The Purpose of The Church: Fellowship
INTRODUCTION
Paul Washer said, “Don’t look for the church closest to your house. look for the church closest to the Bible.”
The Church needs to define its purpose; this must start from God’s word.
The Purpose of the church that we looked at the last few weeks was Worship. Prayer
Worship Him before you work for Him
Seek His face before you serve Him
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he. KJV
Wanna be happy, keep the word of God, is what he’s saying.
Where there is no vision, the people perish:
The verse emphasizes that a lack of divine revelation or spiritual direction but if you don’t, it leads to a lack of restraint, as the necessity of God’s word for purpose.
The word vision in context refers to a divine revelation or prophecy, or the revealed word of God, not just a personal goal or dream.
It means where God wants us to go.
The word perish means, in the original, to loosen, cast off restraints, or run wild, suggesting a collapse of a moral order rather than just physical death
Another way of saying the Original Hebrew is;
Proverbs 29:18 (NLT2) When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
So, the Bible says when people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild not when they don’t have a pastor but when they don’t accept the divine guidance you have that divine guidance here and the ministers and the people that are leading this church right now
What is one thing that people look for in a church?
What do you think draws people to a church? To the Ecclesia, the assembly, the group of people.
According to a study done by the Barna Research Group,
Southern Baptist Church said 88% of those over 18 will get out of church and, most likely, stay out.
Young adult dropouts. Approximately 66% of young adults who regularly attended a church as a teen dropped out for at least a year between 18 and 22
Long term retention among those who take a break only about 31% return to a regular attendance while 29% stop attending entirely
Childhood upbringing, while 67% of older Americans attended church weekly growing up, only 31% of the current parents with children under 18 reports attending at that rate
Roughly 31% of Millennials and 33% of Gen Z adults hold no religious preference.
Those with no religious affiliation rose from nine per cent in 2000 to 2003 to 21 per cent from 2021 to 2023, so general attendance has dropped. Weekly or near-weekly attendance fell from 42% two decades ago to 30% today. We seem to be losing this battle
At least 50% of the unchurched audience found meeting other people to be a good reason to attend a worship service.
The next purpose of the Church that we are going to study is Fellowship.
Surveys show that the number one thing people look for in a church is fellowship.
The number 2 reason a person attends a church service is “how much people seem to care for one another.
There is a saying, “No one cares how much you know until they see how much you care.”
But what most modern Westerners seek is a far cry from what the Bible describes and what the early church practiced.
No term in the Christian lexicon is more abused than the word fellowship.
What we think fellowship is.
Walking into this room, we call it the Fellowship Hall. So, God blesses you; you’ve been to a fellowship hall. You’ve had the coffee and the doughnut or the cookie or snack, and you’ve made the small talk. You’ve also driven home feeling more alone than when you walked in.
You showed up, you smiled, you say, ” Hey, good to see ya and mean it like 12% of the time. You think fellowship was a room that you walked into, but it turns out we have had the entire “word” wrong.
1 John 1:1-10 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us– 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that 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. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
You are forgiven already; all your sins are nailed to Calvary’s cross. You don’t have to ask for forgiveness to accept Christ. You acknowledge and confess that you are a Sinner and that Christ died for you, and accept that forgiveness, and that is salvation.
The Greek word in 1 John 1 is KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah), but it appears about 20 times in the New Testament. In English, it translates to fellowship, but the translation has been losing weight for centuries cause the original word is much heavier than anything that we do on a Sunday.
KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah), it comes from the root word KOINOS (Coy-nose), which means common, shared, or held together.
In the first century, fellowship KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah) was a business term like a partnership, a joint ownership, or a shared investment.
Philippians 1:3-7 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship investment in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
When Paul used fellowship in Philippians 1:5, he wasn’t saying thanks for hanging out with me; what he was saying was you are my co-owner of this mission, and when John writes we have fellowship KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah) with one another, he’s not describing a potluck.
He is describing people who have pooled their time and their resources- everything- the money they’re paying to Paul’s Ministry.
Listen, He was saying you don’t have to keep showing up and pretending that proximity is connection.
You get to have something deeper to be invested in someone.
And let someone else be invested in you; that’s what the words are actually trying to say- not a room that you enter but a life that you share.
You were never meant to just be in the same room; you were meant to be invested.
As I’ve said in the past, Atlanta Christian Cursillo Movement has a saying: ” Make a friend, be a friend, bring that friend to Christ
Friends for Friends
Four characteristics of a godly friend
1 They pray for you: They pray for your struggles, your growth, and for God’s will in your life
2 They cheer for you: They aren’t threatened by your success. They aren’t jealous of your calling. They don’t compete with your gifts.
3 They tell you the truth, even when it stings a bit: They don’t tell you only what you wanna hear because they care about you and who you are becoming. We need friends who will be honest with us
4 They forgive you: A godly friend doesn’t hold grudges, but chooses grace because they don’t take for granted the grace they’ve been gifted
But maybe you haven’t found that friend.
While you wait, become that friend.
When the Bible teaches about being a good neighbor, it’s not talking about the person next door to you being good; it’s talking about what kind of neighbor does your neighbor have, namely you. Are you a good neighbor or person? A good friend?
LET US READ ACTS 2:42-47, 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah) in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. They are invested
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
I have this penned in the back of my Bible
“If I just do my thing and you do yours, we stand in danger of losing each other and ourselves; we are fully ourselves only in relation to each other, and the “I” detached from the “You” is disintegrating. I do not find you by chance, I find you by an active life of reaching out” by Walter Tubbs
The word friend is found some 58 times in the Bible; 22 of those are in the New Testament. Jesus used the word 14 of those 22 times.
Why does one need a friend? Solomon said in Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
And we need to make sure the one with our one is the one that God desires for us to have in our lives.
Fellowship is being there for each other, being there for this church, being there for the leaders right now; that’s true fellowship. Even in the hard times, you show up and have KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah) fellowship
I saw this and was compelled to add it to this Sermon or Lesson. I’m now preaching from the writers, A.A. Milne (Mill-na), E.H. Shepard from:
The Book of Winnie the Pooh.
“It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house.
Inside the house was Eeyore.
“Hello, Eeyore,” said Pooh.
“Hello, Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a glum-sounding voice.
“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”
Eeyore was silent for a moment.
“Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay?
All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun to Be Around at all.
Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun to Be Around at All, would you now?”
Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun to Be Around at all.
True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”
“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.”
And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all, somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There.
No more; no less.”
It’s not what kind of friend you have; it’s what kind of friend your friend has in you.
While sitting with my Mom in Hospice, the doorbell rang, and a dear friend came in. He sat with me most of the day, just sitting there, and we reminisced about some fun times we had; we talked about some of the problems he’d gone through and told me how God had brought him through and that God would bring me through. We had a great visit, but most importantly, he was there, and I miss Deon terribly because the next day, after sitting with me all day, he went to the hospital and never came home. Two weeks after losing my Mother, I lost a precious dear friend. And he was a great friend.
I remember him calling me up one day, and he said How are you, my friend And I said You really don’t want to know, buddy. He said, if I didn’t want to know, I wouldn’t have asked. How are you, my friend? So, I told him, and I mean I just rattled off every ailment, every problem, every pain I could think of just messing with them, and when I got through, he said You were right. I didn’t wanna know.
We have a friend in Jesus
- What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer! - Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer. - Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find solace there. - Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
SERMON on FELLOWSHIP
Sharing things in common with others.
In the New Testament, fellowship has a distinctly spiritual meaning. Fellowship can be either positive or negative.
Positively, believers have fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:21-26; Phil 2:1; 1 John 1:3),
Jesus Prays for All Believers
John 17:20-26 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Philippians 2:1-2 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
There’s unity again. Keep showing up, doesn’t it?
As well as with other believers (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:3,7).
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
The only reason why we dare to have fellowship with God, in the sense of sharing things in common with Him, is that He has raised our status through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Ephesians 2:4-10 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
What believers share in common with God is a relationship as well as God’s own holy character (1 Peter 1:15).
1 Peter 1:15 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Those who have fellowship with Christ should enjoy fellowship with other believers.
This fellowship ought to illustrate the very nature of God Himself (John 13:35; Eph 5:1-2; 1 John 1:5-10).
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Negatively, believers should not have fellowship with unbelievers.
This means they should not share in unbelievers’ sinful lifestyles (2 Cor 6:14-18).
You don’t hitch your wagon to the things they’re doing wrong.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? (ba-lee-oh or Satan) Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”
This does not mean, however, that believers should have anything to do with unbelievers. It means that you do not get into their lifestyle
The Bible plainly teaches that believers are obligated to share the gospel with unbelievers (Matt 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Cor 9:16-17).
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16:14-18 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Luke 24:36-49 36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
John 20:19-23 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
1 Corinthians 9:16-17 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
We need fellowship in the Church today, as we said; The word in the New Testament literally means “a communion”, a participation of people together in God’s grace. It means to have something in common. Common involvement in something, either by giving what you have to the other person or receiving what he or she has.
• It describes a community in which individuals willingly pledge to share in common, to be in submission to each other, to support one another and bear one another’s burdens, to build each other up in their relationship with Jesus.
Romans 12:15-16 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Remember: Prayer = communion with God, with adoration and praise; Supplication = bringing our needs to God or making an appeal to God.
SINGLE PURPOSE
Philippians 2:3-4 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
PUT OTHERS FIRST
As we said in the very first lesson, we all have a different job to do. We are all part of the body of Christ
Romans 12:4-5 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
As we’ve been saying over and over in this study, use the gifts that God has given you to help others.
Acts 4:32-37 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
And that’s how this church got built. There wasn’t a lot of money; there wasn’t a lot of skill as far as what we were doing but we did it and we did our best and we built this place and when we moved in it we didn’t owe a dime on it because God did it. As I’ve told you before, Charles Sprayberry got in trouble because this grass was so high, but so did everybody else. But then men sacrificed not only their money but their time, their energy, they came out here and had blisters in bloody hands. I bout Lost my own life twice out here trying to build this church. Why do I have such a heart for this place?
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet
SHARING
Fellowship is a oneness of purpose and cause, a setting aside of personal agendas. It is a focused purpose.
If we have fellowship, it is based on the fact that we live for and serve Jesus.
COMMON BELIEF
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
COMMON CAUSE
Notice that if we do not accept what the Bible says about Jesus, we cannot have fellowship.
Listen, if we are not walking in the light, as believers and are saved by the grace of God, we cannot have fellowship.
A person who claims Christ yet lives an immoral life is not in fellowship with other Christians.
Ephesians 5:5-7 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
When you see that fellowship is a oneness of purpose, mind, and life, do you feel that you have fellowship at this church?
If you do not feel that you do, what are YOU going to do to fix it?????
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF FELLOWSHIP?
The reason that we have fellowship is to help each one of us to grow in Christ. We are to encourage each other to live for Jesus.
Ephesians 2:19-20 (AMP) 19 Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. 20 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.
We are called to belong, not just believe; we are not meant to live on an island. Simon and Garfunkel song I Am a Rock…. A rock feels no pain, and an island never cries
What is the purpose of a healthy family?
To build up, to encourage, to equip.
If you are doing your job as parents, you are raising your children in such a way that they have the tools to make it in life.
We do the same with the Church.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Hebrews 3:12-13 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
But encouraging one another
We have fellowship so that we can grow together in Christ.
We have fellowship with one another so that we can be there for one another.
We cannot help each other if we do not know each other.
We cannot have true fellowship if we do not spend time together.
We cannot help each other if we are afraid to open up to one another.
I imagine that if you asked those who have been willing to let others get to know them, most of them would say they have been helped by this.
Sympathy vs. Empathy
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIP?
A basic human need. People to live with.
Just think how hard it would be if you thought you were the only one.
I have felt that way before. It makes it tough. We need that sense of community to help us along the way.
Not only do we need people to live with, but the church provides us with a family to live with.
Most of us need the encouragement of a family.
We receive an emotional benefit. Support.
Colossians 3:12-15 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. •
We need the support of others.
Ronald J. Sider says: What happens when God grants the gift of genuine Christian fellowship? Deep, joyful sharing replaces the polite nonsense typically exchanged by Christians on Sunday morning. Sisters and brothers begin to discuss the things that really matter to them. They disclose their inner fears, their areas of peculiar temptation, their deepest joys.
CONCLUSION
• KOINONIA (Coy-no-knee-ah) (fellowship) was Paul’s favorite word to describe a believer’s relationship with the risen Lord and the benefits of salvation that come through Him. Based on faith, believers have fellowship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 1:9).
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We share fellowship in the gospel:
1 Corinthians 9:23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Philippians 1:3-6 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Paul probably meant that all believers participate together in the saving power and message of the good news.
Believers also share together a fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14),
2 Corinthians 13:14 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Which the apostle understood as a most important bond for unity in the life of the church (Phil. 2:1-4).
Unity Through Humility
Philippians 2:1-4 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
I ask you again: do we have fellowship here?
Our fellowship has to be based on our relationship with Jesus.
Fellowship is an important purpose of the church. It is one of the things that people will be attracted to.
If the world doesn’t see a church that is one in heart and one in purpose, it will not take us very seriously.
I want to challenge you, as we look at the purpose of the church, to not just hear the messages, but to think about how you can make these purposes your purposes.
PRAY!
July 5 2026, PM Calvary Baptist Church
