The Ekklesia_Part 1

Joshua Gregory Messages and Sermons

There are 7 primary factors or categories that influence how a congregation functions. Of course this list is not all-encompassing, but generally speaking, additional aspects or points can likely be included in one of these 7 categories. --1. The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ-a. Everything Jesus explicitly commanded-b. Everything he implicitly taught-c. Everything he modeled in his own life and actions-d. -1 is most important. If you don't get anything else, get this- -I am the way, the truth, and the life.- -2. What is explicitly taught in scripture-a. The doctrines of the ekklesia-3. What is implicitly taught in scripture-a. The scriptures help us condition our minds so that we can serve Christ acceptably -4. What God has written in our hearts-a. Romans 2-14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves--5. What is revealed by the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit and prompted by the Holy Spirit-a. Number 4 and number 5 help us actually do number 1. -6. Everything else that complements or conforms to or promotes the first 5 points-a. The beneficial traditions, customs, and habits-b. These are not doctrinal points-c. These are not hills to die on-d. These are the things we need to be willing to let go of in an instant if they interfere with any of the first 5 things. -7. Everything else-a. All the religious stuff. All the cultural stuff.