Estero Ekklesia
The Church Alternative
Meeting 10am Sundays at Estero Park
Estero Ekklesia
The Church Alternative
Meeting 10am Sundays at Estero Park
The Church Alternative
Meeting 10am Sundays at Estero Park
The Church Alternative
Meeting 10am Sundays at Estero Park
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.
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 Corinthians 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 above 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:
When we focus on love by through these disciplines, our relationships will flourish, and joy will be the result.
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.
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