Fellowship is the discipline of walking alongside fellow believers to intentionally give and receive care as we grow together to become more like Christ.
What is fellowship?
- Fellowship is the discipline of walking alongside fellow believers to intentionally give and receive care as we grow together to become more like Christ.
- “When we are called to faith in Jesus Christ we’re called not only to come to Him but to come nearer to each other.” – Sinclair Ferguson
- “Fellowship is comprised of deeply committed relationships, that is, covenant allegiance through thick and thin, through pain and inconvenience and awkwardness and annoyance.” – David Mathis
Why is fellowship important?
- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit give us the perfect example of what perfect fellowship looks like.
- “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Through Jesus alone are we able to have access to one another, joy with one another, and fellowship with one another.
- The physical presence of other believers is a source of incomparable comfort and strength.
- We need fellowship because of our self-centered culture that idolizes individualism.
- The early church understood the importance of fellowship as they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching, the breaking of bread, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:42).
- As the early church, what should unite us the most with other believers is our relationship and commitment to Christ.
23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
- The best way to hold to our confession is by holding on to one another.
- To consider each other means to know each other, to get close, and to stay close.
- Christians should learn how to get the best out of each other.
How do we grow in fellowship with other believers?
- The practice of fellowship
- Through the local church.
- Through close-knitted communities such as gospel groups.
- The benefit of fellowship
- To fulfill our duties as the New Testament is full of “one another” statements.
- To care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:26).
- To teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
- To serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).
- To pray for one another (James 5:16).
- To restore one another (Galatians 6:1-2).
- To be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
- To receive help from one another.
- To receive encouragement to remain faithful (Hebrews 3:12-14).
- To receive comfort in times of chaos (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
- To fulfill our duties as the New Testament is full of “one another” statements.
What is one thing you can do to improve the discipline of fellowship?
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