Our Purpose: Fellowship
Text: Acts 2:42; Phil. 1:5; Eph. 4:2-3
Introduction
1. Read Acts 2:42
2. Illustration: When Pliny was governor of Bithynia, he wrote a most interesting letter to the Roman Emperor Trajan, asking why Christians were being exterminated, and added: "I have been trying to get all the information I could regarding them. I have even hired spies to profess to be Christians and become baptized in order that they might get into the Christian services without suspicion. "Contrary to what I had supposed, I find that the Christians meet at dead of night or at early morn, that they sing a hymn to Christ as God, that they read from their own sacred writings and partake of a very simple meal consisting of bread and wine and water (the water added to the wine to dilute it in order that there might be enough for all). "This is all that I can find out, except that they exhort each other to be subject to the government and to pray for all men."
3. Over the past several Sunday’s we have been talking about the purpose of the church. We have said that the purpose of the church is to:
a. Witness
b. Worship
c. Fellowship
d. Discipleship
e. Ministry
4. Today we are going to talk about fellowship. Now most of us when we hear the word fellowship we says "Let’s Eat!"
Propostion: Fellowship is a commitment to Christ and to one another.
Transition: First of all...
I. Fellowship Requires Commitment (Acts 2:42)
A. Devoted Themselves
1. Luke tells us that the early church "continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
2. The phrase "continued steadfastly" means to "continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty - ’to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in." —Louw & Nida: NT Greek-English Lexicon
3. One of the things that they continued to devote themselves to was fellowship.
a. It was more than just getting together.
b. It was a partnership in the purposes of the Church and a sharing of the message and the work (Horton, 65).
4. 1 Jn. 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
5. The fellowship wrought by the Spirit of God means more than the association existing in secular groups such as civic clubs and community bodies.
a. There is a vast difference between community participation and spiritual participation. Community participation is based upon neighborly association.
b. Spiritual participation is based upon a spiritual union wrought by the Spirit of God.
6. The distinctiveness is this: the Holy Spirit is within the Christian believer.
a. The Holy Spirit creates a spiritual union by melting and molding the heart of the Christian believer to the hearts of other believers.
b. He attaches the life of one believer to the lives of other believers.
c. Through the Spirit of God, believers become one in life and purpose.
d. They have a joint life sharing their blessings and needs and gifts together.
B. Devotion to Christ and One Another
1. Illustration: Arthur Blessitt of North Fort Myers, FL, has walked 31,416 miles in more than 27 years since December 25, 1969. He has been to all seven continents, including Antarctica, carrying a 12-foot cross and preaching throughout his walk.
2. That man showed the depth of his devotion. Fellowship is all about devotion.
a. It is about devotion to Christ.
b. It is about devotion to his church.
3. How far are you willing to walk for Christ?
a. Are you only willing to walk down the road?
b. Are you willing to walk around the world?
4. How far are you willing to walk for His church?
a. Are you only willing to walk as far as you are required?
b. Are you willing to walk the extra mile?
5. Matt. 5:41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Transition: Another thing that fellowship requires is...
II. Fellowship Requires Partnership (Phil. 1:3-5)
A. Fellowship In the Gospel
1. Here Paul tells his friends in Philippi "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,"
a. What a nice thing for Paul to say to them.
b. What a nice thing for anyone to say about someone.
c. There isn’t a nicer thing that anyone can say to you than "I thank God for you!"
2. But listen to why Paul thanks God for them "For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
a. Fellowship: an association involving close mutual relations and involvement - —Louw & Nida: NT Greek-English Lexicon
b. Another way that it can be translated is "partnership."
c. "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" (NIV).
3. Paul was thankful for them because they had been his partners in the gospel.
a. Instead of looking at Paul and saying "Well, what are you waiting for Paul? Get to work!" They said "Hey, Paul, how can we help? What can we do?"
b. They didn’t look for a place to hide, but for a place to get involved.
4. They understood that the church was a partnership, and that as a partner their participation was a requirement not from Paul but from God.
a. Just as preaching the gospel is a requirement for all Christians, so participation is a requirement for all Christians.
b. Participation is more than just showing up; it’s about doing something once you get there.
B. Partnership
1. Illustration: Two partners of a large, prosperous business were both childless. They decided to hire a poor boy and give him every opportunity to advance rapidly and ultimately have him become a partner and heir to the business. They found a boy they both liked, exceedingly bright, active, industrious. The partners agreed to give him six months’ trial before informing him of what was in their minds. The last week of the six months’ test arrived when one morning the superintendent saw the boy slip something slyly into his pocket. He insisted on knowing what it was, and the boy confessed he had stolen a quarter of a dollar. He was dismissed and never learned how near he had been to a fortune. He had sold the splendid position and prospect for a quarter of a dollar.
2. We need to look at being involved in the church as an opportunity for a blessing.
a. If we get involved and take part God will give us a blessing so large that we will never be able to hold it all.
b. If we don’t get involve we are missing out on that blessing. If we don’t participate we will be like the boy in the story and miss out on a fortune.
c. Do we have on the quarter or on the fortune?
3. Fellowship means that we are all partners in the work of the Kingdom.
a. The pastor can’t do it alone.
b. It takes all of us working together for the kingdom.
4. The success of the church depends on all of us.
a. We can sink together, or
b. We can swim together
5. 1 Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Transition: Fellowship also requires...
III. Fellowship Requires Patience (Eph. 4:2-3)
A. Forbearing One Another in Love
1. God has chosen us to be Christ’s representatives on earth. In light of this truth, Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received — the awesome privilege of being called Christ’s very own.
2. This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful.
3. No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so we must accept and love other Christians in spite of their faults.
4. When we see faults in fellow believers, we should be patient and gentle.
5. One of the downsides of fellowship is that we have to deal with sinful, fallen people - you know, like us!
B. Love One Another
1. Illustration: The other day I was talking to my son Daniel, and he said something that I thought was very profound. We were talking about people who got hurt in church when they were younger, and as a result, won’t come to church anymore. He said "That’s a really sad reason to stay away from God. People get hurt in church because people are always going to be people. Get over it!"
2. People are always going to be people, and people are always going to make mistakes - including you!
3. We want to be patient with us when we make mistakes, so shouldn’t we give them the same respect?
4. Gal. 6:1 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
5. As a part of fellowship, we need to be willing to bear with one another the same way God is patient with us.
Transition: People are always going to be people. So get over it!
Conclusion
1. One of the purposes of the church is fellowship.
2. Fellowship means more than "Let’s Eat!" It means:
• Commitment
• Partnership
• Patience
1. Are you devoted to fellowship?
2. Are doing your part in the church?
3. Are you being patient with others?
