It’s no secret that the church today has lost its influence in culture. But why? With the technology, affluence and knowledge we have today, why are we less effective than the first-century Church – which didn’t have social media or fancy buildings or professional pastors or even religious freedom? What are we missing?
In these vital, eye-opening pages, bestselling author Ed Silvoso digs into Scripture, unearthing Jesus’ true design for His Church – His Ekklesia. He shows how the early Church was a radical, countercultural force of people who transformed the hostile, pagan places in which they lived. Here Dr. Silvoso shows how we, in the midst of the social, economic, political and moral chaos in our world today, can once again become the revolutionary, transformational, life-giving Ekklesia Jesus called us to be.
Table of Contents:
Gratitude
Introduction: Questions That Brought This Book into Being
Chapter 1: Church: A Radical Proposition – From “Something Wrong” to “Something More”
Chapter 2: Transformation Is a Journey – From Dawn to Full Day
Chapter 3: A Fuller Understanding of the Gates of Hades – From Enslaving Ignorance to Liberating Understanding
Chapter 4: A Fuller Understanding of the Gospel – From the Law and the Prophets to the Gospel of the Kingdom
Chapter 5: A Fuller Understanding of Proclamation – From Words to Deeds
Chapter 6: A Fuller Understanding of the Cross – From an Icon of Death to a Fountain of Life
Chapter 7: A Fuller Understanding of the Great Commission – From Saving Souls to Discipling Nations
Chapter 8: A Fuller Understanding of Cooperation with God – From Contemplation to Partnership
Chapter 9: A Fuller Understanding of New Testament Baptisms – From Religious Ceremonies to Power Encounters
Chapter 10: A New Understanding of Baptizing Nations – From Dipping to Dripping
Chapter 11: A Fuller Understanding of How to Baptize a Nation – From the Sacrament to Societal Transformation
Chapter 12: A Fuller Understanding of the Ekklesia’s Social Agenda – From the Pew to the City Square
Chapter 13: A Fuller Understanding of the Incarnation – From Ethereal to Entrepreneurial
Chapter 14: A Fuller Understanding of What God Loves the Most – From “Out-reach” to “In-reach”
Chapter 15: A Fuller Understanding of Spiritual Authority – From Commiserating in Private to Legislating in Public
Chapter 16: A Fuller Understanding of the Ekklesia’s Operational Methodology – From the Swamp to the River
Chapter 17: The Way Forward – From Doing Church to Being the Ekklesia
Notes
Endorsements:
Contained in these pages are tried-and-true insights and experiences that will inspire the greatest skeptic and equip all who have a heart to see ‘the kingdom of this world become the Kingdom of our God.’ This book is simply brilliant, inspired, profound, and challenging. I encourage you to join me in reading Ekklesia for personal transformation, that we might be equipped to transform the cities and nations for His glory.
Bill Johnson, senior leader, Bethel Church, Redding, California
Ed Silvoso’s newest book, Ekklesia, is not just an important book for church leaders to read and digest – it is an extraordinarily important book! God is moving us into a new season, one that is changing our paradigm from church-centered to Kingdom-centered. Silvoso helps us see the church as not just a congregation with a pastor where we gather in a building on Sunday morning. Rather, the Church is Ekklesia, scattered throughout society carrying the Word and the works of the Kingdom. This change is a complex project, and there is no better road map toward seeing it accomplished than Ed Silvoso’s Ekklesia. You will cherish this book!
C. Peter Wagner (1930-2016), Global Spheres, Inc.
About the Author:
Dr. Ed Silvoso, founder and president of Harvest Evangelism and the leader of the Transform Our World Network, is a strategist and Bible teacher who specializes in nation and marketplace transformation. Trained in both theology and business, he is the author of numerous books, including the bestselling Anointed for Business. His work experience includes banking, hospital administration, financial services and church ministry, as well as coaching leaders on how to take the power and presence of God into the marketplace to see their sphere of influence transformed. Dr. Silvoso and his wife of 49 years, Ruth, have four married daughters and twelve grandchildren.
