The document discusses lichen as an example of symbiotic relationship between algae and fungus. It then discusses the definition of church, focusing on the Greek words "ecclesia" meaning called out ones, and "koinonia" meaning fellowship. It emphasizes that koinonia describes the intimate spiritual communion and participation between believers and with God. Several Bible verses are presented to support pursuing love of God and love for one another as the purpose of the church. The document concludes by stating God is looking for a church that resembles lichen, with a structure that encourages diversity while being life-giving to individuals and community.

1. Algae

2. Fungus/Fungi

8. LICHEN
Numerous complex plantlike organisms made up of an
algae and a fungus growing in symbiotic association on a
solid surface (such as a rock or tree)
Symbiotic: is a type of relationship of common benefit or dependence; the
relationship between two different kinds of living things that live together
and depend on each other

9. A LIFE GIVING
CREATION
Lichen is an illustration of an
intimate merger where two
living organisms have a
mutually dependent and a
mutually productive
relationship, creating
something together that is
more dynamic than either of
them alone could achieve!

10. THE CHURCH
Ecclesia and Koinonia

11. “CHURCH”
! Ecclesia
! “the called-out ones”
! A governmental body, not a building
! Matt 16:18-19 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on
this rock I will build My church (ecclesia), and the gates of
Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed
in heaven.”
!

12. ! Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all things under His
feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the
church (ecclesia), which is His body, the fullness of
Him who fills all in all.”
! Colossians 1:17-18 “And He is before all things, and in
Him all things consist. And He is the head of the
body, the church (ecclesia), who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may
have the preeminence.”

13. ! Koinonia
! Strong’s- fellowship, association, community,
communion, joint participation, intercourse
! Merrian-Webster- intimate spiritual communion
and participation; sharing in a common religious
commitment and spiritual community

14. ! Koinonia is the expression of intimacy, communion,
and covenant that a group of people share with
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, AND each other.
! Same horizontally as vertically
! Displayed through love- love for God, love for each
other

15. ! Matthew 22:36-40 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
! John 13:34-351. 34 “I give you a new
commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved
you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how
everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you
love each other.”

16. ! John 14:20-24 20 On that day you will realize that I am
in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the
one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved
by my Father, and I too will love them and show
myself to them.”…23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves
me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with
them.!

17. ! John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I
have loved you.
! John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
! 1 Cor 13, Gal 5, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians

18. -Rick Joyner
“God created us to have relationships horizontally as well
as vertically. You cannot be rightly connected to the Head
without being rightly connected to His body.”

19. ! Bob Jones 11/12/13: The Lord is calling forth a
mature remnant to promote them with new
authority. They will have the ability to come
together in unity because they have settled their
affections on Him (Colossians 3:2). Therefore, they
can agree with one another in unity. And when they
do, they will have koinonia (communion) together for
the common purpose of the Church. When they meet
together in unity, a higher wisdom will be imparted.

20. ! This remnant can be found in 1 Corinthians
2:6-10:“However, we speak wisdom among those who
are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the
rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden
wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our
glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for
had they known, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not
seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the
heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him."

21. ! But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things
of God. For what man knows the things of a man
except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so
no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of
God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might
know the things that have been freely given to us by
God.

22. ! The Church has gone through a rather severe testing
for the last six or seven years but that time has come
to an end. Now is a time of closing out the old books
and opening new ones. It's an end of one time and the
beginning of a new one. Those who've been
promoted will become the leaders of the
Church and they will minister by what they
hear from the Holy Spirit. In this promotion
there will be an understanding of what God
wants done and how to do it.

23. ! Get ready to bury the good and bad past and come
into maturity where everyone hears from God in
corporate meetings. Then His plans and purpose can
be set in motion because the Body has come into
agreement with Him. Then at the end of this time the
greater works will begin. And one of the things we will
do first is glorify the Father in great signs and
wonders.

24. ! “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone
steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to
do the things that I do; and he will do even greater
things than these, because I go to the Father. And I
will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My
Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father
may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.
John 14:12-13, Amplified

25. KOINONIA

26. ! 1 Thes 3:12-1312 May the Lord cause you to increase
and enrich your love for each other and for everyone
in the same way as we also love you. 13 May the love
cause your hearts to be strengthened, to be blameless
in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord
Jesus comes with all his people.

27. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A CHURCH
THAT LOOKS LIKE LICHEN!
! A governmental structure that is life giving and
encourages diversity and uniqueness in individuals
! A governmental structure that doesn’t devour the
individual
! Individuals who are life giving to the community
! Individuals that are as committed to loving each other
well as they are to loving God well