Core Value: FELLOWSHIP is how disciples stay connected.

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

In order to enter into good biblical fellowship with one another you first have to enter into fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB95

9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Once we are in Fellowship with God it should be our desire to tell others what we have experienced so that they too might be called into fellowship with God and as a result be in fellowship with us.

So Fellowship is more than just gathering, or more than just eating a meal. It involves the family of God gathering around God.

We must be careful to strive to protect the fellowship among us.

1 Corinthians 11:17–18 NASB95

17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.

We are also called not only to share in the blessings of being in fellowship with Christ, but also to share in his suffering.

Philippians 3:10 HCSB

10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Basket Illustration:

God is doing something great here at Castlewood.

Give examples

As a result Satan is going to start pushing back against our church, because every inch we gain for the Kingdom of God is taking away from the Kingdom of darkness.

We now have a target on our backs.

Like a basket woven tightly together we will be able to repel the enemies attacks. Maintaining a healthy biblical fellowship is so important because that is how we remain tightly bound together.

In our fellowship with God and one another begins to loosen we are opening the door for Satan to reach in and attack.

This is why gossip, slander, and grumbling are so detrimental to the church. It creates division in the church and distorts the message of the Gospel to others. It destroys fellowship.

So here is how we will safe guard against this here at Castlewood Baptist church.

Matthew 18:15–32 NASB95

15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

You stop gossip, slander and complaining at a church this way:

You call it what it is…SIN

You call the person who is doing it what they are…SINNER

You call for the person to approach the person they have an issue with, and have sinned against…RECONCILIATION

If they do and that person does not listen, then they are to take one or two more to meet with them…RECONCILIATION

If they still do no listen go to the church.

If they still don’t listen treat them as an unbeliever.

Are you willing to walk through difficult days to see God’s greatness on the other side.

I AM.

This approach to sin does not make one popular, which is why it works in deterring people from sinning in this way.

Hear me and don’t misunderstand me, “I am willing to loose every member of this church in order to maintain the holiness of this church.”

From now on if there is grumbling and complaining, gossip or slander and i hear about it i will be addressing it. If you have an issue with anyone go to them first. Even if it is with me, come and talk with me don’t let things fester.

If you need help with something, call the church office or your deacon, but don’t gossip, slander or complain to them. You will disqualify your deacon and i have prepped Lori and Nyana to point the person to the person they have an issue with.

We need to make sure that we are treating one another with love, compassion, and encouragement, like a family, maintaining our tight bond of fellowship with God and others so that we will not be distracted or derailed from our Purpose and mission to Glorify God by making disciples who make disciples.

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