Foundations of Fellowship

Introduction

The purpose of our 20/20 Vision

We are creatures of habit. We are more shaped by our daily routines than we realize.

Our spiritual growth is largely dependent on habits and routines that we instill in our lives.

We cannot depend on isolated moments of strong emotion or intense spiritual catharsis to live lives pleasing to God. If we do not develop habits of godly discipline in our lives, we will remain stagnant, and eventually backslide.

One of the most important moments of my life was dinner with the Schlotts (as part of marriage counseling). “You must do the little things.”

We want to challenge and encourage you to instill these three simple habits into your lives.

These habits must be rooted in the gospel

We must avoid a self-righteous, legalistic approach to these habits. We must abandon any notion that these practices will cause us to earn favor with God.

Rather, these habits are logical responses to our belief in the gospel, and will strengthen our faith in the gospel.

Fellowship is essential to the Christian life

I had some difficulty picking out a passage on fellowship, because fellowship is an essential component of the entire biblical story.

The entire Bible tells the story of how God acts to restore all of creation to himself.

He restores creation to himself by gathering a people to himself through their union with his Son in his death and resurrection.

The book of Romans is all about Christian fellowship, and is the book’s summary statement.

The purpose of the book of Romans is to promote unity within the church of Rome.

Paul was concerned about the issues in the church regarding the division and tension between Jews and gentiles.

In all likelihood, the church was planted by Jewish believers, and as the gospel went out, gentiles in Rome also came to faith in Christ.

Paul wanted to prevent the formation of a “Jewish church” and “gentile church.”

A true and right understanding of, and belief in, the gospel will produce true unity, harmony, and love in the body of Christ

Gospel Content

“Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God....”

The “mercies of God” is a summary of everything he said in ch.1-11.

Ch.1-3: We all have the same basic problem

Ch. 4-6: We all have the same standing with with God on the same basis

Gospel Call

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice”

This phrase is traditionally understood in reference to one’s own personal piety and devotion to the Lord.

This is a call to the Church as a whole

“Bodies” is plural, “sacrifice” is singular.

Y’all present your bodies as ONE living sacrifice.

Gospel Community