What We Believe
Ekklesia Churches Statement of Faith
This statement of faith is intended to clearly outline the core biblical convictions that guide our church’s life, teaching, leadership, and mission. It is not an exhaustive catalog of everything we believe, nor does it address every area where faithful Christians may thoughtfully differ. There are many other important matters of theology and Christian practice that we hold in high regard, but the truths expressed here represent those beliefs that we view as essential for unity and partnership in our local church.
We believe that the doctrines outlined in this statement are clearly taught in Scripture, and that unity around these truths is necessary for our shared life and ministry. Where the Bible speaks clearly, we aim to stand with conviction. Where Scripture leaves room for differences, we strive to exercise charity.
We recognize this statement is more lengthy than some, but in a world marked by growing confusion about truth, we believe it is important to clearly and faithfully articulate a biblical foundation. We desire to be a church where it is clear what we believe, why we believe it, and where our commitment to biblical faithfulness shapes everything we do.
Above all, we hold that Scripture, not human tradition or personal opinion, is the final authority for our doctrine, practice, and life together as the people of God.
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We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the exclusive, complete, and authoritative Word of God to mankind. It was authored by God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and written down by human authors without error in the original manuscripts. Scripture was given so that we may know God, find salvation through Christ, and be equipped to live a life pleasing to Him. The Bible stands above all human tradition, councils, and writings, and is the final standard for all doctrine, reproof, and correction. The completion of faithful translations into many languages are part of God’s providential plan, and we affirm that God’s Word has been recorded, preserved, and will endure forever.
We reject any attempt to add to, take away from, or distort the Scriptures through new writings, additional revelations, or unfaithful interpretations. We prioritize word-for-word translations to preserve the integrity of God’s intended message and meaning, using the English Standard Version (ESV) in our teaching, and also recommending the CSB, NASB, and the 1984 NIV. While Scripture is written to be understood by all, it requires careful study and the work of the Holy Spirit to be rightly grasped and applied. Reading, studying, and living according to God’s Word is essential for the life of every believer.
Key Scriptures:
The Authority and Purpose of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Inerrancy and Preservation of Scripture: Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8
Warning Against Altering or Adding to Scripture: Revelation 22:18–19; Galatians 1:6–9
The Clarity and Necessity of Scripture: Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Matthew 4:4
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We believe there is one living and true God, self-existent, eternal, unchanging, and perfect in all His attributes. He was not created, has no beginning or end, and is not constrained by time or space. God knows all things, sees all things, and is present in all places at all times. He is infinitely holy, just, merciful, and good, and far beyond human understanding apart from what He has chosen to reveal in Scripture.
We believe that God is one in being and exists eternally in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully and equally God, sharing the same divine essence and attributes, yet distinct in role and relation. The Father is unbegotten and the source of all things; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father and entered the world to accomplish salvation; the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son to apply salvation to believers. We worship the Father through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the Christian faith, and to deny the Trinity is to depart from historic Christianity.
Key Scriptures:
The Nature and Attributes of God: Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 147:5; Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:23–24; Psalm 139:7–10; Isaiah 55:8–9
The Trinity: One God in Three Persons: Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3, 14; John 14:11; John 10:30; Colossians 2:9; Ephesians 2:18
The Distinct Persons and Their Roles: 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 3:16; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9–11
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We believe that in the beginning, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created the heavens and the earth, all that is visible and invisible, for His own glory. By His powerful word, God created everything out of nothing in six literal days, and all that He made was good. Creation itself reveals God’s eternal power, divine wisdom, and perfect goodness.
God created humanity as male and female, in His own image, with rational and immortal souls, to reflect Him to the world and steward His creation. Adam and Eve were real, historical people, the ancestors of all mankind, created perfect but given freedom to obey or disobey God’s law, which was written on their hearts. Because human life is sacred from the moment of conception, practices such as abortion, infanticide, suicide, and euthanasia violate God’s design and the value He gives to every human life. Men and women, equally made in God’s image, are distinct by God’s good design and purpose.
Key Scriptures:
God’s Work in Creation: John 1:2–3; Hebrews 1:2; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:1–31
Humanity Created in God’s Image: Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29
Moral Capacity and Responsibility: Romans 2:14–15; Genesis 3:6
Human Value and the Sanctity of Life: Job 10:11–12; Psalm 139:13–16; Genesis 3:20
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We believe that God is sovereign over all things, upholding, directing, and governing creation according to His perfect will. In the beginning, He created humanity innocent, with the true freedom to obey or disobey His commands. Though God is never the author of sin, He allowed the possibility of disobedience and uses even sinful actions for His holy and redemptive purposes.
Adam and Eve, tempted by Satan, freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, suffering, and death into the world. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature, spiritually dead and unable to save themselves apart from God’s gracious initiative. Every person is a sinner by nature and by choice, guilty in thought, word, and deed, and in need of salvation. Though Satan is a real enemy who continues to oppose God’s purposes and tempt humanity to sin, he has already been decisively defeated through the finished work of Christ. Christians are called to resist him in prayer, by standing firm in faithful obedience and in the Word of God.
Key Scriptures:
God’s Sovereignty and Rule Over All Things: Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29–31
Free Will and Human Responsibility: Genesis 2:17; John 19:11
God’s Relationship to Sin: James 1:13; Romans 11:32–34; Psalm 50:16–21; Genesis 50:20; 2 Chronicles 32:25–26; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9; Romans 8:28
The Fall and Its Effects: Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 3:6, Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:3–5; John 6:44; Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:10–19; 2 Thessalonians 1:8
Satan: 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7
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We believe that salvation is the work of God alone, accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, fully God and fully man, was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father. He offered Himself as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, dying on the cross to satisfy the just wrath of God. On the third day, He rose bodily from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. He ascended into heaven, where He now reigns as our High Priest and Advocate before the Father, and from where He will one day return to judge and to reign.
Through His shed blood and victorious resurrection, all who trust in Him are justified, declared righteous before God. Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith alone in Christ alone, not by human effort or works. Believers are called to persevere in faith and obedience to the end, yet our assurance rests not on our own perfection but on the saving power and faithfulness of God. True salvation results in a life of ongoing trust and repentance, as those who belong to Christ continue to walk with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Key Scriptures:
The Salvation Initiated by God: John 6:44; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8–9, Romans 5:9
The Person and Work of Jesus: Luke 1:34–35; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Romans 3:21–26; 1 John 2:1–2
Resurrection, Ascension, and Priesthood: Acts 1:9–10; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24
Eternal Security and Perseverance: John 10:28–29; Philippians 1:6; Matthew 24:13
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We believe that when a person is saved by God’s grace through faith, they are immediately justified; declared righteous before God on the basis of Christ’s finished work, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit, given new life in Christ. Justification is a once-for-all legal act of God, complete and unchangeable. Sanctification, by contrast, is the ongoing work of being made holy, where believers are progressively transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just as we must respond to Christ’s invitation to receive salvation, we are also called to participate in the process of sanctification. While it is ultimately the work of God, believers are called to pursue holiness, to resist sin, and to walk in obedience. Sanctification is nurtured through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading and meditating on Scripture, confessing and repenting of sin, and engaging in the life of the local church. Although believers continue to wrestle with sin in this life, they live in hope, trusting that God will complete the good work He has begun in them, until they are made perfect in Christ.
Key Scriptures:
Immediate Salvation and Justification: Romans 5:1; John 19:30
Ongoing Sanctification by the Holy Spirit: Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
Struggle with Sin, Discipline, and Final Hope: John 8:36; Romans 7:15–23; Philippians 2:13; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:13
Sanctification as Evidence of New Life: 2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 3:9; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:12–13
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We believe that the Church exists in two complementary ways: the universal Church, composed of all true believers throughout history and around the world, and the local church, where believers gather regularly for worship, teaching, fellowship, discipleship, and mission. In the local church, God’s people are built up in faith, equipped for ministry, and sent out to make disciples both locally and globally. The New Testament pattern shows the Church gathering both in large assemblies and smaller house gatherings, and we seek to follow that model today.
While we are not part of a formal denomination, we are committed to partnering with other faithful churches in proclaiming the gospel and advancing the kingdom of Christ. Membership in a local church is vital for every believer, providing relational connection, spiritual accountability, and pastoral care under qualified elders. Professing faith in Christ includes committing to live in community with His people, submitting to biblical leadership, and participating in the life and mission of the Church.
Key Scriptures:
The Universal and Local Church: Acts 2:46–47; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; Hebrews 10:24–25
The Mission of the Church: Matthew 28:18–20
Church Membership and Accountability: Matthew 16:13–20; Matthew 18:15–20
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We believe that human beings were created to worship God, and the gathered Church exists to do this, responding to His Word, and glorifying Him together. In the worship gathering, we devote ourselves to the preaching and teaching of Scripture, to prayer, and to the singing of songs that are biblically faithful and doctrinally sound. Musical style is secondary to the goal of encouraging congregational worship that honors God. We seek simplicity in our gatherings, prioritizing Christ-centered worship over programs or entertainment. Our church gathers in a Sunday Assembly, where all our house churches come together under shared leadership and teaching, and also in House Church Gatherings throughout the week. Each house church functions as a true expression of the Church under the care of a qualified pastor, focusing on applying God’s Word, building relationships, and living as faithful disciples.
Baptism is the outward expression of the inward work of salvation, symbolizing a believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We practice baptism by immersion, following the clear example and command of Scripture. However, while we believe immersion best represents the biblical meaning of baptism, we hold that the believer’s preceding profession of faith in Christ is the essential element, not the specific mode. Therefore, we reject infant baptism because it lacks a personal confession of faith, but we recognize and accept believers who were baptized by other modes such as sprinkling or pouring.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic meal given by Christ to His Church, intended to remember His sacrificial death and proclaim His coming again. We believe that the bread and the cup remain symbols, not becoming or containing Christ’s literal body and blood. Communion is open to baptized believers who examine themselves before partaking. In our practice, we use grape juice rather than wine to allow all believers to partake together in sensitivity and unity, as the fruit of the vine is the biblically significant element. Communion nourishes the faith of believers as they remember Christ’s work on their behalf and anticipate the marriage feast of the Lamb.
Key Scriptures:
Worship Gathering: Acts 2:42–47; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:24–25; James 1:22
Baptism: John 3:3–5; Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4; Ephesians 2:8–9
Communion (The Lord’s Supper): Exodus 12:14; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29; Revelation 19:9; Matthew 26:26–29
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We believe that the New Testament uses the terms elder, overseer, and pastor interchangeably to describe the spiritual leaders of the church. Elders are called by God, affirmed by the church, and qualified according to the clear standards of Scripture. Both men and women are called to vital roles in the ministry of the church, but the office of elder or pastor is a calling specifically reserved for qualified men, according to the design revealed in Scripture. Elders are responsible to teach the Word faithfully, shepherd the people humbly, live as examples of Christ-like character, and equip the saints for the work of ministry. We believe that pastors are under-shepherds who serve under Christ, the Chief Shepherd, and that they do not serve as mediators between God and His people. Jesus Christ alone is our perfect and eternal Mediator.
The qualifications for elders include being above reproach, faithful to one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, managing their own households well, and not being a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Some elders will serve primarily by preaching and teaching in the Sunday Assembly, encouraging and equipping others for ministry, while other elders will serve primarily by shepherding smaller gatherings of believers in House Church Gatherings, applying God’s Word through relational discipleship. Regardless of specific focus, all elders must meet the same biblical qualifications and lead with humility and faithfulness.
Key Scriptures:
The Role and Identity of Elders/Pastors: Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1–3
Qualifications for Elders/Pastors: 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9
Male-Only Eldership with Ministry for All Believers: 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
Christ as the True Shepherd: 1 Peter 5:4; 1 Timothy 2:5
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We believe that God created humanity as male and female, each bearing His image, and that human sexuality is a good gift to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage. From the beginning, God established heterosexual, monogamous marriage as the divine pattern for human relationships. Sexual intimacy was created for pleasure, unity, and fruitfulness within marriage, but any sexual relationship outside the covenant of biblical marriage between one man and one woman is outside of God’s design.
Marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, intended to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church. Though God hates divorce, Scripture permits it in cases of adultery, desertion by an unbelieving spouse, or death. Marriage calls men and women to love, serve, and submit to one another in Christ-like humility, showing the world the faithfulness and grace of God. In the Christian family, fathers and mothers both have essential, God-given roles in raising their children to know and love the Lord. The family is the primary environment for discipleship, where parents are called to teach God’s Word diligently and model lives devoted to Christ.
Key Scriptures:
God’s Design for Sexuality and Marriage: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18, 24–25; Song of Solomon; Matthew 19:3–6; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:32
Biblical Grounds for Divorce: Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Romans 7:2
God’s Design for the Family: Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1–4
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We believe that the mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ among all peoples, beginning in our own communities and extending to the ends of the earth. Jesus’ command to make disciples in Matthew 28 was given to every believer, not only to church leaders. Every follower of Christ is called to participate in this mission by proclaiming the gospel, living as a faithful witness, and teaching others to obey all that Jesus has commanded. Discipleship is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus in character, knowledge, and obedience, and it is empowered by the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word.
We believe that every Christian should be actively involved in discipleship both directions—being discipled by others and discipling others in turn. Discipleship happens through the faithful teaching of Scripture, the clear proclamation of the gospel centered on the finished work of Christ, and the encouragement and accountability of Christian community. As part of faithful discipleship, we believe that Christians are called to live as stewards of all that God has entrusted to them. We aim to cultivate lives marked by joyful generosity, sacrificial love, and faithful service in the use of our time, resources, spiritual gifts, relationships, and every area of life.
Ultimately, our aim is not primarily to increase numerical growth in followers, but rather to cultivate deep, faithful disciples who love God, love others, and live on mission for Christ. Discipleship is personal work, and cannot be mass produced, because it involves individual people as much as the broader church.
Key Scriptures:
The Command to Make Disciples: Matthew 28:18–20; John 20:21
The Global Scope of the Mission: Matthew 24:14; Revelation 7:9
The Spirit’s Power in Discipleship: Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5
Gospel Proclamation and Word Ministry: Acts 6:7; Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20; Colossians 1:5–6; Matthew 5:13–16; Colossians 1:28
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We believe in the imminent and certain return of Jesus Christ to earth in power and glory. Though we do not know the day or the hour, we live in constant readiness, faithfully proclaiming the gospel and enduring in obedience. We reject any attempt to predict the exact time of His return. At His coming, there will be a bodily resurrection of all people: those who are in Christ will be raised to eternal life in the presence of God, while those who have rejected Christ will be raised to eternal separation and judgment in hell. Heaven and hell are both real, eternal destinations.
We believe that those who die in Christ immediately enter His presence, while those who die apart from Him await final judgment. Our citizenship is ultimately in heaven, and while we live as faithful witnesses on earth, submitting to governing authorities where consistent with Scripture, our highest loyalty is to Christ and His Kingdom. We reject teachings that suggest believers must engage in mystical or dominion-focused acts of spiritual warfare beyond what Scripture prescribes. Victory over the powers of darkness is found not in our own strength, but in the power of God working through His people by the Holy Spirit. We also. believe the current world will not gradually improve into the Kingdom of God, but will ultimately give way to the return of Christ and the final defeat of evil. God will create a new heavens and a new earth where His people will dwell with Him in perfect joy and righteousness forever.
Key Scriptures:
The Return of Christ: Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:10, Colossians 2:15
Resurrection and Judgment: Revelation 20:11–15; John 5:28–29; 2 Corinthians 5:10
Immediate Presence After Death: Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8
Citizenship and Submission: Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Philippians 3:20
The New Heavens and New Earth: Revelation 21:1–5
The Model
Why a “Church of House Churches”?
The simplest answer to this question is “because that’s what we see modeled most clearly in Scripture”, specifically in the book of Acts.
A lot of tradition has been developed around the structure of the church over the years, and not all of that is bad. However, much of what has become the “traditional” structure of church, has been added to the original format we see the church operating in. As a result, the operation of the church as a mission based organization to make disciples has been slowed to a grinding halt in some cases, by favoring the complex traditions instead of the simple mission.
This has lead us to pursue what feels like a radically simpler version of the church that is heavily influenced by the work of folks like Church Project, and The House Church Network. While we are not affiliated with either, we’re grateful for the groundwork they’ve done in returning the church to the primary work of discipleship and teaching the Word of God.
You can read more about the biblical basis for our model and leadership structure below:
Biblical Precedent for the “Church of House Churches”
Following Pentecost, the early church established two distinct types of gatherings: the assembly of all believers in a city, and smaller meetings in homes throughout that city. Both were equally recognized as legitimate expressions of the church. Throughout Acts and Paul's letters, we consistently see this pattern - a unified church in each city under shared leadership (typically the recipients of Paul's letters) alongside numerous house churches meeting in believers' homes.
Acts 2:46
"And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts"
In the same breath, Luke recognizes the temple gathering, and the home gathering.
Acts 20:20
"…teaching you in public and from house to house"
Speaking to the elders of the Ephesian church, Paul recognizes that he ministered regularly in two contexts to the church in that city, in the public gathering, and from house to house.
Romans 16:5
"…Greet also the church in their (Prisca and Aquila's) house."
While Paul's letter is written to the Church in Rome, he also mentions a specific church that meets in this house in Rome. He also mentions a few verses later (v23) that he and the church are enjoying the hospitality of Gaius in Corinth, indicating yet another home in service of the people of the church.
1 Corinthians 16:19
"The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house."
The letter is addressed to the "church in Corinth" (1 Cor 1:2), in the same letter he addresses "the church that meets" in Aquila and Priscilla's home. Giving evident that in Corinth, this structure of a church under common leadership, but also meeting as the church in homes.
Colossians 4:15
"Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house."
A letter addressed to the "faithful brothers and sisters in Colossae" (Col 1:2) also addressing a specific church meeting in the home of Nympha.
Galatians 1:2
"and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia"
This reference is less explicit, but follows the same pattern. A single letter is sent to Galatia, indicating there is a central governing body of elders in the region, and likely some type of central gathering under their leadership. However, the address is to the churches (plural) of Galatia.
Philemon 1:2
"To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house"
This reference doesn't mention a larger church body, because it's written to an individual. However, it's interesting that the reference to the church here is identified as "the church in your house."
Based on these biblical examples, we firmly believe this model represents God's intended structure for the church, not merely an initial framework to be revised later. The movement during Constantine's time to centralize worship in dedicated buildings with a professional priesthood appears to be a departure from the apostolic model, rather than God's design.
Through Christ, the temple was transformed into the body of believers themselves, with all becoming part of a royal priesthood. This wasn't meant to be replaced by new temple buildings with intermediary priests. Instead, the building became just a roof for the church to gather under, and the priests are replaced by shepherds we call pastors.
The biblical pattern clearly shows a dual-gathering approach: united house churches across a city, functioning as one church body with a shared mission to make disciples.
Leadership In The Church
We want to submit everything we do as a church, to the authority of Scripture, and “authority” is something that has come up often when we talk to people about Ekklesia Churches. The most common question is “who gave you the authority to start a church?”
Honestly, we don’t believe we’re starting anything. Instead, we’re doing our best to be faithful to the original call of Jesus to make disciples. Our authority to do this, unlike Catholic doctrine, is not found in a version of apostolic succession. Our commission and equipping is found in our adherence to words of Jesus, and His Apostles, as written in the New Testament.
From its beginning, the church has been an organization and organism rooted in the concept of decentralization. By a work of God, the temple went from being on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, to being in every believer with the Holy Spirit. By a work of God, the priesthood went from being a specific Jewish bloodline (Levites), to a priesthood of all believers.
While we have great respect for churches who submit to the authority of Scripture, we don’t believe they have special authority that comes from anything other than their submission to Scripture.
What Is The Biblical Model for Leadership?
The Bible has a lot to say about church leadership, and provides detailed principles for how the church should be governed and led. Based on a clear reading of Scripture, we believe the church is to be lead by a plurality of elders, who are also called pastors. In the New Testament, “elder” and “pastor” are two terms for the same role. We will use the term pastor most often when referring to this role.
Jesus set this precedent during His early ministry, that this role of leadership was not a solo role, by sending out the disciples in pairs (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1). The early church continued this work of appointing multiple elders in every church (Acts 14:23), and Paul determines this as a priority for Titus in every town (Titus 1:5).
What are the qualifications for pastors?
While everyone is called to follow Jesus, and is called to make disciples, not everyone is called to be a pastor. There are specific qualifications provided by Scripture for those who would become pastors. These qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 and include:
Being above reproach - having a good public reputation in and out of the church
Husband of one wife - faithful in marriage, and living a life of sexual purity
Manages his own home and family well, and not a lover of money
Sober-minded and self-controlled, not given to violence, quarrels, or drunkenness
Respectable and hospitable toward others
Able to teach and preach well from Scripture
A mature believer, not a recent convert to Christianity
A man, pastoral leadership is not a role women are called to in the church (see also 1 Timothy 2:12-14).
What is the role of the pastors in the church?
These men are to serve together, holding one another accountable to Scripture, acting as shepherds over the church in their care, watching over the souls of the people (Hebrews 13:17), and setting an example for them (1 Peter 5:3). Their primary work includes:
Preaching and teaching from Scripture (2 Tim 4:2)
Protecting the church against false teaching (Titus 1:9)
Praying for and with the church (Acts 6:4)
Equipping the church for the work of discipleship (Ephesians 4:12)
How is the leadership of Ekklesia Churches structured to reflect this?
Based on the structure of the gathered church already discussed, we believe practically there need to be pastors functioning at both the house church level, and at the larger gathered church level. Since we are early in the life of our church, there’s a lot of overlap in those roles. The following is a kind of roadmap to how we plan to function biblically as we grow as a church.
