Is the Micro Ecclesia God’s New Mega Move? (Ep 345)

Is the future of the Church small and powerful? In this episode, we unpack the rise of the Micro Ecclesia and why it may be Heaven’s disruptive blueprint for cultural transformation. Could the Holy Spirit be breathing on a grassroots model of spiritual governance—relational, agile, and infused with Kingdom power?

Jesus co-opted a secular term, “ecclesia,” and filled it with Heaven’s DNA and authority. Now, that ancient design may be reemerging as a city-on-a-hill movement built to shape culture.

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See the full episode transcript below.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to the Jesus Smart Podcast. I’m Brian Del Turco, and today I want to explore a big question: Is the "Micro Ecclesia" the real mega as far as Jesus is concerned?

Could something original, radical, and deeply powerful be recaptured by Jesus today—something that truly moves the needle in culture, justice, and society? Something that embodies what Jesus meant when He spoke of salt, light, and a city on a hill?

This idea might stretch you. For some, it will ignite fresh excitement. For others, it may raise big question marks. And that’s okay. This is a discovery journey, and I invite you to walk it with me.

Jesus Redefines "Ecclesia"

In Matthew 16, Jesus takes His disciples into Caesarea Philippi, a region steeped in paganism and idol worship. Standing before a massive rock facade, He asks them: “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus responds: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”

But here’s the key: the word Jesus used wasn’t “church” as we think of it—steeples, services, and Sunday mornings. The word was Ecclesia, a term from the Greco-Roman world that described an assembly of citizens empowered to make decisions and extend the culture of the empire.

Jesus took this secular institution, infused it with kingdom DNA, and declared that His Ecclesia would overcome the very portals of hell.

What Is "Micro Ecclesia"?

The Ecclesia isn’t about buildings or religious services—it’s about people with kingdom authority. Jesus validated this when He said in Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there in their midst.”

That’s the kingdom quorum: just two or three authentically gathered in His name carries His headship and authority. This is what we mean by a Micro Ecclesia ... a small Kingdom gathering with massive spiritual potential.

It’s salt and light. It’s leaven in the culture. It’s not confined to four walls or one weekly service.

Salt, Light, and Culture

Early believers wouldn’t have thought of “church” as a building or liturgy. They would have understood Ecclesia as an assembly carrying the presence and authority of King Jesus—just as Roman citizens carried the authority of their emperor wherever they met (a concept called coventus in the Latin).

Imagine how this translates today. Small, Spirit-led gatherings in homes, workplaces, schools, or even coffee shops becoming outposts of kingdom influence.

Education, business, government, arts, media, family. These are all domains where Micro Ecclesia can permeate culture with the life of Christ.

Recovering Jesus' Original Design

Throughout history, Jesus has restored fresh dimensions of His design for His people. Could Micro Ecclesia be one of those rediscoveries today? Yes, fringe expressions may pop up, but that shouldn’t cause us to dismiss the heart of what Jesus is building.

This is not about churchianity or tradition. It’s about aligning with Jesus’ architecture for His people. Like Abraham, we’re seeking the city whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11).

Apostles and Kingdom Builders

Jesus also co-opted the term apostle—not a religious word in His day. An apostolos (Greek) was an admiral leading a fleet, carrying materials and people to build a new colony that looked like Rome.

Likewise, apostolic people in the kingdom are builders, pioneers, and makers. They are those who extend heaven’s culture into new territories. Philippi and Thessalonica were Roman colonies.

The church in those cities were a kingdom colony of heaven.

What About Today?

So what does this mean for us?

• If you’re in education, find two or three who will pray and ideate together for kingdom influence in that space.
• If you’re in business, government, media, or the arts, begin to gather in His name with other Christ-followers who share that sphere.
• Think of your influence as a kingdom career. A parallel calling that extends far beyond your profession.

Like Paul’s handkerchiefs in Acts 19, even ordinary things we touch can become vehicles of transformation when saturated with the presence of God. What could you touch that drives away darkness and brings healing into your sphere?

Closing Thought

The Micro Ecclesia may just be the real mega. Not because of size, but because of alignment with Jesus’ original vision. Accurate alignment is conducive to his authority.

I invite you to explore this with me. Share this episode with friends. Whether they love the idea, feel curious, or even think it’s heresy! Let’s stir the conversation.

Jesus is brilliant, and whatever He builds is truly awesome. Walk with Him, and you’ll catch His brilliance in your own unique way.