Our small groups are called, “Ekklesia Groups.” ( eGroups ) “Ekklesia” is the word Jesus used that is translated as “church.”
Whenever and wherever at least two or three followers of Jesus gather in a small group, they are church, the ekklesia. Our Ekklesia Groups (eGroups)are true extension of The Apostolic Hub which has a revival response like the ecclesiastical city-wide church of Ephesus building unity in the community. The Hub forms Networks for shared mission in the city.
“The Ekklesia (the Church), in its most embryonic expression, is the gathering of at least two or three believers presided by the Holy Spirit around the Manifest Presence of Jesus with authority to bind and to release for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.” – Ed Silvoso
In an Ekklesia Group, people:
- Grow together in their relationship with the Lord.
- Grow together in their relationship with each other.
- Go together and make disciples of Jesus.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and tofellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
There are basically two kinds of Ekklesia Groups:
- . Family Ekklesia Groups :We see every family and household as a true extension of the Apostolic Hub. We encourage families to see themselves and function as church, growing in their relationship with the Lord, with each other, and going out and making disciples.
- Marketplace Ekklesia Groups. Small groups of people who see themselves and function as church in the marketplace, growing in their relationship with the Lord, with each other, and going out and making disciples.
The Body of Christ at the Apostolic Hub is Discipled through Small Ekklesia Groups – eGroups, for members to become Faithful Followers of Christ and in turn, through active engagement of their gifts to become effective Fishers of men. ―Ekklesia is the Greek word used for ―church in Matthew 16:18. When Jesus said, ―I will build my church, ―my Ekklesia He was not talking about a building; He was talking 
about people: about YOU. And when 2 or 3 of you gather together, He comes to be in your midst.
Each time Jesus mentioned the church He referred to a governing body, not a place of worship.He referred to a group of people who were assigned to exercise authority to solve problems both in the spiritual and in the natural world. In the political world of those days, the Ekklesia was a group of people who were called out—or selected—from the general public to govern the affairs of a kingdom or a nation.
THE GENESIS OF THE EKKLESIA
During the New Testament days, there were 3 main institutions in Israel:
- The Temple represented the indwelling presence of God it was where people met with
representatives of God, the priests. - The Synagogue represented the central role of scripture and fellowship of the saints was
where God‘s people met with each other. - The Ekklesia represented the mobility of the people, their location and their mission
it was an assembly of people deputized by the emperor to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the empire.
The ekklesia was the only one that was non-religious. The ekklesia that Jesus mentioned had no building, it was people, designed to operate 24/7 for the purpose of having an impact on everybody and everything. Jesus did not say, I will build my Temple neither did he say I will build my synagogue. He said , I will build My EKKLESIA‘!
Ekklesia: The Coventus (Judicial assembly)
- Where two or three Roman citizens were gathered anywhere together in the world, it
constituted the conventus (Judicial Assembly). - Their gathering together wherever they were assembled brought the very power and
presence of Rome into their midst. - Jesus is saying just like the Romans make available their authority to their citizens that
gather I do in a greater dimension. Matt 18:18 gather Matt 18:18-20. - Matt 18:18-20 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them. - The disciples understood what he meant. I‘m not building a temple, a building, I‘m commissioning people.
It’s Time to Stand Up, Be the Church, and Shift the Spiritual Climate of our cities and Nation! – Ed Silvoso
If ever there was a time to stand up and BE the church, that time is now! YOU are the Ekklesia (or church) of God! An Ekklesia, the Greek word translated ―church‖ in our Bible, consists of two or more people—a family or household—gathered around the Manifest Presence of Jesus to pray prayers the Father is waiting to answer for His will to be done in their spheres of influence. This is the key for changing the spiritual climate over our nation (and the nations of the earth).The Church, the Ekklesia, is the only institution with a branch in every neighborhood that, once activated, could have a transformation agent on every block. Now is the time to rise up, take a stand, and be the church in order to shift the spiritual climate over our Nations.
An Ekklesia, as the most embryonic expression of The Church, is the gathering of at least two believers in the midst of the manifest presence of God, functioning with His authority to bind and release His will, beginning in their sphere of influence (e.g Education, Government, Religion, Business, Art & Entertainment, Media, Family) and spreading outward until The Great Commission is fulfilled. Our Ekklesia Groups – eGroups meet throughout the week at different locations across the county. The groups are designed to help you build healthy relationships with others in a safe environment while growing spiritually. Our eGroup Ministry at The HUB lays emphasis on five vital areas that promote the growth of the Body of Christ and its well being. We call these the ‘ABCDEs’ of an eGroup‘s Life;
A- ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is about openness in healthy relationships, work and areas of weakness, devotion to God and all other aspects of life. Members are to counsel, remind, admonish, pray and provoke one another to living their lives as God intended; not just in public life but in private too.
B- BELONGING
In our small groups we: pray, eat, love,cry and laugh together. Our eGroups seek to draw people into a community where faith and life meet and grow. We want each of our members to come to the place where they can confidently belong and say say, ―This is my family when referring to their eGroup.
C- CARE
Christians are called to be like Jesus, caring for the hurt & injured members of the body of Christ and sharing the Good News. Our eGroups give pastoral care to members in different life stages e.g. birth of a new child, bereavement, weddings, family transitions and illnesses etc. It is in this family that one finds the quickest response to their needs from people who will continually surround and care for them long after the event has happened.
D- DISCIPLESHIP
eGroups are our strongest avenue for discipleship and transformation. They provide an informal and relaxed atmosphere that allows people to actively live out the gospel. Through authentic discussions that require accountability and follow-up, we are able to nurture one another to spiritual maturity through our eGroups.
E- EVANGELISM
The process of fishing for men includes being relevant in the society through their gifts to meet felt needs and simultaneously sharing the gospel in;
- Jerusalem (Immediate communities; family, neighborhoods, zones)
- Judea and Samaria (Wider regions; Counties, the nation, the continent)
- And to the ends of the earth ( Global scene) ; (Acts 1:8)
How to Get started to establish an Ekklesia Group as an extension of the Apostolic Hub :
If the general information about Ekklesia Group (eGroup) as an extension of the Apostolic Hub strikes a chord in your heart, the first step is to establish a person to person connection. Please contact us expressing a desire to start an eGroup and we will get back to You at the earliest possible time.
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