How Does the Church as a "Called-Out Assembly" Change How You Live?
In a recent sermon from Acts 15, a point was made that the church is all of those that God has been calling out from the nations for himself. In fact, the word for Church in the New Testament, ἐκκλησία (ekklesia), literally means a “called-out” assembly. The church is the collection of those people who God has called and redeemed to Himself through the death of the Son, Jesus Christ. The one thing that binds everyone in the church together is that they each have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, and thus are adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 2:19).
While the church being a called-out assembly is worthy of celebrating, it doesn’t bring any clarity to how that should affect your daily life as a Christian. Here are a few realities to being called into God’s kingdom and out of the world.
To begin to see this you have to realize that the church isn’t a physical location, but is a spiritual calling. Ekklesia is used 114 times in the New Testament and it always designates a people, and never a place. 1 Peter 2:9 drives at this truth, “but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness in his marvelous light.” So the church is those that God is calling out from every nation on the earth, to form a new spiritual nation. Do you fully identify yourself as a member of the kingdom of God?
After being called, this called-out assembly of people has new rules to live by, given to us by Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9 calls it a “holy calling.” The holiness means that it aligns with God’s moral design and ethic for the world and for his people. Romans 12:2 gives this command, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” There should be a marked difference between those in God’s church, and the world that surrounds them. This difference is one thing that will identify you.
Here’s something important to notice though, when your purposes and character begin to align with your calling from God and away from the world, it causes friction and strife with those in the world around you. Jesus taught this himself, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). A called-out assembly lives in such a way that it openly rejects the ways of the world. The cost to you that comes from the hate of the world must be counted if you will follow God in His holy calling. Are you following God’s holy calling, or are you blending in and looking like the world around you?
Growing in God’s ways, and discerning how to stand against worldly influences isn’t easy. Thankfully, this is where the assembly portion of the word ekklesia comes in. You aren’t called out to be alone, but into a community where everyone is striving for the same holiness. From within the safety of this called-out community we cultivate Christ-like attributes in our lives, while supporting and edifying one another. Together we grow through biblical disciplines: we study the Bible together, pray with one another, sing praises to God together, and serve shoulder to shoulder with one another. Every discipline that we practice together fosters personal growth for yourself, while also strengthening the entire community. Are you taking advantage of the strength found within the called-out assembly?
King’s Hill Church strives to be this type of community. We value Jesus over everything, which means we live for His kingdom over every other pursuit in our lives. While there is community found during our Sunday worship gatherings, the real assembly and deepest Christian community can be found in Life Groups meeting each week, or in groups such as our discipleship cohorts. Take advantage of these opportunities, in order to grow together as a God-pursuing called-out assembly. What step do you need to take today to live out this reality?
