YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE A SPECTATOR.

Instead of organized services with a prepared sermon from one person, in biblical meetings 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. 

Our goal is to create an environment that fosters open discussion, conversation and mutual discipleship - because leaders are not better than anyone else.

The two greatest commands according to Jesus 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 outlined in Acts 2:42:

• Studying the Bible
• Authentic Fellowship
• Shared Meals
• Group Prayer

When we focus on these disciplines, our relationships will flourish. Joy and holiness will be the result. 

One of Jesus' longest recorded prayers (John 17) is for unity among His followers. 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. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, "if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you."

Our job is not to convince others that we are right - we are to love one another and let God illumine our hearts. 

The life of the believer should be one of order.  The opposite of order is chaos. Chaos breeds confusion, and confusion is of the enemy. 

In the same way, 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. 

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. 

Too much structure chokes out life giving flow. If we are too rigid, we suppress the Holy Spirit.  If we are too free or emotional, order suffers.  In regard to doctrine and practice, we seek balance in all things. 

The word 'ekklesia' is used 117 times in the Greek New Testament - and even though it is most often translated "church", it actually 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.  

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.

Just like when children grow up to adulthood and start their own families, Christians should mature over time, eventually becoming leaders of other believers - we are all on the journey to perfect maturity in God's plan for us. 

If reading these descriptions lights a fire in your soul, you are one of us. We are like those in 2 Samuel 22:2 who were distressed, in debt, and bitter in their souls because they knew Saul's kingdom was not enough. They didn't  fit in with the status quo because they desired something more. They were willing to lay down all the benefits and comforts of blending in to go live in the caves with David.  

You see, Saul's kingdom - institutionalized Christianity - is God's people, but it's God's people operating the way the world does. David, on the other hand, represents the people of the God who are willing to be undignified because they are seeking God's heart with all of their own hearts. If this is you, join us.