Spiritual Discipline: Fellowship
August 22, 2021
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but America is totally lost! We don’t like one another. We can’t agree on anything. We can’t talk about anything. We can’t even disagree with respect. We’re split politically, we’re mask on or mask off, we’re for vaccines or we’re against them, we only watch certain news stations.
We’re pro-Trump or anti-Trump; pro-Biden or anti-Biden. It seems like there’s no middle ground. And I haven’t even mentioned gender issues, sexuality and social justice issues.
I hope I have your attention!! Today ends our series on Spiritual Disciplines. I’m going to be talking about the last of the disciplines and next week will be a recap.
Why such a negative start to the sermon? Because, honestly, that’s where our country is. As I’ve been reading through the OT, I’ve been struck at the similarities and the proclamation by God that the people would be cast into exile. Life was going to get miserable. I wonder if we’re headed that way.
So, how do we combat this? I believe it’s a simple answer. On paper, it’s really, really simple . . . the answer is Jesus! There’s no other name, other than Jesus. But we differ on how to worship and what we believe in. Which puts us in another bind, but that’s for another day.
The only answer and only hope for our world, especially our country is Jesus Christ and His church. We’re the only hope, because we have the belief, faith, trust and hope found in Jesus. The church cannot stand or exist, if it is split, divided and fighting.
Now, let me comfort you, this isn’t us . . . but it could be. The church can’t argue over the color of the carpeting or paint on the wall. They can’t argue over certain negotiable doctrinal issues. I read about a pastor who’s retiring after over 20 years of being in 1 church and he asked the board if he could keep the laptop they bought him 5 years ago. They had to discuss it. Shame on them!
We worry over too many things that really don’t matter!! The church needs to major in the majors and minor in the minors. Worry about what’s really important
So, today, we’re talking about FELLOWSHIP. Fellowship is absolutely vital in the church. Without fellowship, we’re totally lost. Seriously, we need one another more than we realize. That’s why this men’s conference and ministry is so important. Men are you listening? We need one another!
So, what’s fellowship? It comes from a Greek word that maybe you’ve heard - - KOINONIA. Literally, kononia consists in the fact that Christians are partakers in common of the same mind as God and Christ, and of the blessings which come from that relationship.
Now, that may sound a little deep - - but it’s really a great definition. Fellowship means we have a relationship with one another which is based on the common belief and faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. You see, if you don’t believe Jesus died for your sins as He took them upon Himself, if you don’t believe He rose from the dead - - - then we can’t have fellowship - - impossible.
Let’s be honest, we wouldn’t have these friendships and relationships with one another in the church, if it wasn’t for a common belief in Jesus. We may vary on some issues of theology, but when it gets down to the root, we could proclaim the Apostles Creed and pretty much be in agreement. Let’s say it together - - -
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Universal Church, the Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
When we look at the Apostles Creed, which is the oldest known creed, from around 140 AD, we’re pretty much in agreement. For me, everything starts with something like this creed. I don’t care if you’re Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, Presbyterian, Catholic, Pentecostal . . . or whatever. If we can agree on this, we have a great starting point, because we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
So, fellowship starts with the fact that we have this common and shared faith.
The greatest illustration of fellowship occurs in Acts 2 and 4. Listen to what Luke tells us the early church looked like - - -
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. - Acts 2:42-47
Isn’t that an amazing church? Think about all they were doing . . . together! That’s the key. They were sharing everything together, eating, praying, praising, worshiping, giving. All done together in the name of Jesus because of a shared belief in who Jesus was. I especially love verses 43 and 47 ---
43 And AWE came upon every soul, and many WONDERS and SIGNS were being done through the apostles. 47 And the Lord ADDED to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Awe and wonders and signs AND every day people were embracing Jesus as Lord and Savior!! That’s the church. It happened because of the power of Fellowship.
It’s a community where we willingly share what we have . . . our money, our gifts, our talents. We seek to serve one another and support one another and bear one another’s burdens as we build one another up in Jesus.
Let’s look at other scriptures as well . . .
In Romans 12:16, Paul tells us - -
16 Be of the same mind toward one another.
In Acts 1:14, Luke tells us - -
14 All these with ONE ACCORD were devoting themselves to prayer. . .
In Philippians 2:3 - - -
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
The point is to be of the same mind, be of one accord. Look at the needs of others. It doesn’t mean we’re identical, but we’re united. We have a unity which cannot be broken.
In Acts 4, Luke again tells us - - -
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. - Acts 4:32
See that? They were of one heart and soul, and they had everything in common. Because of the church nobody had a need. Power in Jesus was exploding all around them. The world was changing because of the courage of those first and early believers. The church was growing.
When we have fellowship, we have power. There’s a communion we have with one another. We see it in Paul’s words in Romans 12 - -
9 Let love be genuine . . . hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another.
These could be the ground rules for fellowship. Kind of like the bylaws of fellowship
Be genuine in love
Hold tight to what’s good
love with a brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor
Don’t be lazy in showing the passion of the Spirit
Contribute / give to the church
Show hospitality
Bless all people / friend and foe
Celebrate and weep with one another . . . and
live in harmony with one another.
Here’s the crazy thing about this - None of this is rocket science. This is straight forward common sense Christian living. Isn’t it? Or am I just deluding myself? Is this wishful thinking or some pollyanna dream I’m having?
I honestly don’t think so!! I don’t think I’ve been worked up for a message the way I have for this one in a while. I get pumped up, but I feel like this is the olympics . . . and it’s time to get the message across.
Listen to the words of John in 1 John 1 - - -
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have FELLOWSHIP with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from ALL sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:3-9
John’s point is that we can’t say one thing and live a totally different lifestyle. So, fellowship is a oneness of purpose and cause, a setting aside of personal agenda’s. It’s a focused purpose. If we have fellowship, it’s based on the fact that we live for and serve Jesus.
It’s an admission we’re sinners. We can’t have fellowship with one another and Jesus if we deny our sinfulness. That’s impossible. We’re sinners, saved by His grace. That’s part of the unifying factor in the church.
So, if we walk in the light of Christ, we have fellowship with Him and one another. And we receive the power of Jesus as He cleanses us from ALL sin.
Notice that if we don’t accept what the Bible says about Jesus, we can’t have fellowship. That’s really important, because if we don’t accept Jesus, then how can we have fellowship? We can be friends, but we don’t have biblical fellowship
So, what’s the big deal of Fellowship? Great question!!
I really believe the greatest reason for fellowship is to help us grow closer to Christ. As we seek to grow in Christ, we also help one another grow closer to Christ. The Bible has so many ONE ANOTHER’S, and none of them tell us to beat one another up. They are written in a positive manner so we’ll grow together.
In Ephesians 2, Paul wrote - -
19 you are NO LONGER STRANGERS and ALIENS, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Paul’s passing on the message that the new believers are now fellow citizens with the saints and are now members of the household of God. What a great sense of belonging. You are now part of the family. It’s like when someone gets married and they are embraced in their new family. It’s a great feeling of acceptance.
Because we’re all family, Paul tells us - -
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We read in Hebrews 3 - -
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
We call it “fellowship” every time we get together, as long as there’s either food or coffee involved. Some churches have a “fellowship hour” in their fellowship hall. Or we promote an event with the words, “food, fun, and fellowship!”
If you’re talking about the weather, the news or sports, it may be enjoyable, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not fellowship. It may be a prelude to fellowship, a way to find common ground, so that fellowship can later occur.
But true fellowship is not just socializing. We experience fellowship when we’re helping one another better run the race of faith; as we encourage one another in the faith. We see that in Hebrews 10 - - -
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And LET US CONSIDER how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:23-25
I want to make a couple of points about these verses, especially two phrases in verse 24. The writer said LET US CONSIDER . . . that means to consider attentively. It means we seriously make plans for what we’re going to do. So, we determine in advance how we’re going to stir one another to love and good works.
The 2nd part is the phrase TO STIR UP. That’s a fun one, because that literally means you intentionally provoke or cut someone so that they have to respond. It can be used in a positive or negative way.
So, we consider how we can provoke or incite someone to love and be involved. Have you ever had someone push you more than you’ve wanted so that you will respond to them? That’s the idea here.
We’re called to extend Christ into the world because we’ve experienced the amazing healing, grace and love of Christ. Fellowship is about coming together to worship Jesus, even doing it online, can form a community. We have this common faith in Jesus.
I enjoy taking rubber bands and making them into balls. This is my rubber band ball. It’s made entirely out of rubber bands, and if you were to take the entire rubber band ball apart, that is all you would find. I believe this rubber band ball is reflective of the church being a community who participate in fellowship.
Firstly, I can do more with the rubber band ball than I can with a single rubber band. I can play with the rubber band ball by rolling, throwing it and bouncing it. And if I really needed 2 rubber bands for a project I have them. However, this single rubber band cannot be thrown very far, it cannot bounce, and it does not roll well. And if it cracks or breaks, it is pretty useless.
In fact, this rubber band ball also has another benefit, because if you were to look closely inside of this ball, you would find some of the rubber bands have cracked and are broken. But the beauty and this is part of the power of the church, the healthy rubber bands surround the broken rubber bands. In a sense they are protecting them. Keeping them as part of the fellowship of the rubber band ball. That should also be an image of the church, that we care and protect one another.
As I said in the beginning of this message, we’re in a mess. But the church, even with all of our different political beliefs and all, we can still be together in the name of Jesus because we have this common faith, this shared unity. It’s the power of the blood of Jesus which leads us to be family.
Are you participating in the fellowship of the church?
Are you growing in who Christ is calling you to be?
Are you sharing your life, your gifts, your talents and your passions?
You are a necessary - - - a needed follower in the Kingdom of God.
