Fellowship

Secrets to success in trying times

Acts 2:42 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Devoted to:

Learning/Growing

Fellowship

Breaking of bread

Prayer

Fellowship

What is fellowship?

Intimate council, circle of confidants

Fellowship = Participation; Communion; Association; Partnership

Fellowship

1: companionship, company

2 a: community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience

b: the state of being a fellow or associate

3: a company of equals or friends:association

4: the quality or state of being comradely

Do we need fellowship?

Genesis 2:18 NASB95

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

The world system is designed to keep us apart

Philippians 1:27–28 NASB95

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

The beauty of true fellowship

Psalm 133:1 NASB95

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

The power of true fellowship

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NASB95

12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Who should we fellowship with?

1 Corinthians 5:9–11 NASB95

9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NASB95

14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

How do we learn to walk in true fellowship?

Philippians 2:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Colossians 3:14 NASB95

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Ultimate goal is 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.

1 John 1:3 NASB95

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.

Philippians 3:10 NASB95

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

How to know if someone is in true fellowship with God

1 John 1:6–7 NASB95

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

What can we do as a church to grow in fellowship?