Why the church?
A Biblical Study
The Five Ministries of Each Local Church
Study 4
Fellowship
This term has been used frequently within local Christian churches to describe a variety of activities. Everything from corporate suppers, lunch after a morning service, casual conversation before a home Bible study to the participation with other believers on a mission trip.
But what is the essence of Biblical fellowship? Common terms used by Greek lexicons (dictionaries) are words like, ‘participation’, ‘communion’, ‘partaker’, ‘fellowship’. Various forms of the word also could mean an associate, to communicate, to distribute, communication, collection and companion. (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament. Chattanooga: AMG, 1992, p. 873.)
In 1 John 1:3 we have a simple use of the term,
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.
Here we discover that any relationship with a fellow believer arises out of, first of all, our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Without the regenerated heart which makes our spirit alive to know Christ and communicate with Him we cannot communicate or share with or fellowship with another Christian.
So Christian fellowship arises from each person’s living relationship with God in Christ. As a result, all fellowship that is expressed or experienced between Christians, whether between two people or within a larger group, is linked to the spiritual walk of those Christians. The vibrancy of the personal walk with Christ, in the Word and prayer daily, is directly related to the vibrancy of the corporate fellowship.
The more deeply and intimately you walk with Christ daily, the more deeply and intimately you will walk with other believers.
Explaining Fellowship
1. Read 1 John 1:3,7; 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Cor. 13:14. How do these verses help explain ‘fellowship’?
2. Read 1 Peter 2:9,10. How does Peter describe the new relationship that a person who has received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord has with other believers? Is that fellowship?
Expressing Fellowship
3. Read Acts 2:46; 4:32-37; Phil. 2:1. When you read about these Christians, what aspects of their relationship with one another stand out?
What attitudes and/or behaviours would be evident in a church that would indicate that it is not expressing ‘community’?
How are ‘community’ and ‘fellowship’ related? Unrelated?
4. Read at least three of the following verses or passages: Rom. 12:13; 2 Cor. 8:4; Gals. 6:6; Phil. 4:15b; 1 Tim. 6:18; Heb. 13:16; Acts 2:44,45.
How do these verses describe fellowship in the church?
How have you seen this type of fellowship shown in a local church you attended?
Explain.
What do you believe would be a good way for your local church to express fellowship like this that is not being done right now?
5. Read 2 Cor. 1:7; Phil. 3:10; Heb. 10:32-35; 1 Peter 4:13. What kind of fellowship is shown among believers in these verses?
Describe a time when you were suffering and you were the recipient of Biblical fellowship?
6. Read Phil. 1:5. What fellowship is shown here?
Fellowship and Accountability
7. Read 1 Timothy 5:22. What type of accountability is described here? How does this relate to fellowship?
Fellowship and Sin
One of the areas of teaching on fellowship in the Scriptures is the relationship between fellowship and sin.
8. Read 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 2 Cor. 6:14; 1 John 1:6; 2 John 10,11. (see also
2 Thess. 3:6-15) How is the church to handle those who refuse to repent of their sin?
How can you help to strengthen the fellowship in your local church?