The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fellowship in a lot of good ways. They include companionship, being with friendly people, sharing together in some interest, activity, feeling, or experience. Christian fellowship is all that but also much more…
New Testament Greek contains many words which do not translate well. Often a word’s meaning is more than can be conveyed in a single English word. ‘Agapé’ for example means love, but a very specific sort of love, the love of God, a love in action, a love for the unlovely, a love for one’s enemy, an act of grace upon the undeserving.
The word we translate ‘fellowship’ is a word like that. The Greek word is κοινωνία, or koinōnia (Pron. koy-nohn-ee’-ah.) Strong defines it as a ‘participation,’ or ‘communion,’ a privilege made possible by the sheer grace of God.
Also, when believers gather together there is a sense of ‘oneness’ among them. It is “the unity of the Spirit” which Paul wrote of in Ephesians 4:3.
In Jesus prayer for all believers – and that includes you and I who believe today – He prayed “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
Indeed, true Christian fellowship is a fellowship with God as well as with one another. As Jesus said “…where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:20) and as John wrote, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.“ (1 John 1:3).
Fellowship (koinōnia) with other believers is essential to our spiritual growth. It was a primary activity of the early church…
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47).
We come together to worship, to encourage and be encouraged, to pray together, share together, and to be a testimony to the power of Christ to restore and unite. Especially in these times fellowship must not be neglected.
… let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:24-25)
Do you fellowship regularly with other believers? Do you have a Bible-believing church family with whom you feel at home? If not, we invite you to be our guest at Lincoln Baptist Church. Come a few times. See if we might be that “just right” place for you. Check out our website and ministries here, and, as Billy Graham always urged at the close of his evangelistic services, “Go to church this Sunday.”
Press on…
Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of new life in Christ?
Or, perhaps you would you like to know how to begin this journey and take the very first of the First Steps by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.
thebrokenrunner 