Christian Fellowship

Michael E. Grooms

Introduction:

   A. What does "fellowship" mean to you?    

   B. Fellowship is often misunderstood and rarely practiced, as it ought to be

   I. Fellowship Defined

   A. Koinonia - fellowship, association, community, communion, joint-participation, intercourse (Thayer's Lexicon)

        1. Most often "fellowship" or "communion"

        2 Refer to acts of fellowship among Christians or the spirit of fellowship expressed by these acts

   B. Col. 2:1,2 Paul gives a "working man's" definition of fellowship

        1. Having our hearts "knit together in love" is what fellowship is all about

        2. When we are truly in this kind of fellowship with each other, we can overcome all obstacles

 II.  The Role of Fellowship

   A. It builds faith Romans 1:11,12

        1.That I may be encouraged with you (NASB)

        2. Each of us by the other's faith (NASB)

   B. Eccl. 4:9-12

        1. We must be able to lift each other up

        2. United we stand, divided we fall (The cry of the revolution)

III. Fellowship in Christian Community

   A.  1John 1:3-7 We walk together

   B. Phil 1:27 We strive together for the faith

   C. 1 Cor. 12:20-26 We have care (compassion) for one another

   D. Gal. 5:13-16 We serve one another

   E. Acts 2:42 We live together (doctrine, fellowship, eating, prayer)

 IV. Fellowship in Worship

   A. Singing

        1. Col. 3:16 “teaching and admonishing one another”

        2. Eph. 5:19 “speaking to yourselves”

   B. Prayer – “Pray one for another” (James 5:16)

   B. Preaching, Bible Reading

        1. Phil. 1:3-5 “fellowship in the gospel”

        2. “koinonia” rendered “fellowship”

   C. Giving

        1. Rom. 15:25:26

        2. The saints in Macedonia and Achaia had made a “contribution” to the poor saints in Jerusalem

        3. Contribution is a translation of “koinonia”

        4. In this case “joint participation” or “association” or “fellowship”

   D. Lord’s Supper

        1. Often called "communion"

        2. I Cor. 10:16,17 Paul uses the word "koinonia” to speak of the fellowship of the Supper

        3. In order to understand what Paul is saying, we need to look at the context

            a. Paul is speaking of having fellowship with idols by eating of their sacrifices 1 Cor. 10:14-21

            b. He implies that to eat that which is sacrificed is to be a partaker with the sacrifice

            c. He states as an example the Jews' sacrifice and the Gentile's sacrifice to idols

        4. I Cor. 11:17-34 This must be read in context of the previous discussion

            a. Paul addresses the abuse of the Lord's Supper

            b. The purpose of the Lord's Supper is to

                 *have fellowship in the suffering of Christ

                 *have fellowship with other Christians

            c. The Corinthians abused this fellowship by eating selfishly

Conclusion:

   Let us strive to understand and practice true fellowship in the Lord’s church.