Fellowship
Mice Story -- Three pastors met and were talking over conditions at their churches.
The first pastor said, "You know, since summer started, I’ve been having trouble with mice in my church. I’ve tried everything----noise, spray, cats---nothing seems to scare them away."
The second pastor said, "Yeah, my church too. There are hundreds living in the basement of the church. I’ve set traps and even called an expert to get rid of them but nothing has worked so far."
The third pastor said, "I had the same problem, so I baptized all mine and made them members of the church... haven’t seen one since.
Introduction
Fellowship is one of those “Church” words. It is a word that isn’t commonly used by non-Christians. It is also a word that is miss understood and misused by Christians.
We have our fellowship hall, our fellowship dinners, our fellowship meetings. ect. But what exactly is fellowship? What does it mean? How does it relate to God, to Christians, and to non-Christians.
Is fellowship a potluck dinner? – It could be.
Is fellowship a S.S. class? – It could be.
Is fellowship joining the church? - It could be.
Is fellowship becoming a Christian? – It could be.
The dictionary defines “fellowship” as: - Companionship, friendly association – Mutual sharing as of experiences, of activities, of interests – A group of people with the same interests, brotherhood.
The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia”, and it comes from a root meaning common or shared. So fellowship means common participation in something either by giving what you have to the other person or receiving what he or she has. Give and take is the essence of fellowship, and give and take must be the way of fellowship in the life of the body of Christ.
Fellowship is Vertical and it is Horizontal.
1. Vertical is our relationship with God.
2. Horizontal is our relationship with our fellow man
This morning we’re going to briefly cover these two areas in the life of the Christian, which need to be saturated with this idea of fellowship.
I. Fellowship With God. - Vertical Relationship
(Talk briefly about the fall and the events leading up to it before reading scripture.)
Gen 3:8-9
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
This morning I want us to notice these final three words. – “Where art thou?”
You can almost feel the longing in God’s heart as He says those words. Prior to this man had had unbroken communion and fellowship with God, but it was different now. Man no longer was waiting for that time with God. Adam was now hiding but God was seeking. Something had happened in that relationship. SIN
Ever since that fellowship was broken, mankind has been trying to get it back. Man tries Religion but to no effect. He pursues pleasure to fill that emptiness but he is still empty. - Sex, wealth, power, alcohol, drugs, pleasures - Nothing satisfies. Everything that man attempts to restore that missing something in his life leaves him empty.
Nothing can fill that emptiness but God – Fellowship with God.
Catechism QUESTION “What is the chief end of Man?” ANSWER “To Glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
1. Relationship is the Basis of that Fellowship
Fellowship with God is first of all relational. - Sonship
1 John 1:3 - That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sonship is established when you accept Jesus Christ as Savior and are born again into the Family of God.
2. Sin Breaks that Fellowship
a. God is Holy. Sin hinders relationship.
Illustration
Just doing good works doesn’t restore the estrangement of a relationship. It involves making things right. If a man and wife have an argument, just buying her a box of chocolates doesn’t solve the whole problem. Whatever is hindering the relationship has to be dealt with. --- Unfaithfulness – bad temper – selfishness, ect.
b. Confession – What is it? It is simply agreeing with God.
c. Some people have a “Sadaam Hussain” God. The life their lives in fear of crossing Him or they will be put
before the firing squad.
3. The Benefits of that Fellowship
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
a. It transforms us.
b. Fellowship is always getting a new piece of paper. God never runs out of paper.
II. Fellowship With Others – Horizontal Relationship
1. Our Relationship with Other Believers
Acts 2:41-42
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Ill. Recently a church near my house changed it’s name from “Oakbrook Baptist Church” to “The Fellowship at Oakbrook”.
Why is it so important for Christians to “fellowship” together.
a. It helps the Christian to grow in their walk with the Lord.
Ill. One thing that I have learned in thirty years of pastoring is that I often go from becoming the teacher to becoming the student ant that the student becomes my teacher.
b. It promotes accountability.
c. It establishes teamwork.
d. It builds unity.
Illustration - A comedian once said that their can be union without unity. – Just tie two cats tails together and throw them over a clothesline.
Phil 2:3-5 - Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Illustration – I’ll just take my ball and go home. - This phrase had reality to me when I was a 12 year old playing sandlot football with some of my friends. Billy had brought the football. If he couldn’t be the quarterback then he would take his football and go home.
2. Our Relationship with Non-believers.
2 Cor 6:14 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
We need to understand something very important. Fellowship and friendship are not the same. . . they are two different things altogether.
a. Friendship is being friendly with another person.
b. Fellowship is that which is shared by people who have something in common. Fellowship includes friendship, but it also includes some things that you can’t “get” anywhere else. Things like, accountability, encouragement, agape love, help,ect.
We need to be friends with people of the world but that friendship with someone can allow you to be in the world, and not OF it. BUT, if you have fellowship with the world, it not only puts you in the world, but it makes you OF the world too! And that is the reason for the need to find that perfect balance!
c. Balance has got to be one of the most difficult areas in the life of a Christian. It has to have such a perfect balance in order for us to be able to be effective not only in our personal walk, but also in our evangelistic efforts. Not to mention for us to have a scriptural perspective on the world.
Conclusion – Fellowship is built on Love
1. Love for God
2. Love for Other Christians
3. Love for Unbelievers.
