Vision#5
We all need fellowship w/ one another, but for us to have true fellowship it must include t Lord Jesus Christ. For us to not to have Christian fellowship can hinder our spiritual growth. Believers are called to inspire, encourage, build up one another, & meet t needs in each others lives. I'm not necessarily talking about meeting t needs of someone financial. We can do that if t Lord directs us to do that, but what I am saying is that we need to be a blessing to one another. Everyone has a need for fellowship, if we don't find it in t church we're going to find it somewhere else.
I. Now what is fellowship?
A. 1JOHN 1:3,7
1. T word "fellowship" is t Greek word "koinonia" which means partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) relationship, or benefaction: ‑(to) communicate(‑ation), communion, share in common, (contri‑)distribution, fellowship.
a. AMO 3:3
b. To be in fellowship there has to be something in common, & that thing has to be t Lord Jesus Christ.
c. 2CO 6:14‑18
i. There isn't any fellowship for a Christian w/ a non Christian.
ii. EPH 5:11‑16
a. I thing that this V is telling us not to even be associated w/ things that are not godly.
b. (1TH 5:22) says, Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)
iii. T thing that we share in common is t Lord Jesus Christ.
2. In t book of Acts chapter 2 it talks about continuing in doctrine & in prayer, but it doesn't stop there.
a. Look w/ me to ACTS 2:42
b. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, in breaking of bread, in prayers, & fellowship.
i. They continued steadfastly in fellowship.
ii. T word "steadfastly" means "be constantly diligent."
iii. They were constantly diligent in there fellowship.
B. We are to be fellowshiping w/ one another.
1. But what are we to fellowship about?
a. There's nothing wrong w/ talking about t different things that went on during t day.
i. That's all good. We need to listen to people.
ii. Don't always try to get control of t conversation.
iii. If you're in a conversation w/ someone do you ever feel that you can't wait until they stop so you can say something?
Iv. If you do that then you need to concentrate on listening & not trying to say what you want everyone to here.
2. One thing that we lack doing in t body of Christ is talking about t Lord & t things that His done for us.
II. Before we can fellowship w/ other Christians we must have fellowship w/ God.
A. 1CO 1:9
1. That's t KJV, t NIV makes it a little clearer.
a. (1CO 1:9) God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (NIV)
b. What I wanted you to see in this V is that God has called you to fellowship w/ His Son.
B. Now there are some requirements to have fellowship w/ t Father.
1. JOHN 15:7‑10
a. It's essential to walk in obedience w/ His word.
b. Go back w/ me to 1JO 1:7.
i. Before we can have true fellowship w/ one another, we 1st must have fellowship w/ t Father, but before we can do that we must be walking in t light that we have.
2. To some new Christians all t light they have is to put their faith in Jesus for salvation.
a. To others it's much more.
III. 1COR 12:12‑27
A. We all are t body of t Christ, or you could say 1 family.
1. We need each other.
2. We need to fellowship w/ each other.
B. Geese always fly together & when they do they fly in a V formation, by flying in this formation they help lift & propel t weaker to fly faster w/ less effort.
1. We need to stay together in such a way that we'll be able to lift & propel t week or feeble.
IV. Now there are some things that happen to even sinners when we're in fellowship w/ t Lord & w/ one another.
1. 1st people will know that we are disciples t
their faith in Jesus for salvation.
a. To others it's much more.
III. 1COR 12:12‑27
A. We all are t body of t Christ, or you could say 1 family.
1. We need each other.
2. We need to fellowship w/ each other.
B. Geese always fly together & when they do they fly in a V formation, by flying in this formation they help lith and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
2. We'