TEXT: Romans 12:9-16
TITLE: What does Fellowship do?
TOPIC: The Playing Church part 2 - Fellowship
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, March 9th, 2008
PROP.: I want you to see the benefits of true fellowship; to understand what fellowship will do!
INTRODUCTION: Good morning. At this time, our Jr. Church is dismissed. Would you please pass those little black attendance pads down your pew so that everyone has an opportunity to sign in.
This month, our focus is on becoming the church of fellowship. Last week we looked at what is fellowship. We learned that fellowship is: Centered on Faith, Fellowship feels like family, and Fellowship looks like friendship.
I want to review the definition we gave you last week:
“The intimate sharing of our lives together under the rule and reign of Christ."
Today, we are going to continue exploring how fellowship can practically affect our body here at Burnside Christian Church.
ILLUSTRATION: APPENDIX…what does it do? Raise your hand if you have had your appendix removed.
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Scientists discover true function of appendix organ
By Barbara Miller
Posted Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:17am AEST

Scientists say the appendix might have been a place for good bacteria to localise in, like a little cul-de-sac away from everything else [File photo]. (Reuters: Pascal Rossignol )
It has long been regarded as a potentially troublesome, redundant organ, but American researchers say they have discovered the true function of the appendix.
The researchers say it acts as a safe house for good bacteria, which can be used to effectively reboot the gut following a bout of dysentery or cholera.
The conventional wisdom is that the small pouch protruding from the first part of the large intestine is redundant and many people have their appendix removed and appear none the worse for it.
Scientists from the Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina say following a severe bout of cholera or dysentery, which can purge the gut of bacteria essential for digestion, the reserve good bacteria emerge from the appendix to take up the role.
But Professor Bill Parker says the finding does not mean we should cling onto our appendices at all costs.
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Up until recently, doctors weren’t exactly sure what the appendix was responsible for.
Basically, doctors have discovered that the appendix is responsible for helping digest food! It is the storehouse for good bacteria that helps digest food. When you need extra food digesting bacteria, it assists to provide more bacteria.
But maybe you feel the same way about fellowship as you do your appendix.
You know it exists, but until it goes terribly wrong, you don’t necessarily care what it is or how it works? You’re pretty sure it’s important and that it exists. But you are not sure what fellowship does.
T.S.: What does Fellowship do? Let’s look this morning at the benefits of fellowship.
Let’s read our text this morning:
Romans 12:9-16
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
The first thing that Fellowship does is…
1. Increases Devotion (responsibility) to one another (vs. 10)
In our foundation text (Acts 2:42) I want you to be aware of something important. We know that the early church was devoted. But did you see something? It is this little three letter word that DOES appear in the Greek. The three letter word: ‘the’ is a very specific word. It is an exclusive word. It separates something from everything else.
ILLUSTRATION: If there were a group of pencils on the floor, and I asked you to hand me a pencil, well any pencil will do. But if I said, hand me THE pencil…well then you know there is a specific pencil that I’m looking for! A pencil that is separated from all other pencils.
The early church devoted themselves to THE FELLOWSHIP. Fellowship is used as a noun instead of verb! Acts tells us that the early church was essentially devoted to each other. To those included in that specific fellowship! Why? Because they knew each other! They shared their lives with one another! They connected on different levels.
So it makes sense that Paul encourages Christians to be devoted to one another in Rome. You see, Paul writes this letter to the Christians in Rome. He hopes to visit the INFLUENTIAL city of Rome, but has not yet done so at the time of this letter.
But he writes this letter and it is sent to Rome when Phoebe goes to visit (Romans 16:1,2). Rome was anything but a Christian city. It was filled with people who worshipped pagan gods. But there were some who had converted to become Christ followers living in Rome, as well as some Jews have become Christians.
He wants the church in Rome to flourish like the first church in Jerusalem.
So Paul writes this letter to encourage the Christians in Rome. He encourages them to get along with one another…and not to just merely ‘put up’ with one another, but to LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE A FAMILY LOVES ONE ANOTHER!
Let me re-read verse 10 for you:
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
BECAUSE LOVE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR FELLOWSHIP!!!
And once you have that family bond to one another, then it will be easy to be devoted to each other as well!
So do we let our brothers and sisters know that we are devoted to them?
Devotion is displayed by:
A. Helping those in need (vs. 13) “Share with God’s people who are in need.”
a. The needs of the Christians in Rome:
--The Christians in Rome certainly had needs that needed to be met.
The infamous NERO was ruler of Rome when this letter was written. If you know something of Nero, you know that he didn’t much care for Christians. Nero has been called the first persecutor of Christians.
So needless to say, Nero was to make life difficult for Christians. And so the Christians would need help and support! Paul told the Christians to help one another! Cling to one another. Because it was going to be a difficult road ahead.
b. The needs of Christians in Burnside
--The Christians here at Burnside are similar to the Christians living in Rome.
Here in America, our faith and beliefs are under attack. It’s becoming un-popular to speak against homo-sexuality. It’s not accepted to say that Buddhism or Islam are false religions and won‘t get you into heaven. When we gather together, it’s comforting to know that we are united by faith…by things that matter! We need one another to lean upon and to KNOW that you’ve got my back!
On your bulletin, make a list of some of your needs that have been met by someone in your church family.
What needs of yours are being met?
What needs you helping to meet?
Make a list of some of the needs that you are helping to meet!
ILLUSTRATION: MINISTRY TEAMS MEET NEEDS
SPIRITUAL NEEDS -
Worship Team, Education Team, Prayer Team, Youth Team
PHYSICAL NEEDS -
Buildings and Ground Team, Missions Team, Transportation Team, Benevolence Team, Hospitality Team
EMOTIONAL NEEDS - Fellowship Team
Devotion to one another is also displayed by…
B. Opening your home (hospitality) (vs. 13) “Practice hospitality”
Paul at the tail end of verse 13 simply gives the command: practice hospitality.
--It was important that the early church opened their homes up to one another.
--So church could be had!
The early church had to open their homes to one another so that they could have church! There were no fancy buildings. No schools to be rented out. Meeting in homes was the only option they had. And if no one was willing to open their home to the others, the church would not exist let alone flourish.
--Also, hospitality existed To house missionaries
From the time Jesus and his followers traveled from town to town proclaiming salvation up until even now missionaries have always relied on the kindness of fellow Christians to house them.
When you open up your home and let your church family in, you are sharing a part of your life that is personal and private. The art of hospitality is different than merely entertaining guests. I like what one commentary had to say:
“Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on the host - the home must be spotless; the food must be well prepared and abundant; the host must appear relaxed and good natured. Hospitality by contrast, focuses on the guests. Their needs - whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear, or acceptance - are the primary concern.”
It comes from the Latin word where we get our English word for hospital. In a hospital, the focus and fuss is all about the one who stays!
So hospitality can take place in a messy home, where there is little or no food.
Show that you are devoted to one another by inviting one another in your homes.
ILLUSTRATION: Circle 8 groups. Again, I want you to sign up to be a part of a circle 8 group. To share in a meal with 3 other couples or singles and to host a meal in your home. It will be a special time of fellowship…and a way for you to practice hospitality.
C. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn” (vs. 15)
You see, when you are genuinely connected with your church family, you are going to be happy when things go well for one another. And when things don’t go well with each other, you will share in their grief.
This is not a new idea that Paul shares with his readers. He shares this same idea with the church in Corinth.
1st Cor. 12:26
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
When true fellowship is discovered, we will hurt with those we are connected to.
When we are devoted to one another, sorrows are lifted!
For those who have experienced this kind of connection, wouldn’t you recommend it to those who haven’t?
The second thing Fellowship does is:
2. Promotes unity vs. 16
When Paul was writing this letter, unity was a big issue for the church in Rome, because the church there consisted of Jews and Gentiles. You probably know that Jews and Gentiles didn’t get along. The Jews after all were God’s chosen people. They were circumcised as a sign showing they were from God! And if the truth were known, the Jews just weren’t all that excited about God’s plan to include foreigners in His ultimate plan.
And so because they were divided on issues, true fellowship couldn’t take place! They were only focusing on the differences rather than celebrating their sameness through what Christ had done!
So now, Paul was pleading with them to be united!
Paul says in verse 16: “Live in harmony with one another.”
Harmony is a musical term. I am not a music scholar by any means. But when harmony is added to existing melody…beautiful music is made! So it is when there is unity found in the church. The church is all ready beautiful. But it becomes even more beautiful, productive and useful when unity is added!
Then Paul goes on to describe how harmony is achieved. He says Unity is achieved when:
Do not be proud.
A. Pride is laid aside
So when pride is laid aside, unity can flourish!
--Pride in Rome
The Jews considered themselves better than the Gentiles. They had a heritage of having a relationship with God. And therefore considered themselves ‘more worthy’ than those ‘new comers’ known as the Gentiles. So pride was an enemy of the fellowship of the church in Rome.
--Pride is an enemy of unity.
If you continue to think only about how important of a person you are, that pride will keep you from serving your brothers and sisters. Pride will keep you from working side by side with your church family!
--Pride in this church
So what about you? Do you have a grudge against someone here at this church? Why do you have that grudge against someone? Is it because you think that your way is better than there’s? Is it because that person did something to offend you? Recognizing the sin of pride is the first step to correcting it.
He also says be willing to associate with people of low position…
B. Salaries and social classes are ignored
--Social classes of Rome
It is estimated that Rome could have been as big as 4 million people! It is also estimated that out of those 4 million people that up to one half of the people were slaves. So needless to say, there were social classes. And in Rome it was hardly proper to associate with people of a lower status than yourself. But Paul was reminding the Church in Rome that Christ makes all equal.
--Christ the equalizer
Probably a good reminder for us today. In God’s eyes, (thanks to what Jesus has done), there are no social classes and no one is higher than someone else.
And lastly, Paul says that if we desire unity, you will not be conceited!
C. We care about others
When we as a church care more about others than ourselves, unity will be strengthened!
ILLUSTRATION: do you remember when you were in the lunch line at school and your friend would come up and start talking to you? What did you do? You offered him cuts in line. Even when it made everyone else behind you upset. You didn’t care. Because you had pity on your friend. You cared about your friend and didn’t want them to have to go all the way back to the end of the line…you essentially put their needs ahead of your own (and everyone else’s). And what for? Did they deserve it? Did they do something for you or give you money? Nope. You simply let them ahead of everyone else because they were your friend.
--The sacrifice of Christ
Take the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus faced torture, humiliation and death because of others.
Hebrews 12:1,2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
It was for the JOY set before him! It was the fact that others (you and me) were going to be able to enter into heaven that Jesus endured the cross.
What would have happened if Jesus would have been conceited enough to only care about what He wanted? I think you and I don’t want to think about the answer to that question!
CONCLUSION: What does it do?
Fellowship is such a beautiful blessing!
Friendships are formed…
Memories are made…
Comfort is shared…
Commitment is strengthened…
Unity is appreciated….
AND CHRIST IS HONORED!
I hope this morning you have a better understanding that where fellowship is present (the intimate sharing of our lives) then devotion to one another and unity is increased!
Because until we know one another…until we willingly share our lives with each other….we won’t want to be devoted to one another or united to one another! We come now to our time of decision. If you have a decision that needs to be made I want to encourage you to make that choice now.
