What�s in a Name
TCF Sermon
June 14, 1009
What�s in a name? Obviously not everything. The name, Kirk, for example, can mean �owned by the church.� That might describe me, but certainly not Kirk.
Often, we expect names to tell us something about what we�re looking for, what to expect from something, where to look for what we want or need. For example, if we�re looking for toys for our children, the name Toys R Us tells us that we�re probably looking in the right place. If we�re looking for a steak dinner, Lone Star Steakhouse might be a place to start. If we want pancakes for breakfast, International House of Pancakes might be an option. If it�s burgers we want, Burger King, Backyard Burgers, or Burger Street are some choices. You get the idea.
But some things are a bit more obscure. While the name Microsoft might tell us that this company makes software, the names Google or Linux don�t tell us much all by themselves, at least to the uninitiated.
While American Airlines is obviously an airline, Ted might be almost any kind of company, or a nickname for a guy named Theodore. While Las Americas might seem to be obviously Mexican, Quiznos could be anything from Italian food to what it is � a sandwich shop � or almost anything else.
If we�re looking for some sort of spiritual experience, we might look for things called churches. Of course, they can be all over the map, too, as far as the descriptive quality of their names.
Church names don�t always tell you much. If they have the name of their denomination in them, they�ll tell you something. Immanuel Baptist Church down the street is a � surprise � Baptist church. But even that doesn�t tell you everything you might need to know. Is it Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Regular Baptist, Independent Baptist, Free Will Baptist? Each of these Baptist denominations has its own distinctives. Their churches can be very different in style and in theology. You need more than just �something� Baptist church to tell you much about what the church teaches or believes.
Of course, it�s not essential to have a name that tells all about you, whether you�re a church, a restaurant, a store or some other entity. Yet, I began to think of this idea of names and what they might reveal, when Jim Garrett was presenting his paper at this year�s conclave, a rewrite of his paper from many years ago, What Is A New Testament Church?
In this paper, he outlined several distinctives of a New Testament church, highlighted from Acts 2:42, which says:
Acts 2:42 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles� teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
One of Jim�s subsections, the 2nd characteristic he mentioned about NT churches, is that New Testament churches are an organism, not an organization. As he read this section, I thought about TCF, and about how true this is, and that, through the years as TCF has evolved and changed, that�s now more true than ever of us � we�ve become an organism.
That doesn�t mean TCF was worthless before this was more true of us. On the contrary � TCF has almost always had at least some characteristics of an organism more than an organization, but this is more true today then it�s ever been.
But, I also thought more of this idea when we had our 5th Sunday service just a few weeks ago, featuring house churches here at TCF. We heard from four members of the four different house churches currently meeting, and though they had many different things to say � there were some common threads, weren�t there? The sense of family, connectedness, relationship - combined with love and support, was a consistent theme with all four who shared that day.
You may or may not realize this, but come this November, TCF celebrates its 40th anniversary. Do you suppose that way back in 1969, when several people, including Nette Hudson, were sitting around deciding what to call their new church, the Holy Spirit was at work with something as seemingly unimportant as a name? Did anyone realize then that TCF would become a New Testament Church, and that now, 40 years later, our name would truly reflect what we�ve become?
Of course our name doesn�t reflect everything about us. You can also buy chicken sandwiches or salads at Backyard Burger. But the fact that we are Tulsa Christian Fellowship is interesting to say the least. I for one do not believe TCF was called TCF by accident. Tulsa Christian Fellowship.
My understanding of the initial naming process for TCF is that most of the original suggested names included some sort of Baptist title, since TCF was founded by a group with Baptist backgrounds. But now, 40 years after that initial season in the life of this body, we�re a church, of course, and we do a lot of things many churches do, some well, perhaps some not as well as we�d like to.
But our name reflects something very important about what we really are � what we�ve grown into and become along the way. We are truly a fellowship, in the Biblical sense of that word, and in a very real way.
We�re going to look at what�s in our name, the last part of that name specifically, and how it reflects what we are and what we still want to, more and more, become.
Fellowship in a church context has come to mean potlucks, visiting before, during or after church, church picnics, etc. It�s certainly not wrong to use the word in that way. But these things are only a part of the full Biblical meaning of fellowship.
Fellowship, translated in the New Testament from the Greek word koinonia, means so much more than that in the understanding of the New Testament Church.
Koinonia is the word used in Acts 2:42 for fellowship. Our English understanding of the word begins to describe what we have at TCF, but not entirely. Here are five contemporary, secular meanings of fellowship:
fellowship
1 . A company of people that shares the same interest or aim.
2. A feeling of friendship, relatedness or connection between people.
3. A merit-based scholarship.
4. A temporary position at an academic institution with limited teaching duties and ample time for research; this may also be called a postdoc.
5. A stipend that supports the pursuit of an advanced degree and/or research.
Koinonia, like many Greek words, is a rich word, full of nuance and meaning. In the Greek, it includes not only our more common understanding of the word fellowship, but also
-participation
-communion
-to share in a common interest, and purpose
It�s also used to describe a financial participation, or sharing resources - that is, giving. The word implies common to all. It means partnership and cooperation � and that clearly implies partnership in doing something. All told, one definition of fellowship is:
The bond of common purpose and devotion that binds Christians to Christ, and together with one another.
It�s this understanding of fellowship that I think sheds light on our purpose for gathering together, our sense of purpose as a church, our deep and growing sense of the bond of family and relationship at TCF. TCF is TCK. Tulsa Christian Koinonia.
The Greek stem koin- means �common.� From this idea, we can see many shades of meaning. The New Testament uses the koin- stem to speak of the believer�s relationship with Christ and the mutual fellowship among Christians. Koinonia was Paul�s favorite word to describe a believer�s relationship with the risen Lord, and the benefits of salvation which come through Him. On the basis of faith, believers have fellowship with the Son (1 Cor. 1:9). We share fellowship in the gospel (1 Cor. 9:23; Phil. 1:5). Paul probably meant that all believers participate together in the saving power and message of the good news. Believers also share together a fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14), which the apostle understood as a most important bond for unity in the life of the church (Phil. 2:1-4). Holman Bible Dictionary
There�s so much more to koinonia. We often refer to the Lord�s Supper as communion. This terminology comes from the Apostle Paul�s using the word koinonia as he describes the Lord�s Supper, and the KJV translation of the Greek word. In 1 Corinthian 10:16, Paul described the cup as �communion - in other translations, it�s a participation, a sharing - of the blood of Christ.� Then, he describes the bread as �communion� of the body of Christ. Again, the word there is the same word � koinonia � which is often translated fellowship.
In the next verse, 1 Cor 10:17, right after explaining that we have fellowship, participation in some mystical way, with Jesus through the Lord�s supper, Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV) Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
This illustrates clearly Paul�s understanding that fellowship with Christ was to result in, lead to, fellowship between believers. So, koinonia with our Lord Jesus results in the sharing of the benefits of His sacrifice. That includes the good news of the gospel, and the Holy Spirit. It�s also clear that koinonia includes sharing His sufferings. This is the part of koinonia that�s sometimes ignored by churches who just prefer to focus on the accessible and friendly parts of Christian koinonia.
Philippians 3:10 (NIV) 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
There�s that word again, this time applied to Jesus sufferings. The fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. That�s why Paul could also write this admonition about what we are to become as followers of Christ:
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
For us, these are characteristics born of fellowship with Jesus. Humility, obedience, servanthood, sacrifice. Just as Jesus lived a sacrificial life, giving Himself so completely for the people with whom He had fellowship � we His people are also to give of ourselves for the sake of God�s people � those who, like us, have fellowship with Him through the blood of Jesus.
1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV) 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Because we have fellowship with Jesus, we have fellowship with one another. That�s the basis, the foundation for our fellowship � it�s the root of all we are, and all we are to do, as followers of Jesus.
And again, understanding what true fellowship, true koinonia means, we are meant to share life in many ways with our brothers and sisters in Christ. This includes sharing our resources. Paul actually used the word koinonia to describe the financial contributions he collected for the Gentile believers to take to Jerusalem, for their needy brothers and sisters in Christ who lived there.
Romans 15:26-27 (NIV) 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews� spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
The word contribution in verse 26 here is koinonia. Paul says twice they were pleased to do it. They were pleased to make a koinonia. Why? Because both the Jews and Gentiles share in the spiritual blessings, so they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NIV) 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God�s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
�This grace of giving� � what a great phrase! We don�t always think of our giving as being something of the grace of God, do we? In verse 4 of 2 Cor 8, we see Paul telling us that the Macedonian churches �urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of �koinonia.� Here it�s translated � sharing in this service to the saints. When�s the last time any of us could be described as �urgently pleading� for the opportunity to be involved in helping someone, or participating in a Kingdom service? What a model of true koinonia. What an example for us to emulate.
When we share our blessings with one another, when we�re generous with one another, that�s a true expression of koinonia. When we do that here at TCF, that�s just one way we�re living up to our name. Tulsa Christian Fellowship.
A few verses later, at the end of 2 Cor 8, we read this result of the koinonia.
2 Corinthians 8:13-15 (NIV) 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
What a beautiful picture of the church at work. I wonder if these verses might be more meaningful to many of us in the days to come, as more and more of our number struggle with the impact of our challenging economy? True fellowship with each other, depends entirely on our union with Jesus. In fact, it�s not possible without it. Yes, the world apart from Jesus can have friendships, relationships, and people without Christ can do wonderful things for each other. But you cannot have koinonia without a mutual union in Christ.
1 John 1:3 (NIV) 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:6-7 (NIV) 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Here in 1 John, we see the relationship between our fellowship with Jesus, and our fellowship with each other, clearly connected. Paul uses the word koinonia 14 times in the epistles. One thing Paul makes clear in his letters is that everything in the life of a Christ follower is an expression of our mystical, but very real, participation, our sharing, in the life of Christ Himself.
This union is what overflows into our relationships with others who also follow Jesus. As we recognize Jesus in others of His followers, we extend to them what Galatians calls �the right hand of fellowship� � or koinonia. Fellowship is the by-product, an end result, of our common union in Christ, which results from our common goals, our sharing in life together, our sharing of resources both physical and spiritual.
The more we as Christians understand and discover the salvation that�s common to all of us, that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that all us of are saved, not on the basis of deeds we�ve done, but according to His mercy, that all of us are saved by His grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, but being a gift of God, the more we ponder these things and realize that you�re in the same boat I�m in, or should I say the same ship � the more fellowship occurs, the deeper it becomes. It means we become more and more like fellows in the same ship, headed to the same place, by the same grace of God.
Another thing that�s important to note is that an understanding of action is almost always included in the references to koinonia. Fellowship isn�t just being together, though that�s a part of it by necessity. Fellowship is most often doing something together. And of course, it�s not just doing any old thing together. It�s doing God�s will together.
Since our koinonia with each other is only as healthy, or worthwhile, as our koinonia with Jesus, this makes perfect sense. We�re on a common mission, with a common purpose, and that purpose is God�s purpose. Though we may have different roles in fulfilling that purpose, the end goals are the same.
Here�s one man�s definition of koinonia, or fellowship:
�Fellowship is a relationship of inner unity among believers that expresses itself in outer co-participation with Christ and one another in accomplishing God�s will on earth.� Bob Gillam
So, though we often think of church potlucks, what we do in our morning time of greeting one another here each Sunday, or things like that as fellowship � and again, that may be a part of what fellowship is, it�s more appropriate to define fellowship as what we do together.
When the Kenya team joined together with each other, and we who stayed in Tulsa participated by our giving and by our prayers and encouragement, and then the team took their individual giftings to another land, and joined with fellow Christians there in Kenya to fulfill God�s purpose, that�s a part of koinonia.
When all those working on the upcoming VBS touch the lives of about 100 kids next month, that�s a part of what koinonia is. When Spencer and Karl and Dave and others minister on Monday nights at the med van, that�s a part of what true koinonia is. When our volunteers go each week to Kendall Whittier to do the Good News Club, that�s koinonia, too.
Participating, sharing the load together, as part of God�s team to fulfill the common purpose of seeing people come into the Kingdom of God.
Koinonia, fellowship, is not supposed to be a luxury that some Christians have and others don�t. Now, I realize that there are exceptions to every rule - I think of some of our missionaries who have a challenge finding true koinonia at this point in their ministries, for a variety of reasons.
Some people say, well, this church or that church has good fellowship, and maybe this church doesn�t so much. In those cases, what they�re usually thinking of is the quality of their gatherings � that they enjoy being with one another and have a good time together. But again, it�s so much more than that.
�We should not...think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, an optional addition to the exercises of private devotion. We should recognize rather that such fellowship is a spiritual necessity; for God has made us in such a way that our fellowship with himself is fed by our fellowship with fellow-Christians, and requires to be so fed constantly for its own deepening and enrichment.� J. I. Packer, God�s Words
It seems clear to me that, in our koinonia with Christ, which leads to, and makes possible, our koinonia with each other, we are meant to work together for God�s glory. So, I think it�s fair to say that koinonia is a significant tool which God uses to accomplish His purposes in the world. For many churches, that working together might end up looking more like an organization than an organism. There�s a difference, which Jim pointed out in his paper I referenced earlier:
In an organization, separate entities are brought together into some order so that certain things can be accomplished. These separate entities often have no relationship beyond the organization or activity that brings them together. An organism, on the other hand, is a living being, composed of interdependent organs; they are bound together and depend on one another for continued life. Church life in the New Testament is called, koinonia, which usually is translated as fellowship. Koinonia is an (assumption) in the New Testament Church. Koinonia may be illustrated by the relationship between the heart and the lungs. The lungs cannot live without blood pumped from the heart. The heart, on the other hand, cannot live unless the lungs oxygenate the blood. Neither the heart nor the lungs can live without the other. This giving and receiving of life is koinonia. This is New Testament church life. I John 1:7 assures us, If we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship (koinonia), one with another. Jim Garrett, What Is A New Testament Church?
Jim also points out that the passages in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, which reveal the church as being a body of interdependent organs, much as the heart is dependent on oxygen from the lungs, etc., is another example of the kind of life we are to live together.
(Paul) concludes his description in Romans with this exhortation, Rejoice with those who rejoice; and weep with those who weep. �What happens to you, happens to me,� is the attitude among New Testament Christians. This is the stuff of which New Testament church life is made. It is a shared life.
Jim Garrett � What is a New Testament Church?
I, for one, am thankful that I�m a part of a true fellowship, a place where in so many ways, we truly share life. Don�t miss out on this opportunity. If you sit at the periphery of this fellowship, I encourage you to become fully invested.
We can�t create koinonia � only God can do that. But we can cooperate with the means He�s given to participate in, to experience true koinonia.
I�m sure many churches reflect in some way the good intentions of their church name. But I�m thankful that God saw fit to choose such a significant New Testament concept as fellowship, koinonia, to describe TCF. I�m thankful that, in many ways, we truly are a fellowship, with much of what the Word of God includes in that understanding. I�m very grateful to call you my brothers and sisters, to share true koinonia with you through the thick and thin of life and ministry together.
I�m thankful that we�re aware that only God can do what�s been done here � it�s His grace that has brought us to this place. And I�m praying that God will continue to form and shape us into His image, and in doing that, in the months and years to come, TCF will reflect even more fully than we do today the reality of true koinonia. Pray
