Have Fellowship with one Another

Stronger Together (part 20)

What does the word “fellowship” mean?

The word fellowship is derived from the Greek word koinonia.

The World English Dictionary states that fellowship is the act of people sharing activities, goals, interests, duties, trials, troubles and alike with one another in a group.

While some are tempted to substitute the word “fellowship” for koinonia, it’s far deeper.

Fellowship is a more surface-level, friendly relationship,

while koinonia is full, intimate unity.

Koinonia can be defined as “holding something in common”

and is specifically used 20 times in the New Testament

Philippians 2:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Christian fellowship is the act of meeting with those who are beleivers and who possess the same general beliefs.

It entails the sharing of Biblical knowledge and building lasting relationships among those who are called by God.

Such meetings amongst those who are like-minded are an essential element in a Christian's spiritual growth and development.

Koinonia is about

Being of the same mind

Maintaining the same Love

United in spirit

Intent on one purpose

1 John 1 NASB95

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself 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 that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous 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.

Several basic elements are needed for Christians to meet together successfully.

The first is that those who meet together should be of the same mind

Not that we all think the exact same thing, But that we focus on the essentials truths that bring us together

The Book of Acts is the first place we see the word koinonia in the Bible.

Here, it is translated to mean a deep community fellowship among believers.

In Acts 2, Peter and the other believers had just been filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost,

but the Jews watching were bewildered at the disciples’ ability to speak in many different languages;

some even thought they were drunk.

But Peter brought the gospel to these onlookers, and 3,000 became new believers and were baptized that day.

After, these newly baptized believers:

we pick it up in act 2

Acts 2:42 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The passage goes on to elaborate about what this koinonia looked like:

for them it was communal-style living, where they “had everything in common,”

In Jerusalem they sold property to give to anyone in need,

gathered regularly in the temple courts,

and ate together joyfully in their homes

Later, when Gentiles began to hear the Good News and also became Christian, we see the concept of koinonia used to include them, too.

Back then, Jews and Gentiles did not intermingle and thought poorly of each other.

But Christ at work in them through the power of the Holy Spirit allowed these separate groups to dissolve their former boundaries and become as one—true koinonia.

Ephesians 3:6 NASB95

6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Koinonia also includes the many-become-one concept reflected in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

In the Last Supper, Jesus offered bread as his own body,

“given for you,” and then his blood in the wine, calling it “the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20).

Later, the apostle Paul reminds early Christians that this act, too, is a part of koinonia, as those who partake are one body all sharing one loaf

1 Corinthians 10:17 NASB95

17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

And it’s not just the sharing of food.

Koinonia applies also to the sharing of financial gifts.

As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, generosity applies both to the spiritual and the material.

Their financial generosity not only helps the community with physical needs but also serves as evidence that helps draw others into that united body of Christ.

The heart of the gospel is that Jesus is the path to eternal life, and that if we repent and believe, we should follow Him and obey His commands.

And as Jesus told us in

Matthew 22:37–39 NASB95

37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

those commands are first to love God and second to love our neighbors as ourselves.

When we love others as ourselves, it’s a joining, a uniting, a partnership.

It says in effect that we are all in this together, or as the apostle Paul used as an analogy, all part of one body.

Christ-followers serious about doing the will of the Lord try their best to heed these commands.

When we love others as ourselves, we are generous.

We share what we have, whatever that is—money, food, time, gifts, and more.

All are connected, all interrelated.

Intent on 1 purpose

What is our purpose in joing together

Love God and Love People so they can love God and Love People

The purpose of KWay is to Love God and Love People,

with the intent of the people we love will also Love God and Love People.

It’s a purpetual chain of God’s goodness

1 John 1:3 NASB95

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

7 Ways we can Implement Koinonia today

1. Spiritual gifts: 

Serving each other with our spiritual gifts is one key way we can be the full body of Christ today.

As Peter wrote,

1 Peter 4:10 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Paul expanded on this, noting,

Romans 12:6–8 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Our next series coming will focus on the impartation and development of your Spiritual gifts...

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2. Hospitality:

We can be hospitable to each other, offering food, clothing shelter, and more.

1 Peter 4:9 NASB95

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

Romans 12:13 NASB95

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

3. Togetherness:

We can gather together for worship, Bible study, small group time, meals, and service opportunities.

4. Acceptance:

We can accept and include each other even when one among us is weak in faith or unusual.

John 13:34 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Ephesians 4:2–3 NASB95

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

5. Encouragement:

We can encourage and support each other and hold each other accountable when necessary.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB95

26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

6. Service:

We can serve each other, whether washing each other’s feet, watching each other’s children, or providing a meal when someone is sick or otherwise unable.

Galatians 2:9 NASB95

9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

7. Sharing our abundance:

We can share our abundance with each other and the church through our tithes and offerings so that God’s good work may be done in the world.

Hebrews 13:16 NASB95

16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

By doing these things, we bring God and others into full unity with ourselves, pushing aside our own selfish concerns to embrace harmony, generosity, and accord.

Conclusion

It might be tough to embrace the concepts of koinonia in such a self-oriented world, but we are called repeatedly to do so.

And we are given an ideal model, both in Jesus and in the disciples.

Your turn: How are you living out koinonia today?

What new practices can you adopt to help this concept thrive in your church and community?

It allows us to interact with others who share common beliefs and sentiments.

It allows us to recognize our own faults and gives us the opportunity to share in the spiritual growth of others.

Moreover, as we have seen and as the Bible confirms,

this is highly pleasing in God's sight.

We should practice this outstanding spiritual trait whenever we can.