Basics Part 3 Series

B.A.S.I.C Series -Part 4

Joke: Many of you heard about Diane falling and hitting her face on the pavement (and she also broke her foot in a couple of places). Well, in honor of her, that reminded me of a joke (I think you ladies will appreciate this one):

Three guys were camping and, like guys do when they get together, they started bragging.....

First guy said, I married a girl from Kansas



Second guy. Well I married a girl from Oklahoma

Third guy said, “I married a girl from Texas...

OPEN: Well, we’ve been talking about the BASICS.

Talked about:

 Bible study

 Quiet Time, and

 Witnessing

 Today there are many “basic”

things I could talk about: o Prayer



oTithing (Giving to the Lord financially)

o Serving oWorship, etc.

But what I felt most compelled to

talk about for this final message in

this series is: FELLOWSHIP

(TELL STORY OF WHEN WE FIRST STARTED RESTORATION FELLOWSHIP CHURCH)

Fellowship IS a BIG Deal. And the

reason why it’s a big deal is because

it’s a big deal to God.

But what is fellowship? Well, in churches we have....

 Fellowship halls

 Fellowship lunches, even

 “’hand-shaking’ fellowship”

during our services.

But does that mean that we are truly “fellowshipping”? Probably not.

The dictionary defines fellowship this way:

Noun

fel·low·ship

/ˈfelōˌSHip/



1. a group of people meeting

together to pursue a shared

interest or aim

The Bible uses another word. The Bible uses the word:

Koinonia (Greek)

It means:

 fellowship

 community

 participation

 intimacy

 it literally means “to share

everything in your life” (everything that is permissible by God)



SET-Up Video:

A fellow Pastor that I highly respect teaches about the biblical importance of “Fellowship”. His name is Frances Chan and he is a highly sought after speaker at many Christian conferences today. Please listen to what he has to say about FELLOWSHIP. PLAY VIDEO

TEXT:

Acts 2:42 says All the believers

devoted themselves to the apostles’

teaching, and to fellowship, and to

sharing in meals (including the

Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Three Biblical Reasons for

Fellowship

# 1 - Fellowship Builds Faith

A. We strengthen and support one another when we fellowship

a. Carryeachother’s

burdens, and in this way you

will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

b. Haveyoueverwondered what that last part means “fulfill the law of Christ”

i. Contrast the Law of Moses and the Law of Jesus

B.

1. Onewasafault- finder

2. Theotherisafault- over-looker

3. John13:34"Anew

command I give you:

Love one another. As I

have loved you, so

you must love one

another.

Galatians 6:1 says Dear brothers

and sisters, if another believer is

overcome by some sin, you who are

godly should gently and humbly

help that person back onto the right

path. And be careful not to fall into

the same temptation yourself.

# 2 – Fellowship Builds

Relationships

a. Acts 2:44 says, “And all the

believers met together in one

place and shared everything

they had.”

b. Jesus prayed for us in John 17. And you know what he prayed? That we would be ONE! And that’s what Fellowship will do! Listen to what he prayed:

21

I pray that they will all be

one, just as you and I are one—

as you are in me, Father, and I

am in you. And may they be in

us so that the world will

believe you sent me.

TRANSITION: SO WHY FELLOWSHIP? # 1 - BECAUSE FELLOWSHIP BUILDS FAITH AND # 2 - FELLOWSHIP BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS.

AND

QUOTE: One pastor said this about Fellowship:

“The local church will grow if the people in the church devote themselves to fellowshipping with one another. We have to do whatever it takes to spend more

# 3 – FELLOWSHIP BUILDS

THE KINGDOM OF GOD



time with one another in and out of church, this is a great witness to the community. When people see such a close knit group of people they will want to be a part of the fellowship here.”

 We are often called and compared to sheep. Imagine that we are a flock or herd of sheep. And there are many wolves around us. They are trying to get to us and tear us apart, but they cannot. Why? Because we stick together. We are stronger as a group than we are as individuals.

 Now, let one or two stray away and say “I really don’t need to fellowship, I can go

over here and “do my own thing”. That one has now put themselves in a dangerous and compromising position. They are now an easier target for the wolf.

CLOSE: Talk about Fellowship Groups.