Ministry in a Multi-Cultural and Unchurched Society

86

Mi n i s t r y i n a Mu l t i -Cu l tura l and Unchur ched Soc i et y

1. Ekklesia – (Greek, “to call out from”) 111 times in the NT

a. Assembly, cf. Acts 19.39; 7.38

b. Called out ones, cf. Rom. 8.30; 1 Cor. 1.2; 2 Cor. 6.17

2. Kuriakon – (Greek, “that which belongs to the Lord”)

a. The supper of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11.20

b. The Day of the Lord, Rev. 1.10

D. The Sacred Romance: the Church as God’s Bride

1. God and his people Israel, Isa. 65.2; Song of Sol.

2. The Lord Jesus as the Bridegroom, Matt. 9.15; 25.1ff; John 3.29; Rev. 21.2

3. The goal of apostolic ministry: to present the Church to Christ as a “chaste virgin,” 2 Cor. 11.2

E. The Church in organic union with the person of Jesus Christ

1. The “Mystery” revealed: the Church as God’s open secret and display of his grace

a. Rom. 16.25-27, the “revelation of the mystery”