Estero Ekklesia

The word ekklesia is used 117 times in the Greek New Testament - and it refers to the ruling council of a city or town. Jesus wasn't starting a religious institution with a leadership structure of men. He was establishing the government of Heaven on Earth.  Believers are to be ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of Heaven, not just church attendees.  Estero Ekklesia exists to partner with believers in SWFL and everywhere as we build one another up in faith and unity.  

Our primary focus is listening for God's voice, obeying Him, and ministering to one another.  Instead of organized services with a prepared sermon from one person, everyone should bring a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Cor 14:26)  We will all grow and benefit as each one uses his or her own gifts and learns to walk in their own calling. 

The two greatest commands are to love God and love people. We want to grow in these and help others do the same by being devoted to the four pillars of Christian success in Acts 2:42. We believe in daily disciplines, the importance of listening to God's voice, and obeying Him.

One of Jesus' longest recorded prayers is about unity. (John 17)  Believers today should be one as Jesus and the Father are one. Our goal is to leave denominational division behind, to accept people where they are, and to embrace what we have in common rather than what separates us. 

We seek balance in all things. We accept people where they are, but we don't compromise on truth.  We speak the truth in love, but we don't tell others what to do. God is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. 

Meetings of believers should be orderly for the sake of serving everyone, but not scripted.  Each person should have an opportunity to share, but there should not be chaos. We don't need a firm start and stop time in the same way we wouldn't put those constraints on a family dinner or game night. 

Believers are family - and we live in relationship with one another.  The ekklesia should be led by the more mature the way loving and mature parents and older siblings lead in a healthy family. Elders are naturally identified as we interact and as people flow in relationship. Ultimately, every believer is a leader at least of him or herself, and we are all on the path toward spiritual maturity.