A. It probably won’t surprise you, if I told you that I have never run a marathon.
1. Not only have I not competed in a marathon, I have never competed in an ironman triathlon (which is a race where on a single day every participant does a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle race, and then caps it off with a 26.2 mile run).
2. But what you may not know is that I did run some track in junior and senior high, and I used to doing some running as an adult until my left knee would not allow it any longer.
3. Why do I tell you this? I tell you this to let you know that I have a little experience in running races.
4. I know something about pacing yourself, and how it feels when your legs get rubbery, your stomach starts to cramp, your lungs feel like they’re on fire, and your so drained and exhausted that you just want to quit.
5. What keeps a person going at a time like that?
a. One thing that keeps people going in that kind of competition is the joy of crossing the finish line, even if you are not the first one to cross it.
6. I’m sure that some of you know what I’m talking about.
B. I find it interesting that when God chooses a physical activity to use as a metaphor for the Christian life, it’s often a picture of running. Here are a few examples:
1. In Acts 20:24, Paul said, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.
2. You are probably familiar with the text of Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, 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.”
3. Toward the end of Paul’s life he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7)
C. Why do you think running is such a powerful picture of the Christian life? Several reasons come to mind.
1. First of all, it emphasizes the continuous, lifelong nature of discipleship.
a. The Christian life is not a 100 yard dash. It is no jog in the park. It is much longer than a marathon or triathlon.
b. It requires endurance and commitment for the long haul.
2. A second reason God uses running as a metaphor for the Christian life is because it is such an individual activity.
a. No one else can run the race for you.
b. In the same way, no one else can trust and obey God for you. No one else can walk with Christ for you.
c. Every person has to do it for himself or herself.
d. Each one of us is responsible and accountable to God for our own faith, devotion and obedience.
e. Just like the runner has to choose to take each step, so we have to choose every day to follow Christ. No one can choose it for us.
3. You might be wondering what all this has to do with a sermon on fellowship, right? Well, here is the answer: the third reason God uses running as a metaphor is because runners need encouragement from others.
a. Christian fellowship is how we equip, strengthen and encourage each other so that we can both run the race and actually finish the race.
b. Fellowship is all the things we do and say to assist one another in living for Christ.
c. Think about the Boston and New York Marathons. In addition to the runners and the race officials and helpers at the race, who else is present? The spectators.
d. There are hundreds of thousands of spectators who line the route.
e. They wave and cheer as the runners run the race.
f. They don’t say things like: “You are a looser!” “you will never make it!”, rather, they say things like: “You can make it! Don’t give up! You’re almost there!”
D. Our role as members of the body of Christ is just like that.
1. We are supposed to refresh one another.
2. We are supposed to catch one another when we fall, and bandage up the wounds.
3. We are supposed to encourage and cheer one another on.
4. The only difference is that none of us are spectators or bystanders. We are all runners in the same race.
5. And as we run, we are all supposed to be helping one another in the race.
6. Ultimately, that’s what fellowship is all about.
F. As you know, we are in a series on being A Healthy Church.
1. So far, we have learned that being a healthy church requires that we are stronger disciples, which requires whole-hearted commitment to God, and an ongoing effort to live a life of holiness and obedience.
2. Today, we want to explore the role that fellowship plays in being a healthy church.
G. So let’s explore this question: Just what is fellowship? We often use the term rather loosely and it sometimes has lost its intended meaning.
1. First, Christian fellowship is not just eating together.
a. We tend to call it “fellowship” every time we get together, as long as there’s either food or coffee involved. We have the fellowship meal.
b. Some churches will have a “fellowship hour” before their worship services, and people have coffee and donuts as they socialize.
c. The church picnic may be advertised with the slogan: “fun, food, and fellowship.” And there is nothing wrong with that.
2. Second, Christian fellowship is not just socializing. You can get socializing in lots of other places.
a. An activity, or a conversation only qualifies as fellowship if it has a specific purpose, and that purpose is helping one another to run the race.
b. If we are just talking about the weather, or shopping or the Orangeman, it may be enjoyable, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not fellowship.
c. It may be a prelude to fellowship, a way to keep the relationship gears oiled so that genuine fellowship can take place, and for that reason it is beneficial, but it’s not, in itself, Christian fellowship if it is just socializing.
3. So, contrary to popular opinion, fellowship is neither based on the number of times a church body is together, nor upon the sociability of its people.
a. Fellowship is the expression of genuine Christianity among the members of God’s family.
b. Fellowship affirms a new reality. God has called us into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9).
c. We are drawn into relationship with God and participate in a unique fellowship with Him, a fellowship that is won for us by the blood of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16).
d. And because others are also in Christ, we experience the unique relationship of fellowship with them, also, through our fellowship with Christ.
4. This fellowship, to some degree, defies explanation.
a. It is something to be experienced and something to be lived.
b. It is something that is given by God and occurs apart from our programs and schedules.
c. Fellowship is something to be treasured and enjoyed.
d. Fellowship is both a privilege and a responsibility.
H. Let’s look at a few verses to help clarify what we’re talking about.
1. Look at Hebrews 10:23-25, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
a. Do you do that? Do you consider how to encourage others toward love and good deeds?
b. You may think that that is the elders’ or the preacher’s job, and it is, but it is your job too.
c. Did you notice how that meeting together and encouragement go hand in hand?
d. It is hard to encourage and spur others on if a person is not with them to do so.
2. The context of that passage from Hebrews sees the author exhorting the believers to stand firm in the face of persecution.
a. How were they to do that? How were they to stand their ground, when a hostile government was throwing them in jail, and confiscating their property; when they were facing the real possibility of shedding blood for their faith?
b. The answer from God, through the biblical writer was to meet together and spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
c. So, here was a community of Christians involved in a life-and-death struggle to hold on to their faith and they were to do so through fellowship.
d. Is our situation that much different from theirs? Although, we are not facing imprisonment and death because of our faith, yet the struggle to be faithful is still real.
e. We have cultural pressure trying to cause us to abandon our faith.
f. We have personal and family struggles that threaten our faith.
g. Satan continues to tempt us and lead us off course from our mission.
I. Let me ask you a question: who guarantees that once we place our faith in Christ that we will never fall away? The answer is: “No one,” you say.
1. There is no guarantee that any one of us won’t fall away from God.
2. Ultimately, each one of us is responsible for ourselves. No one can do it for us. I must believe and obey God myself and so must you.
3. Nevertheless, we are not alone. We have help from God and from God’s people.
4. God promises to do his part.
a. God promises to keep us and hold us fast in his hand (John 10:28-29).
b. God promises to never leave us or allow anything to separate us from him (Rom. 8:38-39).
c. God promises to never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
5. And here’s the amazingly wonderful thing, how does God do much of His part? Through us, the body of Christ.
a. God’s graces comes to us through one another.
b. God’s encouragement comes to us by the words that we speak to each other.
c. God refreshes us and renews our strength through the acts of kindness and mercy that we perform for one another.
d. We are the channels through which God’s power often flows.
J. When we think about it that way, we begin to realize the awesome responsibility God has placed in our hands.
1. Whatever it is that anyone of us (look around the room), needs from God in order to keep believing and obeying, it is most likely going to come through the body of Christ; from us, the people in this room.
2. It may be a word of encouragement; it may be a prayer; it may be reminding them of some truth they’ve forgotten; it may be just listening and caring.
3. But whatever it is they need, it will most likely come through us.
4. Think about that next time you are considering skipping a gathering of the church in worship, class or a small group.
5. We might be tempted to think “Nobody needs me” or “Nobody will miss me,” but that is not true.
a. Truth is: somebody needs me, and somebody needs you. And they need what we have to offer in a spiritual sense.
6. If somebody is not doing so well spiritually, maybe it’s because we, the body of Christ, have failed them in some way.
a. Rather than judge them, maybe we need to pray more for them.
b. Maybe they need more attention.
c. Maybe they need more service and help.
d. Maybe they need more teaching and encouragement.
K. Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
1. Our congregation is not big, but neither is it small, but I would guess that there are people here today who are feeling a bit desperate about something.
a. They may look calm on the outside, so well put together, but on the inside they are coming apart and are going down for the last time.
2. I would guess that there are people here today who are desperate for a word of encouragement.
a. Someone is likely desperate for someone to listen and care - someone to love them.
b. Someone is likely desperate for someone to acknowledge their pain…Someone to grieve with them…or someone to rejoice with them.
3. And that’s what fellowship is all about. It’s about ministering to one another.
4. It is being Jesus to one another as the Holy Spirit empowers us.
L. A couple of other verses come to mind as we address this subject.
1. Another good one from Hebrews is, Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
a. Isn’t that amazing? We are kept from being hardened and deceived by the encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
b. And how often do we really need that encouragement? Daily!!!
2. Look at 1 Thess. 5:10-11, “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
a. Because Jesus died for us, we get to live together with Him, which should keep us encouraging each other and building each other up.
M. The passage that we read for the Scripture reading is one of those passages that is inexhaustible.
1. The commands found there are basic and simple, but are so necessary and challenging.
2. The instructions found in Romans 12:9-21 will promote the kind of fellowship we have been discussing today. (re-read the summarized text on the slide)
3. Although many items could be listed from that passage, the following provide us with a good summary and some targets to be shooting for in our fellowship.
a. True fellowship is an expression of love and acceptance.
b. True fellowship is an expression of honesty and humility.
c. True fellowship is an expression of concern and restoration.
d. True fellowship is an expression of confession and forgiveness.
e. True fellowship is an expression of encouragement and availability.
N. So, how can we be a more healthy church by growing warmer through fellowship?
1. First, Let’s be together with our brothers and sisters in Christ in worship, classes and small groups…spend time together…offer hospitality.
2. Second, When we are together, let’s listen to each other. Let’s be understanding and sympathetic.
3. Third, When we discover there is a need, let’s serve each other.
4. Fourth, When we are together, let’s speak. Let’s speak the truth in love. Speak words of encouragement. Build up. Admonish. Forgive.
5. Fifth, When we are together or apart, let’s pray with and for one another.
6. Sixth, Let’s work together. Let’s involve others with us as we go and serve or study w/ others.
O. Allow me to make an important clarification: We need to understand that we cannot be faithful in our relationship with God without being faithful in our relationship with Christ’s body, the church.
1. We must understand that we cannot say “yes” to God, and “no” to His family.
2. One person put it this way: We must not permit people who commit themselves to Jesus Christ and His church to remain in a spectator role. They must not be permitted to say “yes” to Christ, and then avoid the consequences of involvement.
P. Let me conclude by trying to focus our thoughts through an illustration – On July 3, 1981, A group of 9 physically handicapped people conquered Mount Rainer.
1. One had an artificial leg, another was an epileptic, two were deaf and five were blind.
2. Despite these handicaps, they successfully negotiated the 14,000 ft assent and descent.
3. When asked how they managed to perform this amazing feat, one of the blind members of the party said, “We had a lot of help from each other on the trip.” (How’s that for an understatement!)
Q. What am I trying to say today? I’m trying to say that there is no way we can successfully negotiate our Christian life’s journey without a lot of help from each other.
1. All of us are handicapped and flawed in some way. None of us is perfect. We all are sinners, and we all have room to grow.
2. The church is God’s group to help us on our journey. The church is our body, and our family.
3. As leaders of the Wetzel Road family, we know that we all need each other, and we know that God has commanded us to be connected and interdependent.
4. We do not believe that anyone can have a right relationship with God without having a right relationship with God’s family.
5. Being present for worship or Bible classes is an important part of being in fellowship with each other, but it is just a place to start.
6. Although we cannot be in a close relationship with every member of God’s family, we must involved with and close to some.
7. I want to encourage you to identify a small circle of people that you are going to make special effort to be in more contact with – by getting together more, calling more, texting more to support and encourage.
R. Growing warmer through fellowship will take time, and work, and a willingness to take some risks.
1. Fellowship isn’t always fun and easy, but we need it for survival and for success.
2. Let’s show the world that the church is more than a social club with a spiritual flavor.
3. Let’s show the world that the church is a place with real relationships and real love, a place where real life change is taking place.
4. As we grow deeper through discipleship and warmer through fellowship, we will be a healthier, stronger church that God will be able to use for His Kingdom purposes.
