Understanding Christian Fellowship Understanding Christian Fellowship Fellowship is

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Understanding Christian Fellowship

Understanding Christian Fellowship

Understanding Christian Fellowship “Fellowship” is found 15 times in N. T. It’s Greek word

Understanding Christian Fellowship “Fellowship” is found 15 times in N. T. It’s Greek word κοινωνία (koinonia) “Partnership, participation” Koinonia is used 20 x and is translated: Fellowship 12 x; Communion 4 x; Communication 2 x, distribution 1 x, contribution 1 x. Comes from the root koinos, meaning to share!

Understanding Christian Fellowship 5 of the references to Fellowship are about our relationship with

Understanding Christian Fellowship 5 of the references to Fellowship are about our relationship with God. (1 Cor 1: 9; Eph. 3: 9; Phil. 3: 10; 1 Jn 1: 3, 6) 7 of them are about our relationship with Each other! (Acts 2: 42; 2 Cor. 8: 4; Gal. 2: 9; Phil. 1: 5; 2: 1; 1 Jn 1: 3; 7)

Understanding Christian Fellowship 3 are about the reality that even believers can be in

Understanding Christian Fellowship 3 are about the reality that even believers can be in fellowship with the Devil! (1 Cor. 10: 20; 2 Cor 6: 4; Eph. 5: 11) “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ”

Understanding Christian Fellowship Just as Fellowship with God (Or Satan) involves our Partnering with

Understanding Christian Fellowship Just as Fellowship with God (Or Satan) involves our Partnering with Him, so true Fellowship with each other also involves a Partnership. This “partnership” involves a Process.

1. The process of Fellowship involves: A. MEMBERSHIP. Choosing to belong. Acts 2: 41

1. The process of Fellowship involves: A. MEMBERSHIP. Choosing to belong. Acts 2: 41 “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. ” God wants you to identify with Him and his church. “and they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (didachē’: truth) and Fellowship. . . ” Fellowship (koinonia: Partnership and Participation!)

1. The Process of Fellowship B. Friendship involves learning: 1) To Share! Act 2:

1. The Process of Fellowship B. Friendship involves learning: 1) To Share! Act 2: 44, 45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common” (koinos: to share) 2) To Sharpen! Pr 27: 17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpens The countenance of his friend. ” “Friend” from rāʿâ (shepherd: tend a flock!) Heb. 3: 13; 10: 24, 25

1. The Process of Fellowship C. Partnership 1 Cor. 3: 9 1) Being Part

1. The Process of Fellowship C. Partnership 1 Cor. 3: 9 1) Being Part of something bigger than myself! “We are laborers together with God: 2) Working together toward a common goal! ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building”

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. It provides a Safe environment to grow. 1

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. It provides a Safe environment to grow. 1 Cor 3: 9 “Ye are God’s husbandry” a) People (like Plants) need some shelter from harsh elements in order to develop. “A friend is a person with whom I may think aloud. ” Ralph W. Emerson

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. It provides a Safe environment to grow. “A

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. It provides a Safe environment to grow. “A friend is one who accepts you are; understands where you've been; appreciates who you've become and still, gently invites you to grow. ” William Shakespeare

2. The Purpose of Fellowship 1 Cor 3: 9 “Ye are God’s husbandry” b)

2. The Purpose of Fellowship 1 Cor 3: 9 “Ye are God’s husbandry” b) People (like Plants) grow best when there is a healthy variety around. 1 Cor 12: 4 -7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, administrations but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all. the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ”

2. The Purpose of Fellowship c) Diversity allows me to draw from the strengths

2. The Purpose of Fellowship c) Diversity allows me to draw from the strengths of others. 1 Cor 12: 12 -26 12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, are one body: so also is Christ. (His Church vs 27) 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. ”

2. The Purpose of Fellowship c) Diversity allows me to draw from the strengths

2. The Purpose of Fellowship c) Diversity allows me to draw from the strengths of others. 1 Cor 12: 12 -26 17 “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye can’t say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ”

2. The Purpose of Fellowship Satan seeks to use our differences to divide us!

2. The Purpose of Fellowship Satan seeks to use our differences to divide us! (Jn 10: 10 a) God desires and designs our differences to Develop us, By deepening our dependence on Him and each other, producing Strength, not Strife. Eccl. 4: 9 -12

2. The Purpose of Fellowship B. It provides a School- room for obedience and

2. The Purpose of Fellowship B. It provides a School- room for obedience and development. “The Christian Life would be easy if it weren’t for all these people and problems. ” 1) It’s in the context of committed relationships that we fulfil many of God’s commands. a) Here’s a partial list of 54 “one another” commands that can’t be fulfilled without each other.

2. The Purpose of Fellowship (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) Love

2. The Purpose of Fellowship (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) Love one another. (Jn. 13: 34) Serve one another. (Gal. 5: 13) Receive (Accept) one another. (Ro. 15: 7) Forbear one another. (Eph. 4: 2) Forgive one another. (Eph. 4: 32) Restore one another. (Gal. 6: 1) Bear one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6: 2) Honor one another. (Ro. 12: 10)

2. The Purpose of Fellowship (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

2. The Purpose of Fellowship (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) Exhort one another. (Heb. 3: 13) Consider one another. (Heb. 10: 23, 24) Provoke one another. (Heb. 10: 24) Assemble with one another. (Heb. 10: 25) Teach one another. (Eph. 5: 19) Submit to one another. (Eph. 5: 21) Comfort one another. (1 Thes. 5: 11) Edify (build up) one another. (1 Thes. 5: 11) Pray for one another. (Phil. 4: 6; Eph. 6: 18)

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. A Safe environment for growth B. A classroom

2. The Purpose of Fellowship A. A Safe environment for growth B. A classroom for obedience and development. Gal 5: 22 -23 ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ” How many of these “fruits” (qualities) can truly develop in isolation?

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God.

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God. 1 Jn. 3: 14 -23 14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. "

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God.

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God. 1 Jn 3: 16 -17 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ”

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God.

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God. 18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. ”

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God.

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God. 21 “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another. ” another

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God.

3. The Priority of Fellowship A. It’s a Test of our Relationship with God. 1 Jn. 4: 20 "If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: (See Jer. 17: 9) for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also. " 21

3. The Priority of Fellowship B. It’s a Testimony to a lost world! Jn

3. The Priority of Fellowship B. It’s a Testimony to a lost world! Jn 13: 34 -35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, disciples if ye have love one to another. ” See also Jn 17: 20 -23

3. The Priority of Fellowship Matthew 5: 13 -14 “Ye are the salt of

3. The Priority of Fellowship Matthew 5: 13 -14 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ”

3. The Priority of Fellowship Matthew 5: 15 -16 “Neither do men light a

3. The Priority of Fellowship Matthew 5: 15 -16 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ”

Understanding Fellowship 1. It involves a process. Acts 2: 41, 42 Ø Membership (Belonging)

Understanding Fellowship 1. It involves a process. Acts 2: 41, 42 Ø Membership (Belonging) Ø Friendship (Sharing) Ø Partnership (Ministering/Serving) Where are you in this process?

Understanding Fellowship 2. It accomplishes God’s Purposes by providing: ØA Safe Environment for Growth

Understanding Fellowship 2. It accomplishes God’s Purposes by providing: ØA Safe Environment for Growth ØA School- room for obedience and development In God’s Classroom of spiritual growth Are you absent or active?

Understanding Fellowship 3. It enables the pursuit of God’s Priorities. Ø Test the quality

Understanding Fellowship 3. It enables the pursuit of God’s Priorities. Ø Test the quality of our Relationships How are your “test” scores? Ø Provide A Testimony to a lost world What do your priorities and practices say to those around you about your commitment to God? (& His people)?

Understanding Fellowship If genuine, biblical Christianity (Including genuine fellowship) were illegal, Would there be

Understanding Fellowship If genuine, biblical Christianity (Including genuine fellowship) were illegal, Would there be enough evidence to convict you?