Fellowship Fundamentals

Instructions

Will you take your Bible and turn to Romans 12:15-16? Please search the Scriptures with us. Don’t be afraid to use your index.

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Capture

A friend announces a huge promotion on social media.

You tap "like."

Another posts about devastating loss, and you type "praying for you" with a sad emoji.

In thirty seconds, you've engaged with someone's highest and lowest moments.

But did you feel anything?

Was it sympathy, or just scrolling?

Significance

Our digital age makes connection instantaneous but superficial.

We perform sympathy with a click, keeping safe distance from life's messy reality.

This creates spiritual crisis when it infects the church.

We think a Sunday handshake or digital acknowledgment equals true fellowship.

We keep joy private and grief hidden.

Context

In Romans 12, Paul describes the "living sacrifice." He’s shown that worship is not just vertical, toward God, but horizontal, toward one another. The gospel doesn't just save individuals; it creates a new society. And, in verses 15-16, Paul gives us the kingdom's social operating system.

The Question

What are the fundamentals of gospel fellowship?

Bible Verse

Romans 12:15–16 CSB

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Explanation

Paul gives two fundamentals duties, each challenging our natural, self-centered instincts.

1. Share the Same Heart (v. 15)

Romans 12:15 CSB

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

The Anatomy of Sympathy

This is sympathy's duty—

Calvin put it this: we must transfer to ourselves "the feeling of another, whether of grief in adversity, or of joy in prosperity."

We must enter into our brothers' and sisters' emotional world.

Again Calvin writes, "Such is the nature of true love, that one prefers to weep with his brother, rather than to look at a distance on his grief."

True love refuses to maintain comfortable distance. It enters another person's experiences.

Most of us find the second half easier. Why?

Because nature itself and common decency moves us to weep when others weep.

When your friend's child dies, when your neighbor loses her job, when tragedy strikes—you feel it. Your heart breaks.

The Test of Your Love

But Paul puts rejoicing first. Why?

Because it's the greater test of our souls.

John Chrysostom, preaching in the 4th century, observed: "To rejoice with those who are rejoicing requires a soul with a deeper grasp of the faith...rejoicing requires a really noble soul not only in order to avoid jealousy when another enjoys success but even to find pleasure in the good fortune of the other."

Think about that.

Congratulating someone else's blessing is spiritually more demanding than comforting their sorrow. Why?

Because sorrow doesn't threaten us—it awakens natural compassion.

But another's joy? That can feel like indictment of our own lack.

Be honest.

When fellow church members get promotions, their children excel, or God answers their prayers powerfully, is your first reaction pure joy?

Or is it envy's twinge—"Why them, Lord, and not me?"

What happens in your chest when others prosper where you've failed?

That feeling reveals our love's shallowness. True, gospel-powered sympathy makes another's blessing feel like our own.

Your soul isn't naturally noble—it's naturally selfish.

And this supernatural sympathy is learned in the school of suffering.

Spurgeon said: "Many trials experienced by Christians are sent as education in sympathy's art. Be thankful for that which enables you to be a minister of consolation."

Your pain has purpose beyond you—God is shaping you into a minister of His comfort.

2. Share the Same Mind (v. 16)

From shared heart, Paul moves to shared mind—from emotional posture to social posture.

This is a call for humility that produces harmony.

Romans 12:16 CSB

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

This isn't uniformity where everyone thinks and acts alike.

Instead, it's a call to shared mindset centered on Christ.

Two enemies attack this shared mind:

First, Paul addresses social pride.

"Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble."

In the Roman world, this command was revolutionary.

Society was built on rigid hierarchy.

As scholar Michael Bird notes, "senators did not associate with [the lower social classes]...and masters did not dine with slaves."

Honor demanded associating only with those who elevate your status.

Paul demolishes worldly systems within the church.

“Associate with people of low position”—the verb has the sense of being swept along with someone else, of allowing yourself to be carried into their company.

It’s the same root used in Galatians 2.13

Galatians 2:13 CSB

Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Don’t stand aloof—let yourself be carried away into fellowship with them.

Chrysostom understood this radical command:"If a poor man comes into your house, behave like him and do not put on airs because of your riches. In Christ there is no rich or poor. Do not be ashamed of him because of his outward dress, but receive him because of his inward faith."

Look around. Who do you overlook at church?

Someone in this congregation you avoid—they don't dress right, talk right, fit your world.

They're awkward, needy, different. They make you uncomfortable.

But you've made Christianity comfortable.

You've surrounded yourself with people who think like you, earn like you, live like you.

Paul isn’t saying just be nice to others—associate with them. Learn their names. Pursue them. Bring yourself to their position.

Paul says associate with them—not as ministry projects, but as family. As equals wearing the same righteousness of Christ.

Second, Paul addresses intellectual pride.

Paul's concern goes deeper than social snobbery.

"Do not be conceited"—literally, "Do not be wise in your own eyes."

Paul is likely drawing directly from Proverbs 3.7.

Proverbs 3:7 CSB

Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Calvin observed: "Nothing swells the minds of men so much as a high notion of their own wisdom.

We live in an age drunk on its own intelligence.

We have access to more information than any generation in history, and we mistake information for wisdom.

Social media has made every person their own expert, their own theological authority, their own final arbiter of right and wrong.

They think they’re right about everything—theology, parenting, business.

They've surrounded themselves with agreement and mistake that for truth.

Do you see it? The spiritual snobbery passing for depth? The intellectual pride masquerading as discernment?

They’ve created an iceberg of superiority chilling every room they enter.

This arrogant, know-it-all spirit is utterly toxic to Christian fellowship.

Chrysostom warned, it's the single thing "most likely to cause schisms in the church."

What’s the solution?

Calvin noted: "His [Paul’s} desire then was, that we should lay this aside, hear others, and regard their counsels."

R.C. Sproul captures the heart: "We are prone to error and given to delusion, so we ought never to trust merely in our own views."

True spiritual maturity is marked not by certainty but teachability.

The wisest Christians hold opinions with humility, listen carefully, remain open to correction and growth.

The Christian mind is humble, willing to listen and learn, considering the possibility that the person disagreeing with you might have something to teach you.

Take-Home Truth

We share the same heart because we're members of Christ's body; we share the same mind because we have Christ's mind.

All of this flows from Christ Himself.

These two fundamentals aren't moral advice for the unregenerate—they're necessary fruit of those who are united to Christ.

In previous verses, Paul reminds us:

Romans 12:5 CSB

in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

This isn't metaphor—it's mystical reality.

1 Corinthians 12:26 CSB

So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

The Holy Spirit acts as the body of Christ’s central nervous system.

When one member rejoices, the Spirit sends joy's current through the whole.

When one suffers, the Spirit sends pain signals every member should feel.

To ignore another's joy is numbing yourself to the Spirit's work.

To distance yourself from another's pain is severing a spiritual nerve.

And, remember, we have Christ's mind

1 Corinthians 2:16 CSB

For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

But notice:

Philippians 2:5 CSB

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

What is Christ’s mind? Humility.

Philippians 2:7 CSB

Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

When we have His mind, it’s not that we know everything, its that we become teachable.

Worldly status becomes worthless.

And intellectual arrogance is exposed as foolishness.

We see people through Christ's lens of grace and servanthood, not the world's lens of power and position.

The Spokes and the Hub

William Hendriksen gives us a beautiful picture:

"The closer we are to God the closer we come to one another. Like spokes in a wheel that converge at the hub."

Our unity isn't found in similarities but shared proximity to Jesus.

When we each move toward Him, we inevitably move toward each other.

When Christ is our hub, we can rejoice with the wealthy businessman and the struggling single mom, the intellectual professor and the simple tradesman—not because you agree on everything, but because you agree on what matters most.

The path to unity isn't trying harder to agree with each other—it's drawing closer to Christ.

Summons

We've been called to a fellowship that feels, acts, and loves differently from the world.

But this requires declaring war on pride in our hearts.

Examine your heart.

When you hear of others' blessings, what's your first response?

Whose success have you failed to celebrate?

Whose joy has been tainted by your jealousy?

That's failure to share Christ's heart. Repent of that envy and go to that person this week and tell them you're celebrating what God has done for them.

Examine your mind.

Who in this congregation do you avoid? And why?

Because they don't share your social status, income, or education?

Are you guilty of intellectual pride?

Christ's mind commands you to associate with them.

Invite them into your life. Sit with them. Learn their story.

This isn't extra credit Christianity—it's core to your transformed life.

It's proof you know the Savior who condescended to you.

The Beautiful Result

I've watched divisions form in churches. I've watched intellectual pride chill fellowship.

These sins are a cancer to Christ's body.

But I've also witnessed true Christian fellowship's beauty—

wealthy believers opening homes to struggling families with warmth reserved for royalty,

intellectually gifted believers sitting at simple saints' feet, learning from their wisdom,

congregations where joy is multiplied because it's shared and sorrow halved because it's borne together.

This is what God intends for His church. This is what the world desperately needs to see.

Repent, Believe, and Be Baptized

If you've never trusted Christ, you cannot manufacture this supernatural love. You need new birth. Spurgeon said: “Ungodly man, if thou art ever to be saved, thou must draw nigh to God in prayer. Go to him at this moment, just where thou art sitting, and confess all thy sin to him; there is no need for thee to utter a word that any of us can hear, for God can read the language of thy heart.”

"Dear Jesus, I confess I'm a sinner deserving judgment. I cannot save myself. But I believe You love me, came to earth, lived perfectly, and died for my sins. I believe God raised You to forgive me and grant eternal life. I place my soul in Your hands! Please forgive me, come into my life, and grant everlasting life. Help me live for You! Amen."

Baptism is a visible expression of faith and a public declaration of your commitment to follow Christ. To sign up for baptism, text BELIEVE to 706-525-5351 or visit www.mtcarmeldemorest.com/baptism for further guidance and information.

A Prayer for Harmony

Heavenly Father, forgive our counterfeit fellowship. Forgive the envy poisoning our hearts when we should rejoice with others. Forgive the pride making us seek our own kind when we should associate with the humble.

Give us Christ's heart to truly feel our brothers' and sisters' joys and sorrows. Give us Christ's mind, that we might demolish the walls of social and intellectual pride.

Make us a church living in harmony, not because we're all the same, but because we're all humbly gathered at the foot of the same cross.

In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.