Fellowship In The Gospel Series

“FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL” 1 Thess. 2:17-3:5

FBCF – 2/22/26

Jon Daniels

INTRO – How would you answer a lost person who asks you, “What are the benefits of becoming a Christian?”

- Salvation & eternal life

- Safety & Security

- Stability in storms of life

- Spirit-led guidance & leadership

How would you answer someone who is a Christian who asks you, “What are the benefits of joining a church, or joining your church?”

- Connections in community

- Consistent Biblical truth taught & preached

- Compassion in times of grief, pain, & struggle

- Covered in prayer

One word that you might use is the word “fellowship.” In fact, application point says:

APPLICATION – Our fellowship in the Gospel unites us together to do His work.

Word “fellowship” – Used more in a church context than anywhere else. Don’t know of any other group or organization or business that would have a large room designated as a “fellowship hall.” Don’t walk into a school or hospital or office building & ask where the fellowship hall is. Look at you like you’re crazy. But walk into most any church building & ask & they’ll show you right to it. It’s the big room where you eat – which is what we think about most often when we think about fellowship in a church – fried chicken, casseroles, potato salad, that congealed strawberry dish that has the pretzels on the bottom, banana pudding, lemon icebox pie, & the food that only heathens eat, English peas!

Nothing wrong w/ a good meal together as a church FAMILY. In fact, there’s a lot that’s right about that kind of fellowship meal together. Early church – Acts 2:42 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” “breaking of bread” referred to the Lord’s Supper, but also was a common expression for having a meal together – Men’s Steak Supper – March 28 – Ladies “Evening in December” – Youth have pizza fellowships or eat the sacred chicken nuggets from Chick Fil A. A lot of wonderful Gospel conversations happen around a table full of food.

- Psalm 55:14 – “We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.”

- “What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” (NLT)

- “sweet fellowship” (NASB)

- Heb for “sweet fellowship” is namtiq sod – a sweet, pleasant, intimate conversation or counsel

“fellowship” in NT – Gk word koinonia – 20 times in NT – Refers to a deep partnership – the deep intimate connection between us & God, & between fellow Christ-followers. Also speaks to believers & churches working together to spread the Gospel & share the love of Christ w/ those in need. Like these guys here (pics of disaster relief team at Lula).

- 2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – the partnership & intimate connection we have w/ the HS

- Philippians 3:10-11 – “My goal is to know [Christ] and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death…” – “When you are going through a rough time, remember that JC invites you to get to know Him better through it…Suffering is a call to intimacy w/ Jesus.” (Tony Evans)

- 1 John 1:7 – “…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” – As we walk in the light of Jesus & follow Him, we will be deeply connected w/ our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ. We will have a deep desire to work together to get the Gospel out to the world.

As we continue in this “Handbook for the Christ-follower”, let’s consider what it means to “Fellowship in the Gospel.” We’ve already seen that, as Christ-followers, there will be strong evidence in our lives that we belong to Jesus through our strong prayer life, our example that we set, our faith that we spread, & our hope that Jesus is coming again soon. We’ve also seen that we have been entrusted w/ the Gospel, & like the Olympic torch relay runners, we are to pass the Gospel on to others. Our fellowship together in the Gospel is a HUGE part of all of this.

EXPLANATION – 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5

Paul LOVED these folks, as he did all of the churches he was connected to. You know why? B/c when you love Jesus, you love His Church – You love His Bride. You can’t separate them.

- If you tell me, “Jon, I love you but I hate your wife,” then you & I have a serious fellowship problem.