Fellowship_pt3: The Church
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Fellowship_pt3: The Church
Fellowship_pt3: The Church
[THIS MONTH] - We’re studying fellowship.
We started this study with the understanding that greatly need the fellowship of the Holy Spirit who bears witness of our sonship with God in Christ.
We need this fellowship to experience the transformation and power!
This is necessary before we can truly fellowship with each other.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
[THIS WEEK] lets discuss the “you all” part.
All = Together = Fellowship
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
[PAYOFF] - We are meant to fellowship with the Spirit of God!
[AND] - We are meant to fellowship - by that Spirit - with each other!
This is church!
We are meant to “fit”
We are meant to “belong” - ONE BODY
[STORY] - As a kid, did you ever spend the night with someone and notice they don’t buy all the brands of food as you?!
What’s wrong with these people???
I don’t belong here!
In the Church, there has to be something that “washes over us all, to make us one.”
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
This is the Church in Acts.
We’ve all heard this verse many times.
What new revelations come, now in light of this discussion?
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
The Church
The Church
is a very clear picture of the Body in fellowship.
Let’s unpack this passage and see what we can learn and apply to our body, here, at Connect Church.
First, “They devoted themselves...”
We can stop write there!
The Church was Devoted.
Devoted
Devoted
Devotion is a major part of our fellowship...
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Real obedience is devotion! We are to devote ourselves.
[ASK] - Am I “devoted?”
[TRANSITION] - Back to , “they devoted themselves to...
(1) teaching and to (2) fellowship
(1) breaking bread and to (2) prayer
(1) - The Word - teachings and consuming, together.
(2) - Agreement - community with each other and the Spirit
[TRANSITION] -
The Church was devoted.
The Church did life together!
Did life together
Did life together
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
Acts
They were so wrapped up in each others lives that didn’t claim their property and possessions as their own!
[PAYOFF] - If they were this connected on material things, how connected must they have been on spiritual things?
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
[WHAT IS AT STAKE?] - Our own agendas, ambitions, perspectives, ideals - although helpful when shared in love - have the potential of hindering our fellowship.
[TRANSITION] - What happened when the Church fellowshipped?
The Church Grew daily! “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Grew daily
Grew daily
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The Church was meant to grow, be strengthened and powerful!
The Church in Acts was this!
[MY CONVICTION] - What might be missing in the Church today? Fellowship!
The Body of Christ
The Body of Christ
so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
[PAYOFF] - Let’s identify 3 ways for Connect Church to function as the Body.
[WRITE THESE DOWN]...
As the Body, we must...
Connect
Connect
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
“Accept” - This isn’t just “tolerate” until they become like me...
It means, “accept them how they are, regardless of how you are.”
To “connect” is to “connect...”
[DO] - Ask the Lord to reveal to you how you can better connect with those you do life with, here, at Connect Church.
Next...
Contribute
Contribute
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
“whatever gift...” - Time, talent, treasure.
“as faithful stewards of God’s grace…” - We are meant to contribute!
We are good stewards of the gift, if we share it!
We are poor stewards, if we do not share it!
[DO] - Give and give generously!
Next...
Build Community
Build Community
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
“as Christ accepted you...” Into the Body for a purpose!
As
Don’t let today’s message only be about “getting along” with each others...
It’s so much more than that!
It’s about our work and purpose together.
It’s about each other depending on each other.
It’s about each other building each others.
Take Away
Take Away
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
United in Christ, empowered by His Spirit, we are His Body = fellowship
United in Christ, empowered by His Spirit, we are His Body = fellowship