The Habit of Fellowship
Gal 6:10, Eph 2:19, Rom 12:4-10, Heb 10:24, Eccl 4:9-10, 12, Matt 18:20, Heb 3:13, Gal 6:1-2
John 17:20-23, 1 Pet 4:10, 1 Cor 12:5, 27, Acts 5:42, Matt 6:11-13, Rom 12:13, Acts 2:47
October 20, 2003
I. I said last week that I was going to be talking about habits that we need to develop as Christians to replace the habits that we developed before we became Christians.
A. Today we are having a care group get together. Care groups are something that some people have put a lot of work into, to help you in developing the habit of fellowship.
B. As a Christian there is something that you need to drill into your head, and that is I BELONG IN GOD S FAMILY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS!
C. If you read through the New Testament, you ll notice that the word brothers and sisters and father and children are used a lot.
D. It s because there is a repeat relationship connection between us, and our father who is in heaven. As a matter of fact, Jesus says of His disciples you are my brothers.
E. Do you realize how incredible a thing that is? If you have a brother and sister, it s a special relationship.
F. Your Christian brothers and sisters are actually closer in reality than physical brothers and sisters.
G. We as Christians ought to be related to one another in such a way that we can relate as brothers and sisters in the most intimate sort of way -- sharing with one another, praying with one another, and caring for one another.
H. We have the same Father. And that Father has drawn us together in one family. Because, He knows that we really need each other.
(Gal 6:10 NIV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
I. That s a strong statement. We need to focus on how can we help each other, how can we relate to one another in that special kind of way as brothers and sisters, especially those who are believers.
(Eph 2:19 NIV) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,
J. What that means is, you are a member of God s very own family and you belong in God s household with every other Christian even more than your earthly brothers and sisters.
K. We belong in the same household. He s our Father. We re His children and we belong to each other.
L. There s a uniqueness to the body of Christ that goes beyond blood relations.
1. If I closed the car door on my finger. Immediately, that finger has let the rest of my body know that I am a knuckle head, because it has a common connection with the my head which connects the rest of my body and communicates to the rest of my body what is going on with the different parts.
2. My finger hurting is a really significant part of my life because it s painful. But in the same kind of way, each one of us, should relate to one another just like the parts of our individual bodies relate to each other.
3. Because Jesus who is the head of the body of Christ connects us just like my head connects all the other parts of my body.
4. We are all part of each other and we need each other, because we are spiritually connected in the body of Christ.
M. Ray Ortland makes this statement, "The Christian who is not committed to a group of other believers for praying, sharing, and serving, so that he is known, as he knows others, is not an obedient Christian. He is not in the will of God. However vocal he may be in his theology, he is not obeying the Lord."
N. I have talked to a lot of people who say they know the Lord. But when I ask where they fellowship-- what church they go to? "They say, I don t believe in church.
O. I commune with God out in nature." That s ok to a degree. I have written some good sermons in a deer stand. But I really question whether that person understands what it means to relate to Christ.
P. You cannot relate to Jesus the way you should, without relating to His church and His children. We are to be one in unity together because we are family.
Q. I like this one too. Some people have said, "I m committed to the invisible church."
R. I have to try hard to resist, and have not always been able to resist asking. Does this invisible church have an invisible pastor or invisible leaders, and members who visit when they re sick or hurting?
S. And, what invisible phone number are you going to call when you get in a bind.
T. It s interesting that in the New Testament, the word "church" is used about 100-104 times but 98 of those times the word "church" is used, it always refers to the local assembly of believers.
U. The emphasis is always on the local gathering of believers not some invisible church but a reality, where people actually come together and relate as a family of believers.
V. We are a body that is called by God to Fellowship, and bond together, and support each other, because we are joined together as a body that is connected to head of that body, which is Christ.
(Rom 12:4-10 NIV) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
II. As Christians we also NEED ENCOURAGEMENT TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
A. I need support to grow spiritually. You cannot grow healthily alone. We need each other.
(Heb 10:24 NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
B. That’s saying, "Let us think of one another and how we can encourage one another to love and good deeds."
C. Think for a minute about what it means when it says "encourage one another". One of the things we need to do as brothers and sisters is to think in terms of what can I do, what can I say to encourage you to do the things that are pleasing to God?
D. I need your relationship to me to encourage me in my walk with the Lord. It’s important to us all to have fellowship. It s a tremendous encouragement to have a family, a spiritual family that will accept us with all our warts and ways, and be that encouragement for us, to help us, and encourage us to grow in our relationship with God.
(Eccl 4:9-10, 12 NIV) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
E. Now I want you to notice something, and this is and important fact about fellowship. Notice that although he is writing about two people in what he is saying that he says a cord of three strands.
F. Where does he get the idea of a cord of three strands when he was only talking about two people?
G. There is a verse that explains that. (Mat 18:20 NIV) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
H. Our fellowship, and unity with each other enhances our ability to come into the presence of God, and where two of His family members are our Father is there with them.
I. That’s one reason that it is so important that we come together to worship because the multiplication of our praise to God, by the increase in numbers, multiplies our ability to come into God’s presence.
J. Your praise enhances my ability to come into the court room of God. And, your encouragement and support give me strength, to deal with the day to day battles that I face in life. I know that I am not alone in my struggles because I have a spiritual family behind me.
III. WE ALSO NEED ACCOUNTABILITY TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
A. "People learn from one another just as iron sharpens iron." "(Heb 3:13 NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
B. Sin can appear glamorous at times. It smells good, it tastes good. But it s when it goes down that it becomes bitter. We really need to encourage one another that we don t get trapped in the glamour.
"(Gal 6:1-2 NIV) Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
C. What is the law of Christ? A lot of it is caring for one another. That is why we’re trying to develop care groups, because we are to care for each other, and in doing so we are carrying out the wishes of our Lord.
D. We can say, "I believe in Jesus." I love Jesus." But what is the real proof of your love for Jesus? Saying that you love Jesus? No, its how you love people. That s the reality of your love for Christ.
IV. FELLOWSHIP IS ALSO A WITNESS TO THE WORLD.
(John 17:20-23 NIV) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
A. Jesus says, ‘My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind so the world will believe you sent me." How will the world know that Jesus was sent, and why Jesus was sent if they don’t see it in His people and the way they relate to each other?
B. He says, that it is through the believers having one heart. Our unity, our love and care for each other, is a great testimony that Jesus Christ actually came. Is it important that we have this one mindedness? That we be unified together? Yes, it s a key to the gospel.
C. How does the world know that Jesus even exists? The bible says it s by the way that we relate to one another.
D. It is when we love and bond together as a family that people can see the love of God around them, and know that His love is real and exists for them.
V. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO EVERY OTHER CHRISTIAN.
A. Why is it that way? (1 Pet 4:10 NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
B. It is that way because God has given every Christian special abilities called spiritual gifts, and He has given them to us, so we can help each other.
C. One of the most important things we should understand about spiritual gifts is that they are a special talent that God gives to every single person who comes to Christ, to help others.
D. A spiritual gift, that special ability God gives to each believer is for the purpose of us ministering to other believers, and reaching un-believers.
E. We have an important responsibility that God has given to us to minister to the needs of other people.
(1 Cor 12:5 NIV) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.(1 Cor 12:27 NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
F. What that means is, there are different kinds of service to God. Together we form the body of Christ and each one of us is a necessary part of it." We need each other! And God has designed us in a way that we are to be there for each other.
G. You see a partial list of the "One Anothers" of fellowship. There are at least 58 times that, that "one another" idea is used in the New Testament.
H. Serve one another, Accept one another, Forgive one another, Greet one another, Bear one another s burdens, Be devoted to one another, Honor one another, Teach one another, Submit to one another, Encourage one another.
I. There s a tremendous emphasis throughout the New Testament of Christians fellowshipping together, of coming together, ministering to and serving one another.
J. The problem is that as a church gets bigger and people get more spread out and larger in number it is harder to stay that close to everybody.
K. That is why every member needs to be a part of a small group of people who have the opportunity to and are responsible for caring for each other.
L. I love the Sunday morning service. Great music, exceptional preaching...What’s so funny?
M. The fact is though that it is hard to relate personally to the people around you in a worship service. But in a small group you can share your real concerns. You can really support one another. You can encourage each other.
N. And that is why we are working so hard to create that possibility for all the members of this church.
(Acts 5:42 NIV) Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
O. I want you to notice that there were two types of meetings. Large group for celebration and worship and small groups for fellowship.
P. We come together on Sunday to celebrate the Lord, but we also need to go to small groups for us to fellowship, where we can serve and love and pray and minister to one another.
Q. Several times in the bible it talks about the church meeting in homes. This building is not the church. The people that are in this building are the church, and if a smaller group of those people meet in a home, then the church is there.
R. Looking at the New Testament it is not hard to see that, that s really where the church had its growth.
S. Our church has to grow larger and smaller at the same time. How can you be accountable to a group of 200 people? Only when we divide that 200 down to 10 or 20 can really spend time together and help each other to grow.
T. And your friends that need to know Jesus, will be willing more to go with you to a gathering of small group of people in a home than they would a large gathering in a church building.
VI. SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CARE GROUPS? Acts 2:42-47 is where the idea started.
A. "They devoted themselves to the apostle s teaching." The first thing we notice about small groups is Bible study. That s exactly what we re doing in Sunday School on Sunday Morning in smaller groups than we have in the church service. And it’s an important part of what we do, and something that everybody should faithfully be a part of.
B. It also says "and to fellowship". Someone said the definition of fellowship was two fellows in a ship, rowing together. If you ve ever tried to sit side by side in a row boat and coordinate your efforts. If one person rows a little bit more than the other person, you just go in a circle. But if you coordinate your efforts together, you can go fast and accomplish a lot.
C. Fellowship is a coming together in one mind, and one purpose, with the purpose being, bringing honor to Jesus Christ and serving one another. It s relating to one another in a special relationship, and that is what Care Groups are all about.
D. Another thing that they did was Pray for one another. I want you to notice something about the Lord’s prayer. (Mat 6:11 -13 NIV) Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
E. Notice the plurals. It s interesting that Jesus would choose plurals, rather than saying the singular. He didn’t tell us to pray for my needs but our needs. That shows that it is something that we are to do together, and for each other.
F. They also supported each other. In Acts 2 these believers were doing for one another. They were undergoing persecution. They couldn t buy food in the markets because they were being kicked out of the Jewish community. That means their Visa Card was canceled!
G. They had to rely on other believers who had the resources to meet their needs. People were literally selling the things that they had in order to meet the needs of other people. They were supporting each other financially and physically and spiritually. Sacrificing to meet other’s needs they were being a body that was connected by the head that was Christ in such a way that when the finger as hurt the rest of the body knew about it.
H. It is important that we support one another. Even if we can’t do it financially we can surely do it spiritually. We can bond with a group of people and support them when they have problems, we can lift them up spiritually and help them grow. We can pray for them. That s love. That s the way the Christian life ought to be. And, it is how Jesus said that we should be related to one another.
I. Care groups are also social. In Acts 2:46 is says "they ate together with glad and sincere hearts. " Eating together is a very intimate kind of thing. Baptist have that one down to an art form. But, most of the time we do it only with large numbers of people.
J. Eating was a social event and it was something they did a lot of. We re great on ordering pizza, or going to a restaurant, but something we don’t do very often here is we don t have people into our homes.
K. We need to have people into our homes, eating together, relating in a home setting, having friends over, playing some games together and just getting to know each other is vital to unity and spiritual growth.
L. (Rom 12:13 NIV) Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. That means "get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner That s a special ministry and one that bonds a body together.
M. Care Groups are also a part of reaching out to others. Touching lives for Jesus. (Acts 2:47 NIV) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
N. Fellowship is an extremely important part of and should be a habit of the Christian life.
O. I want to encourage each of you to do whatever you can to be involved in your Care Group, where you can begin to use your gifts to encourage people in their personal walk with the Lord as well as get some encouragement for your walk with the Lord.
VII. Fellowship is a habit that we are all to develop, because it helps us to grow in our spiritual lives and it helps others to grow in the their spiritual lives.
A. These care groups are a way to help that happen, and I hope that you will make a commitment today to get involved in yours, and let God use to you make a difference in the lives of the people in your group and let them make a difference in your life.
B. We all need to grow spiritually and we all need each other for that to happen.
