Church: The Gathering Gathering

The Church: Ekklêsia
ekklêsia means assembly, gathering, reunion.
Israel assembles as ekklêsia (1 Kings 8:14).
Israel is scattered among the nations (2 Kings 25).
Israel's regathering is prophesied and begun

(Jer 3:14-17, 2 Chron 36:22-23, 1 Pet 1:1, Eph 1:22-23).

The Church ...

... is located between Christ's ascension and return.
... reflects the Kingdom's "already" (Matt 12:28) and "not yet" (Matt 13:47-50).
... "manifests the Kingdom without being identified with it."
... is concrete more than abstract, and a 'who' more than a 'what.'
... involves a shared life characterized by Christ's reign and the Spirit's power.
... is centered more clearly than bounded.
... is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

Church Life in Gospel Perspective
The apostolic paradigm of the canonical biblical narrative contextualizes life in "the communion of saints":
Life from the Father: We serve the Father and embrace the life he offers in the Son and Spirit:

Praying the Lord's Prayer exercises our human agency in God's contexts of creation, redemption, and consummation.
Keeping the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, etc. glorifies the Father, honors God's reign, and receives its wisdom (Ps 119).

Death in the Son: We follow the Son for the sake of the Father (Matt 5-7, 1 Cor 15).

Discipleship incorporates us into the Son's revolutionary renewal.
As Christ's bride, we forsake all others to "love, honor, and obey" (cf. Eph 5:21-33).
Corporate and individual lives of worship/sacramental participation, devotion/contemplation, mission/service, etc. "Christ-shape" our imaginations, minds, and relationships.

Resurrection by the Spirit: We abide for Spirit-driven and -filled fruitfulness in God's Kingdom (Matt 24-25, John 14-17).

Practicing spiritual disciplines from various church traditions habituate us to and through God's grace.
Cultivating cardinal as well as theological virtues anticipates our human responsibilities in the new creation (2 Cor 3-5).