jesus build?
“grows into a holy
temple in the Lord.”
Ephesians 2.20-21,
CB NT p. 338

39. What did Jesus build?
“you yourselves like
living stones are
being built up as
a spiritual house.”
1 Peter 2.5,
CB NT p. 409

40. What did Jesus build?
“on this rock I will
build my church”
Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32

41. “Those who were not my people
I will call ‘my people’”
Romans 9.25-26, CB NT p. 277
My People

42. “I will be their God, and they
shall be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6.16, CB NT p. 318
My People

43. “I will be their God and they
shall be my people.”
Hebrews 8.10, CB NT p. 389
My People

44. Will today be the
day you become
one of God’s
people?

45. Lesson slideshows (with notes)
and audio can be found at:
www.churchofchristmiranda.com

46. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Rock, Moon, Water: http://www.flickr.com/photos/squarewithin/1362962564/sizes/
o/in/photostream/
Herd: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sheep_and_herder_India.jpg
Flock: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chen_caerulescens_32956.JPG
School: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lutjanus_kasmira_school.jpg
Bricks: iStock_000006888008
Hebrew Scroll: iStock_000003992721
Septuagint: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Codex_vaticanus.jpg

47. Compiled and Presented by:
Fellowship with Man: Church Dave Stewart
26 September, 2010
#05 Las Cruces, NM
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Ekklesia
Matthew 16.18
Synopsis: Jesus first mentions the church in Matthew 16.18. What is the
church? It is God’s people.
“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
“Let all that you do be done with love.”