Becoming the Church

Love is a marker of the Church

1 John 4:10–12 HCSB

Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.

See also Jn 13:34; Jn 15:12; Eph 5:1–2; 1 Jn 3:10

Biblical Fellowship leads to Spiritual Growth of the whole

Acts 2:42 HCSB

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

Worshipping together

Psalm 55:14 HCSB

We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

See also Ps 42:4; 1 Co 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

Praying together

Acts 1:14 HCSB

All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

See also Ac 4:24; Ac 12:12; Jas 5:16

Breaking bread together

1 Co 10:16–17; 2 Pe 2:13; Jud 12 Love feasts accompanied the Lord’s Supper though these were open to abuse.

True fellowship means sharing with those in need

Hebrews 13:16 HCSB

Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

See also Ac 20:34–35; Eph 4:28

Showing hospitality

Romans 12:13 HCSB

Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.

See also Is 58:7; Heb 13:1–2; 1 Pe 4:9; 3 Jn 8

Sharing money and possessions

Dt 15:10–11; Ac 2:44–45

See also Dt 10:18–19 God’s people are to reflect his concern for the needy in society; Mt 25:35–36; Lk 3:11; Ac 4:32–35; 2 Co 8:13–15; 1 Ti 6:17–18; Jas 1:27; Jas 2:15–16

Examples of sharing with the needy

Job 31:16–20 Job’s compassion for the needy; Ac 6:1 the daily distribution to widows; Ac 9:36 Tabitha’s concern for the poor

The collection for believers in Judea:

Ac 11:29–30; Ro 15:26; 2 Co 8:3–4

Strengthening one another in fellowship together

Bearing with the weak

Galatians 6:1–2 HCSB

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

See also Is 42:3; Ro 14:1; Ro 15:1; 1 Th 5:14

Strengthening the weak

Isaiah 35:3–4 HCSB

Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking knees! Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

See also Job 4:3–4

Encouraging one another

Hebrews 10:24–25 HCSB

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

See also 1 Sa 23:16; Ro 1:12; 1 Th 5:11; Heb 13:3

Putting the needs of others first

Romans 15:2 HCSB

Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

See also 1 Co 10:24; 1 Co 10:32–33

True fellowship means living in harmony

1 Peter 3:8 HCSB

Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,

See also Ro 12:16; Eph 4:2–3; Php 2:1–4; Col 3:12–14

Showing equal concern for all

Ac 10:34; 1 Co 12:25; Jas 2:1–4

Examples of fellowship

Nu 10:31–32 Moses and Hobab; 1 Sa 18:3 David and Jonathan; 2 Ki 10:15–16 Jehu and Jehonadab

Failure to exhibit true fellowship

1 Sa 30:22 Troublemakers in David’s army are unwilling to share the spoils; 1 Co 1:11–12 factions within the church at Corinth; 1 Co 11:17–22 Selfishness at love feasts humiliates the poor.