Understanding the Importance of Fellowship in a Biblical Worldview

Introduction

Pray

“Open your Bibles to Romans Chapter One”

*Give brief explanation/recap of the previous message “Understanding the Apostles Worldview”*

*Explain how the early church valued their time together starting all the way back Acts where the disciples were in one accord after the ascension of the Lord and the 3000 continued daily in the word together (Acts 2)*

*Paul even correct Peter in a poor view of Fellowship (Gal 2:11-15)*

Galatians 2:11–15 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;”

Read: Over time, we have lost the right view of fellowship within the church. Paul addresses his desire to have fellowship with believers he has never met. Paul’s epistles are filled with challenges to have a good and active relationship with the church as a whole. He challenges the Corinthians in first letter to practice their gifts rightly so that the body may be encouraged and to give faithfully to the ministry, all to the glory of God, so that the gospel may continue forward to all nations. He challenged Timothy on how the church is to care for widows and even Elders, as well as how to teach/encourage others in difficult days to come. He challenged the Philippians to be unified even in their sufferings. There is a clear Biblical view of fellowship and how we are to interact with one another.

The Greek word Fellowship is koinōnia which means partnership or participation. Our standard as believers in the church is act in partnership and active participation with one another for the sake of the Gospel. Paul continues in his introductory remarks to the Roman church in vs.8 regarding this idea of right fellowship.

*Read Vs.8-17*

My goal this morning is to help each of us understand the importance of fellowship in a Biblical Worldview

Transition: One of the most amazing promises in scripture is that as believers, we can come before God in prayer because of the fellowship we have with Him through His Son. God makes it clear through His Word that He not only wants us to pray to Him for our needs, but also for the needs of others. This is something Paul both practiced and pleaded for. Vs. 8 starts to show us this demonstration. We see first of all this morning, Biblical fellowship requires prayer.

I. Biblical Fellowship Requires Prayer (Vs. 8-10)

A. For encouragement in the Faith (vs. 8, I Cor 1:4, James 5:16, Phil 1:3-6 )

Paul thanked God for the Grace He bestowed to the troubled church in Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,”

There is a benefit to confessing our sin

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Paul prayed because he knew God can and would finish the work He started in the Philippian believers

Philippians 1:3–6 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

B. And is continual in practice. (vs. 8-10, II Timothy 1:3, Eph 6:18, Philippians 4:6)

Paul Encouraging Timothy

2 Timothy 1:3 “I am grateful to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I unceasingly remember you in my prayers night and day,”

In regard to the Armor of God, it is a weapon

Ephesians 6:18 “praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

The Philippian Church was having a rough situation

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Application: “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Transition: I’ll tell you one of the greatest encouragements for me is to know someone is praying for me. But I truly understand Paul when he says he desires to be with the believers in Rome. There is a massive importance to being together with other believers in regard to our Christian walk. That’s where point number two comes in, “Biblical Fellowship Values Togetherness.”

II. Biblical Fellowship Values Togetherness (Vs. 10-13)

A. As a gift (Vs. 10-11, II Cor 8:1-5, I Cor 10:16)

We get to share in the blessing of eternal life

1 Corinthians 10:16 “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?”

The Church of Macedonia gave generously in their fellowship

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 “Now brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great testing by affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the richness of their generosity. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the grace of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

B. And as a means of mutual strengthening (Vs.11-13, Proverbs 27:17,Gal 6:1-5 )

Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

We even strengthen each other when we fall

Galatians 6:1–5 “Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.”

Application: “Not forsaking our own assembling together.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Hebrews 10:23–25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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.”

Transition: Notice how Hebrews 10:25 ends, “as the day is drawing near.” There is a day coming when our commission is ended and the Lord returns to judge both the living and the dead. We were given a command together as believers to make disciples of the nations. There is a major purpose for our gathering besides that of our own edification. It is to be used as God’s instruments to bring the world to repentance and humble obedience to Him. We must remember the mission and that our fellowship must be saturated in the Gospel. As Paul demonstrates here in vs. 14-16, Biblical Fellowship is Gospel Centered.

III. Biblical Fellowship is Gospel Centered (Vs. 14-17)

A. Pointing all men to Salvation (Vs. 14-16, Acts 2:37-47, I Cor 1:18-24)

The Early Church had fellowship and other people were saved. The church was building

Acts 2:37–47 LSB

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Preaching of the Cross is foolishness to those who arent saved

1 Corinthians 1:18–24 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased, through the foolishness of the message preached, to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

B. Living according to the righteousness of God (Vs. 17, II Tim 2:1-7, I John 1:6-7 )

Paul challenged Timothy to teach and live according to the faith

2 Timothy 2:1–7 LSB

You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Understand what I say, for the Lord will give you insight in everything.

We have fellowship with God because of our righteousness in Christ and we can have fellowship with others because of the same.

1 John 1:6–7 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do the truth; 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.”

Application: “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)

John 17:21 “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Transition: Jesus prayed earnestly before His crucifixion for His church and that we would be unified, just as He is unified with the Father. So often we allow small things to tare us apart and to weaken the testimony that Jesus was sent by the Father to die in the stead of His elect, to raise again on the third day making justification for our sin, and that Spirit may change the hearts of His people toward faith and repentance. Our unity is but one major weapon in God’s arsenal against sin. We need to be unified together in fellowship for the sake of the world and for the sake of future generations to come.

Conclusion/The Challenge

How we in America have viewed fellowship in the last 100-150 years has weakened the call of Scripture. We view fellowship as a Sunday morning thing and prayer as a Wednesday afternoon ritual. Potlucks are the only moments when meals are shared in the body. Caring for one another is often a chore and a inconvenience. Shame on us. Prayer and togetherness should be a part of the Christian’s daily life. Just looking at Paul’s epistles shows us the value he placed on the fellowship of the believers. He longed to be with people of like faith and practice. He desired to teach them and at the same time be taught by them. He prayed for them and pleaded for their prayers. The early church knew that evangelism was merely the first step of discipleship and that continued teaching and growth was what Christ called for them (and even us) to do. We ought to desire time with the believers.

When’s the last time you had another family in your home to bless them with a meal?

When’s the last time you let someone know you’re praying for them and meant it?

Are you actively part of a small group so that you can encourage and be encouraged?

Where are you serving in the body?

Fellowship is much more than just a Sunday morning thing. Scripture calls us to a specific way of living and fellowship with other believers leads to joyful obedience. My challenge for you this morning is this: Desire Fellowship with other believers. Get to know someone you otherwise wouldn’t. We have a lunch right after the service. Sit with someone who you wouldn’t normally. Anna and I love her family, but we plan on taking up this challenge. This is something we have talked extensively about. I know our goal when we get married is to practice as one author puts it “radically ordinary hospitality.” Our desire is to take fellowship to Gospel extremes. Is that your desire? Do you desire fellowship, or are you simply here for the country club?

Lets Pray as the music team comes forward to close out our service with a song.

Pray.