I Will Build My Church

Part two of Matt 16:15-19. Working through passages dealing with the topic of the kingdom, I come to this passage which is too complex to deal with in one post.

Part 1: On What Rock
Part 2: I Will Build My Church
Part 3: Gates of Hades and Keys of the Kingdom

Matt 16:15-19 (NIV)

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Church?

One of only two passages that record Jesus using the term church (ekklēsia). I've recently studied what Jesus had to say about Church. Here are some summary thoughts:

• The word church/ekklesia comes with an open participatory flavor. It's roots are with the roots of democracy. All the members at the assembly had an equal voice.
• Jesus didn't focus much on the topic of church. Maybe as followers of Christ we should also be more focused on the Kingdom than we are on Church.
  
• Jesus said He would build his church. He didn't say we would build His church. Jesus did command us to seek His kingdom and to go and make disciples.
• At the end of the other passage we may have a simple definition of church according to Jesus. Simply where two or three are gathered in His name.

First Post: On What Rock
Next Post: Gates of Hades and Keys of the Kingdom

Related Posts:

• On What Rock - part 1 of this passage
• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Church Etymology
• Jesus on Church
• Plugins Extensions and Add-ons and the Church
• I don't go to church