April 8, 2024
“Church.” What comes to mind when you hear that word? For most of us, what comes to mind never came to the mind of the 1st century followers of Jesus (e.g., a building, a religious institution). The world we live in desperately needs “the Church” today to become who we were and live how we lived in the 1st century.
We are excited to bring the Hiller Lectureship to Edmonton, AB, next month! Join us on Monday night, May 6, for worship, learning, and conversation at Taylor Seminary’s Stencel Hall. The evening will focus on helping reclaim for today what it meant in our yesteryear to be called “the ekklēsia” – “the church.”
The ancient ekklēsia was the official gathering of the citizens of a Greek city-state during which they considered and voted upon recommendations brought forward by the city councilors. When the early Christians called themselves “ekklēsia” they were making a bold statement: they implied that they were a group of residents who were committed to the well-being of their town/city.
What would happen today if our “churches” reclaimed their original ekklēsia identity and expanded their vision as citizens of the Kingdom to include ways in which they could be a blessing beyond their walls, beyond their local neighbourhoods, and into their town and city halls?
Come and join us as we muse together on how who we are as an ekklēsia can affect how we live as heavenly citizens committed to the well-being of our earthly towns and cities.
Details
Monday, May 6, 2024
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Free and open to the public. No RSVP needed.
Stencel Hall at Taylor Seminary
11525 – 23 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
About Dr. Ralph Korner
Hiller Lecture Presenter and Facilitator:
Dr. Ralph Korner serves as the Professor of Biblical Studies at Kairos University. He received his PhD in 2014 from McMaster University and holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Trinity Western. He is an alumnus of Taylor (’82, BAR) and served as Campus Pastor at Taylor University College from 2000-2001 and 2002-2006. Dr. Korner also served as adjunct instructor for Taylor University College in NT from 2002-2007. He also has 11 years of pastoral experience at two NAB churches in Edmonton.
His PhD program was focused on early Christianity and early Judaism, and his doctoral thesis explored the early use and meaning of Ekklesia (“assembly”, usually translated “church in English New Testaments).