Worship Matters SESSION
Ekklesia | October 2025
SESSION NOTES ARE BELOW
SESSION NOTES
🕊 INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIA
I. The Current Crisis of Ecclesiology
Many today say things like:
“I follow Jesus, but I don’t need church.”
“I love Jesus, but not the church.”
“I don’t believe in institutional church.”
These attitudes, often born out of hurt or disillusionment, lead to devastating consequences — separating believers from God’s design for His people.
Cultural Tension:
Even as some abandon church, Gen Z and Millennials are returning to it (Barna).
➡️ It’s urgent that we recover a biblical understanding of Church (Ecclesia).
II. Misguided Modern Views
Common statements like:
“The church is not the building.”
“We need to get the church outside the four walls.”
While well-intentioned, can subtly undermine the sacredness of gathering.
Biblically, the Church gathering has always been about:
Worshipping God & experiencing His presence.
Equipping the saints.
Reaching the world.
The seeker-sensitive movement inverted these priorities—centring gatherings around people, not Presence.
➡️ We’ve sought to get more people in the church, instead of more of God in the church.
III. The Big Idea
Church is not a product, program, or event.
It is:
A dwelling place for God - Eph. 2:21–22
A heavenly race and divine society- Eph. 2:19
A priesthood with royal authority- 1 Pet. 2:9
A family joined by Christ’s blood- Eph. 2:19
The pillar and foundation of truth - 1 Tim. 3:15
The Body of Christ
IV. Built on the Rock (Matthew 16)
The Law of First Mention:
When Jesus first uses the word ekklesia in Matthew 16, He sets the foundation for the Church.
Jesus: The Master Builder (Heb. 3:3; Eph. 2:20).
The Church must be built precisely on His blueprint—the revelation of Jesus Christ.
“Who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:15
Peter responds by revelation:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
V The Spirit of Revelation
Peter’s confession wasn’t learned—it was revealed.
“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father…” (Matt. 16:17)
This is the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation (Eph. 1:17–19):
The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to behold Jesus.
➡️ True theology flows from revelation.
➡️ True worship flows from beholding.
VI. The Rock Revealed
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church…” (Matt. 16:18)
The rock is not Peter the man, nor just doctrine.
The rock is the revelation of Jesus Christ as received by the Spirit.
The Church is built on revelation
Presence-centred, worshipful, and full of encounter.
“You yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house…” – 1 Pet. 2:5
VII. Implications for How We Build Church
(1) Gathered Around Presence – Not Platforms
“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you…”
We are discipled by beholding Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).
The maturity of the Church is tied to its revelation of Christ.
Worship leaders: your essential job is to lead people to behold Jesus.
(2) Gathered to Be Priestly – Not Observe Priests
“You are… a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices…” – 1 Pet. 2:4–5
Priestly:
To minister to the Lord before ministering for Him.
Church is first for God, not man.
Our first ministry is to move God’s heart, not people’s.
The early Church functioned as a temple (presence-dwelling), not a synagogue (teaching-centre).
Isaiah 56:6–7 — “My house shall be called a house of prayer…”
➡️ Church as temple = continual worship, prayer, and presence.
➡️ Each believer: a living priest, ministering before God.
Our priesthood:
Is corporate – a family of priests.
Is relational – ministering to God through love and devotion.
Is missional – carrying His Presence into the world.
(3) Gathered to Execute Kingdom Authority – Not Run Events
“On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” – Matt. 16:18
Ekklesia in Greek culture:
A civic assembly called out to exercise governmental authority.
They legislated, judged, and decreed for their city under the ruler’s authority.
Jesus redeems this term to describe His people:
Called out, assembled, and authorized under the rule of Christ.
FunctionDescriptionIdentityCalled out from the worldAuthorityEmpowered to rule under the KingStructureOrdered, intentional, and missional
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” – 1 Pet. 2:9
We are a new society within society—declaring the excellencies of our King.
VIII. The Keys of the Kingdom
“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven…” – Matt. 16:19 (AMP)
Keys = Authority.
The Church, built on revelation and presence, is entrusted with authority to:
Bind and loose
Open and shut
Release heaven on earth
These keys are expressed through:
🗝 Worship
🗝 Prayer
🗝 Intercession
The Church contends with the gates of hell, freeing captives and advancing the Kingdom through prayerful, worshipful warfare.
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” – Eph. 6:12–18
IX. The Song of the Ecclesia – Psalm 149
Our worship is warfare.
“Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands…” – Ps. 149:6
Worship and intercession bind kings with chains and execute the judgments written.
➡️ This is the honor of all His saints!
X. Summary: The Church Jesus Builds
Presence-Centred - Gathered to host God’s presence and behold Him.
Priestly - Ministering to the Lord in worship and prayer
Authoritative - Exercising heaven’s rule on earth
Revelatory - Built on the Spirit of Revelation
Relational - A family joined by Christ’s blood
Missional - Declaring His excellencies among the nations
💡 Reflection Questions
How does our modern view of “church” differ from Jesus’ revelation of ekklesia?
What does it mean for you personally to be part of a “royal priesthood”?
How can we practically shift our gatherings from platforms to presence?
What role do worship and prayer play in exercising the “keys of the Kingdom”?
How does revelation fuel both theology and worship?
📖 Key Scriptures
Matthew 16:13–19
Ephesians 1:17–19
1 Peter 2:4–9
Isaiah 56:6–7
Psalm 149
Ephesians 6:12–18