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Kid's Wisdom
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The Called-Out Body
The New Testament Church
Reading: 2 Tim. 1:7-12
I. The Meaning of the term "church."
A. Derivation of the English word, church.
1. ME chirch, from OE, circe; Scottish, kirk.
2. Akin to Old High German: kirihha, church.
3. Both of the above derive from an earlier
Western Germanic word, derived from Late
Greek: kyriakon, from Greek (neuter form)
kyriakos, "of the Lord"; which itself is
from Greek kurios, "lord, master."
B. Derivation of the Greek word, ekklesia.
1. This will be the focus of our study, "the
called-out" body.
2. Gr. ek (out of) plus klesis, (a calling)
which itself is from kaleo (to call).
3. The Greek derivation, simply put "the
called out."
4. But, some think that though the word had
this derivation, those who used the word
would not have thought of its derivation.
a. This has not always been the view; I've
heard many sermons teaching that the
church is the called-out body.
b. But see these English words that show
sometimes words lose there derivational
meanings:
(1) salary, from word for salt.
(2) enthusiasm, from word for inspiration,
God + in.
(3) stadium, from a Roman distance
measurement.
(4) missile, from a word meaning to throw.
(5) robe, related to the word "rob" to
plunder.
(6) mall, from a French game that was
played in an alley with a ball, mallet
and hoops; CF pall-mall; especially
derived from the word for mallet.
C. The church is "the called-out" body that
"belongs to the Lord." This is all we mean
when we identify our selves as a "church of
Christ."
II. Usage of the Greek word, ekklesia.
A. Ek (out of) plus Klesis (a calling): a
calling out.
B. Usage of ekklesia other than to the body of
Christ
1. body of citizens (Acts 19:39).
2. mob (Acts 19:32, 41).
3. Israel (Acts 7:38).
C. Ekklesia applied to the body of Christ.
1. Universally (all the called-out).
a. Matt. 16:18, Jesus to build His church.
b. Eph. 5:23-25, the bride of Christ.
c. All Christian are individually members of
the universal church.
2. Locally, or regionally.
a. 1 Cor. 1:2, Corinth
b. 1 Cor. 16:1, Galatia
c. Col. 4:16, Laodicea
d. 1 Thess. 1:1, Thessalonica.
e. Rev. 2, 3, the seven local churches in
Asia Minor.
f. This meaning would apply to the local
church here.
III. The Nature of the Calling
A. Even if the word, ekklesia, was not always
identified with being "called-out," the
people in the church certainly were
called-out. It is a...
B. Divine Calling (2 Tim. 1:7-9).
C. Calling into One Body.
1. Fellowship
a. 1 Cor. 1:9
b. cf. Matt. 28:18-19 baptized into the name
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. Peace in the one body.
a. Col. 3:15, cf. Eph. 2:14, 16.
b. 1 Cor. 7:15, "God has called us to
peace."
D. Calling to be Children of God.
1. Rom. 9:25-26
2. 1 John 3:1
E. Calling to be Saints
1. Rom. 1:7
2. 1 Cor. 1:2; cf. sanctified in 6:11.
F. Holy Calling
1. already noted 2 Tim. 1:7-9, "saved us and
called us with a holy calling..."
2. 1 Pet. 1:15-16
G. Heavenly Calling (Heb. 3:1).
H. Calling into Eternal Glory (1 Pet. 5:10).
I. Calling-out of Darkness into Light.
1. Note: here is a passage that teaches the
church is called-out, even if the
derivation of the Greek word were unknown.
2. Out of an evil age (Gal. 1:4).
IV. How We Are Called-Out
A. Made possible by the suffering of Christ (1
Pet. 2:21).
B. Called by the Gospel.
1. Read 2 Thess. 2:13-14.
2. Some unscriptural ideas:
a. God speaks directly to each one.
b. Called by the Gospel (Rom. 10:13-15).
3. This is the importance of preaching.
4. Can you see why you should teach others?
5. Have you heeded this call?
V. The Hope of this Calling
A. That we may be worthy (2 Thess. 1:11-12; Eph.
4:1-3).
B. To inherit a blessing.
1. 1 Pet. 3:9
2. Members of God's household (Eph. 2:19).
C. Called unto perfection (Phil. 3:13-16).
D. Make your calling and election sure (2 Pet.
1:10).
CONCLUSION:
1. The Church is "the called-out."
a. Called by Christ.
b. Out of the World.
c. A unique body of people belonging to the
Lord.
2. Satan, and his World, continue to call us
back into Darkness.
3. Have you heeded the call of the Lord to be
saved by faith?
4. Are you still walking worthy of the
calling?
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