Fellowship

M08000

TITLE: FELLOWSHIP OR FALLOWSHIP?

INTRODUCTION: After visiting a church in Scottsbluff, NE we were asked to have a cup of coffee with the pastor of the church. When we arrived, we found that the pastor's father-in-law and one of the pastor's deacons had been invited as well. I sat down to what I figured would be the fellowship trio, NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS, and was pleasantly surprised. The conversation went immediately to spiritual things and for about an hour and a half the four of us sat in the living room enjoying the things of the Lord.

On the other hand while living in Denver and attending an Independent Baptist church, we experienced an evening that was quite strained.

We were new to the church. The people acted like they were afraid to say anything except something that was funny, or very generic. The occasion was a coffee time after the last session of an evangelistic series. Present at the coffee time, which was very informal, were the pastor, the evangelist and their wives along with three other couples from the church's leadership. All were believers.

In the entire evening there was not once that the Lord's name was mentioned, and not once were spiritual things of any sort mentioned.

Q. WHY?

Men and women that should be vitally interested in the things of the Lord and they talk of the NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS. I call this the fellowship trio.

These men and women were the leaders in their local church and they didn't even comment on how they thought the Evangelistic meetings had been.

Why the difference in these two situations.

I would call the first fellowship, and the second fallowship. The first was vibrant and spiritual, while the other was dead and worldly.

Our title is FELLOWSHIP OF FALLOWSHIP? Fallow means inactive. The question implies that believers are not fellowshipping, but are inactive in their relations with one another.

Let's talk about fellowship for awhile.

Most of us have some standard thoughts when we hear the term "FELLOWSHIP.”

Weather

Sports

Cars

Pastor’s sermon, but only if it was bad or didn't relate to us

Sewing circles

Women's groups

Of course there is always THE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP DINNER

AND DON'T FORGET THE GREETING TIME WHERE WE MAKE EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME!

NOW MARK MY WORDS - I AM NOT TALKING AGAINST FELLOWSHIP DINNERS - I REALLY LOVE THEM, but I really wonder how much scriptural fellowship we have at times. True, we have unsaved come at times and we can't dive into deep spiritual realms, however something simple might draw some attention.

Other churches have redefined the term "FELLOWSHIP HALLS.” One of the [Catholic] churches in Denver years ago had built their fellowship hall in the form of a restaurant and obtained a liquor license so that they could serve drinks.

At least they were open and honest about their lifestyle.

We are seeing a move in many churches to break for a few minutes, over coffee and donuts, either before or after SS. This is a good time for getting together. It can be a good time for believers to share on a personal and spiritual basis.

I have wondered if a time of coffee and informal questioning of the pastor after the message would be useful for the congregation.

Have you had close fellowship lately? No, I'm not talking about 40 college kids crammed into a phone booth!

I'm talking about meaningful spiritual fellowship!

What is "SCRIPTURAL FELLOWSHIP?”

Let's look at a few references and see if we can find out what the term means, and how we should be using it today.

There are four Greek words that are translated "fellowship" in the New Testament. They are translated in ways other than fellowship as well.

I want to focus on one word in this study. This is the most common of the terms.

"Koinonia": Vine states that this is, "communion, fellowship, sharing in common.”

Let's just chase some passages that use this term and see what we can learn from them. These are all passages that contain the word Koinonia.

Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Four things they were involved with:

a. apostle's doctrine

b. fellowship

c. breaking of bread

d. prayer

Notice that fellowship is nestled in the middle of DOCTRINE, THE LORDS'S TABLE AND PRAYER!

That should tell us something right away. Can you honestly and comfortably nestle your fellowship today in the midst of your worship service - amid preaching, prayer, and the Lord's table. WILL IT FIT?

WE TRY CHRISTIAN. How often have you been in a prayer meeting, and when the praying is finished, someone makes a comment such as, well we needed that rain, or it was really hot today?

The early Christians were spending time together around spiritual things. "Steadfastly" seems to indicate they were really into this time together, and knew of its importance.

Ro. 15:26 "For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints who are at Jerusalem."

The believers were sharing of their material possessions. They were SHARING, one with another! This gives a little to the meaning of the term. It is not just surface talk, but it is sharing of things, be they material, or spiritual.

They were not sending newspapers to Jerusalem so the Christians could keep up on the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS - they were sending things that they needed for living! It was money, most likely.

II Co. 9:13 "While by the proving of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men,"

This is a distribution of funds. They were giving of their funds. We are to give of ourselves in fellowship be it funds, or ourselves!

Too often, I think, we give of the funds so we don't have to give of ourselves.

When we were on deputation, a pastor requested a list of all of the material needs that we had. I asked him why he wanted it. He told me, "Stan, Christians feel guilty about missions, and if we give them a list, they can give financially so they don't feel guilty about not going themselves."

Heb. 13:16 "But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

A communicating is called a sacrifice to GOD! We please God when we share with one another.

This seems to be related to material items again. As we give - we offer sacrifice to our Lord, and God.

We have been associated with a church in Wyoming that I have often accused of acting like Christians. They get behind the people in their church that are hurting. One of the families found themselves in a mess. The husband was in the hospital and the car went out when the wife was visiting her husband. They were in need of money to live on. The church got behind them in material ways as well as helpful ways. They acted as the New Testament requests that we act.

I Cor. 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Our relationship with Jesus Christ as believers is called fellowship!

I'd like to see any one of us talk to the Lord when we see Him face to face about the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS.

"Hi Lord!" "Do you think it'll snow today so I can go skiing Sunday?"

Lord, do you think the Trailblazer's will take the championship this year.

I'm not trying to say that we won't have some neat conversations with the Lord, but I really doubt that we will dwell on the fellowship trio that we use now in our lives with believers.

II 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?" (fellowship is "metokee" and communion is koinonia)

In this passage the term koinonia is not translated fellowship, but rather communion.

Have NO communion! When we are to have communion then we should have the opposite of this. Paul said, "no communion," so the opposite would be, have CLOSE communion. Close fellowship - close koinonia.

Light and dark NEVER get together, so if we as believers are to be the opposite of this; we should ALWAYS be getting together.

II Cor. 8:4 "Beseeching us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints."

The idea seems to be joining in on the ministry, or taking an active role in the ministry of sharing with others. This is not limited to giving, but involves sharing in all aspects of the ministry of this church. You should be involved in EVERY aspect. You should be here as much as possible. You should be helping in the church in any way that you can, be it giving, teaching, leading, or whatever.

Wow! What a thought. "take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints."

II Cor. 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

WOW! We should have fellowship with believers similar to the fellowship that we have with the Holy Spirit.

But what is that? How does the Holy Spirit fellowship with us?

The Spirit MINISTERS TO US! How often do the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS minister to you?

He teaches us: How often do the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS teach us anything spiritual?

He leads us: How often do the NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS lead us to anything spiritual?

He comforts us: Now, I won't argue with the fact that the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS comfort us. When your favorite team wins, YOU ARE COMFORTED! BUT, we all know that this is not the comfort that we should gain from fellowship with the Spirit or believers.

Gal. 2:9 "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision."

This text seems to be indicating that the "pillars" of the church were giving their agreement to the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles. The idea of agreement to a persons qualifications seems to be present.

The right hand of fellowship - an acknowledgement that Paul and Barnabus were being led of the Lord and that they agreed with the work they were doing. Maybe by application a "well done" to those that minister with you in your church situation.

Phil. 2:1 [We will read this one later.] This text also speaks of the fellowship of the Spirit.

Phil. 3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death,"

There is a close relationship between the believer, and the sufferings of Christ.

Partaking in the sufferings of others would seem to be a possible application of this text. How much co-suffering do we do over NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS? LOTS! OH! THE METS LOST AGAIN! OH! NO! YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS!

When we go through trials and tribulations, we are fellowshipping in the suffering that Christ went through. When we suffer with other believers, we are assisting them - we are suffering with them.

I was talking to a man that was on the board of a large church in Denver. We were talking about how our Christian society was going lately. He told me that the church where he ministers, this is a quote, " . . .STRUGGLES TO KEEP ENOUGH HEALTHY FAMILIES TO MINISTER TO THE HURTING FAMILIES."

A body of believers STRUGGLES to keep enough families spiritually healthy, to minister to the spiritually struggling in their church.

I 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."

WE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, CHRIST AND BELIEVERS!

The apostles had a close relationship with God - WITH THE FATHER - WITH THE SON - WITH THE SPIRIT - THE TRINITY OF ALL CREATION! We can, should, and ought to have fellowship with God.

I John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him [God], and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth;"

In short if you say you fellowship with God and walk in sin, you are a LIAR.

Simple terminology isn't it. IF YOU SIN, YOU DO NOT FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD!

I John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin."

IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT - WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER -- NOT MAYBE, BUT WE WILL! WE WILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS!

The implication is that if we aren't walking in the light we won't have fellowship one with another.

You might consider the reverse of that text. If you aren't fellowshipping with one another, you may well not be walking in the light.

Notice!

Fellowship is with God the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit AS WELL AS BELIEVERS!

Let's think about that! Is our fellowship with GOD the same as with believers? It should be similar, that is, IF we have GOOD fellowship with the Lord.

If we are not walking with God as I John mentions "walking in the light" then we won't have "fellowship" "one with another.”

Illustration: I had a friend in my first two years of Bible college that would come over and we would talk about the Word for hours at a time. We had coffee almost daily and talked about the things that we were learning. One day those conversations stopped. We talked about the weather and the rotten teachers and the miserable assignments and every thing else, but every time I would change the subject to spiritual things he would leave the subject as quickly as possible.

This went on for about a week and he finally shared with me that he had been in a real spiritual slump, and that he had not been walking with the Lord, as he should.

He mentioned he was back on track. I had already noticed things had changed in his life, by our conversation.

If you find yourself changing a conversation from spiritual things, to other things, you might consider your walk with the Lord.

We have times in our churches where we talk about the things we do for the Lord, and testimony times when we might mention what the Lord is doing in our lives, yet there are very few other times when we really share with one another of what God is doing way down inside our lives.

When we fellowship with God we:

Pray

We confess

We request

We praise and thank the Lord

We meditate on Scripture

When we study the Word

We learn of God

We are challenged by God

We talk the Word over with God.

SO!

If these are some of the things that we do with God when we fellowship, then it would seem to me that as we fellowship together - one with another, we should be doing some of the same things. We should naturally desire to share with one another.

Some of the things we ought to be doing with one another are:

Sharing burdens (Many hurt today, yet do not share).

Confess our wrongs of others.

Request prayer about items in our life/ not aunt Tillies toe nail.

Praise God and thank Him.

Meditate on Scripture.

Teach one another.

When you learn something new from the Word share it with those you fellowship with. They may need to learn the same thing.

I had a pastor at one time that took a couple of us to a seminar. We had a lunch break so we picked up a hamburger and ate. We had about a half-hour left so we took a walk around the church neighborhood. We were just off of the church property when the pastor started talking about what we had been learning and challenging us spiritually about what we had heard.

When he first started, I thought to myself, "What a quirky thing to do on a walk on a pretty day." As we continued I found that it was quite refreshing when compared to the normal conversations I had been having with believers.

I have read that when people went walking with A.W. Tozer, they were challenged to think with him about some spiritual subject. One writer mentioned that as they left for their walk, Tozer said, "Now let us think and talk about the almightiness of God."

WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER ABOUT THE LORD, AND NOT THE NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS!

I was informed in a church in Wyoming that in some communities it isn't NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS, but rather BULLS, FENCES AND WEATHER. The trio may differ, but one thing is the same - there is little spiritual quality in our fellowship!

The question should have come to your mind by now - "Why don't we fellowship like this in our churches and friendships?"

Let us consider a few reasons that are possible:

1. SIN: If we have sin, and are not fellowshipping with the Lord, then we will not find fellowship one with another.

2. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: Lack of knowledge of what fellowship really is. If you have been saved a short time, or raised in one of our many churches that do not fellowship, you will have no knowledge of what God has provided.

3. FACADES: An article I read many years ago mentioned the "FUNDAMENTALIST FACADES." The author was speaking of the two faces of believers. As I remember, he mentioned that we have the supersaint face that we wear most of the time, and then we have the real face we wear on the inside that is broken and pained by problems and trials, and at times sin.

4. LACK OF CONCERN: Today we have people asking questions, but not listening to answers. We have people that really don't want to get involved in sharing, as we should in fellowship. It might require involvement. We have people that aren't interested in knowing of your problems, or of your victories.

5. SELF-INDULGENCE: Another may be that we just enjoy talking with people. And some like to talk about the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS! It isn't wrong to talk about the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS, but if that is all you talk about, possibly there is a problem!

Let's see if we can draw some conclusions to our study.

CONCLUSION:

SOME LIKE FALLOWSHIP: I am convinced that some like fallowship because of the sin in their lives.

I am convinced that some like fallowship because of the fact that they have never known real true fellowship with believers.

I am convinced that some have not found the fellowship with God that they need to attain the fellowship we have mentioned with other believers.

SOME LACK FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: IF THERE IS NO VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP THERE CAN BE NO PROPER HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP!

I am convinced that unless believers begin to have scriptural fellowship with God, and with other believers, we will continue on down the garden path to the point that we will be fallow ground - ground with which God will not be able to work.

I am convinced that many remain in the - no fellowship - mode because it is comfortable. If they are in a proper type of fellowship then they most likely will be challenged in their spiritual life, and that is devastating if they are happy in their complacency.

In my first years of Bible College I had much to learn spiritually. (I know it all now! HA!!!) We had some neighbors that would come over for an evening now and then. We would have some real good times in the word. The following summer we were together nightly for several weeks and I found that the constant challenge was not only teaching me much about the Lord, but it was getting to be very strenuous to talk to the couple.

I felt that I wanted to have a break from them. Just a time to breathe. Yet, in all honesty I knew that it was the spiritual stress of not wanting to change so much, so quickly. Spiritual change was the stress factor, and not the people, or the fellowship.

To talk of the NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS is not wrong, however if that is all you ever talk about when you are with other believers, then you should begin to check some items to see what is wrong.

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE CHECK?

1. Check your own spiritual barometer to be sure you are walking in the light.

2. It isn't wrong to check your friend's spiritual barometer either. You may find that it is on the low side of the scale.

3. It is not out of line to check your church's spiritual barometer. If a church is not all that it should be, then the fellowship will definitely be affected. It will be difficult to bring about changes in a church that is at a low point, however it must be done!

We, as believers are designed to have fellowship with God. The church and believers are designed to give a certain amount of support via, prayer, encouragement and fellowship. If we aren't gaining that fellowship then we need to do something about it.

If we can't find true fellowship we will have to bottle up a lot of hurt inside!

WARNING:

It is easy to condemn what we term fellowship in the church today.

It is easy to tell you what the scripture tells us that fellowship ought to be.

It is easy to challenge you to set priorities in your life to change your view of fellowship.

It is even easy to challenge you to begin to have spiritual fellowship with your friends.

The hard part is for you as individuals to go into your homes and groups and do something about it.

The hard part is for you to try to bring the conversation around to spiritual things without being thought a lunatic.

The hard part is for you to continue to try to bring the conversation around to spiritual things when the people you are with continue to change the subject to other things.

The hard part is for you to commit yourself to finding friends that will fellowship with you.

The hard part is for you to put away friends that refuse to be a part of spiritual conversations.

I preached through this material at a Bible Institute, and went to coffee with the faculty and student body immediately after. There was joking about koinonia and fellowship on the way to coffee, yet during coffee the conversation was NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS.

It is not easy to change what has been accepted for so many years.

NOW! How do we change the cycle we are in? How can we bring about change in our churches?

1. Have a proper fellowship with God. If this area is not correct then you should work on it first.

If you have trouble developing your fellowship with the Lord seek someone out that might be able to help.

2. Don't be arrogant or proud that you NOW know what REAL fellowship is.

3. Try to bring spiritual things into the normal conversations that you have with your friends.

Use a small generic, safe type question to bring up spiritual things.

Something like: "Do you think, in our society, that we can follow the example of Christ?"

4. Begin with people that are interested in talking of spiritual things so that you become comfortable with it. Notice how they bring the conversation to spiritual things.

5. As you feel more comfortable with it, try bringing conversations with other friends around to spiritual things.

6. Pray specifically for a friend that you can just sit down with and fellowship. You know, maybe your wife or husband or maybe even your adult child or just an acquaintance that is a believer.

7. Be prepared to be challenged in your spiritual life.

I firmly believe that any two believers can have true fellowship if they have the desire.

One important point that you need to understand is this. God has fellowship with all age groups. He fellowships with children, with young adults, with older adults, with senior citizens, and I am even told that He fellowships with teenagers.

AGE IS ERRELAVENT in the area of fellowship. When believers gather, age should not be a problem.

My wife and I met an old couple that was in their 80's years ago. We only knew them a year or two before they died; however those times we were together were great. Mrs. Duncan and Faith would start talking and Mr. Duncan and I would listen. Somewhere along the line Mr. Duncan or myself would ask the other some question about Scripture or the Lord and we were off and running. We had many very good times in fellowship. We even got into the Word.

We have so much time in which to sharpen our spiritual skills and minds why do we waste so much of it on the NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS?

We talk much about discipling people today. Can you think of a better informal way to do it - fellowship is a natural?

Just remember - IF WE DON'T HAVE A VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP WE WON'T HAVE A PROPER HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP! If you observe someone that doesn't have a horizontal relationship it may well be that he doesn't have a vertical relationship.

We have mentioned that we fellowship with God!

Do you realize that God fellowships with ALL BELIEVERS!

Rich ones and poor ones

Skinny ones and fat ones

Gorgeous ones and ugly ones

Young ones and old ones

Black ones and white ones

Smart ones and not so smart ones

Educated ones and not so educated ones

Conservative ones and not so conservative ones

Professional ones and non-professional ones

Big named ones and little named ones

Supersaints and babes in Christ

ALL KINDS OF BELIEVERS!

NOW IF YOUR VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP IS PROPER THEN YOU CAN HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ALL BELIEVERS ALSO!

Rich ones and poor ones

Skinny ones and fat ones

Gorgeous ones and ugly ones

Young ones and old ones

Black ones and white ones

Smart ones and not so smart ones

Educated and not so educated ones

Conservative ones and not so conservative ones

Professional ones and non-professional ones

Big named and little named ones

Supersaints and babes in Christ.

Have I made the point clear? Christians today tend to be a little bit like Archie Bunker! We are a bit bigoted when it comes to those that we associate with and fellowship with.

We tend to stay away from other age groups, from those that we don't like, from those that are different than we are.

Exaggeration? I don't think so. Think about your own fellowship life. Do you fellowship with ALL OF THE BELIEVERS AROUND YOU, OR ONLY A SELECT FEW THAT YOU LIKE?

We were recently in a SS class where the topic for the morning was "What kind of Snob are you?

It came from a book entitled; "WILL THE REAL PHONEY PLEASE STAND UP."

Some author's sure know where we Christians live.

They were talking about not associating with people because they didn't fit into OUR class of people.

I might add, don't be too proud if you are in one of the social or ethnic classes that are usually discriminated against. Snobbery works both ways.

You can be rich and a snob, or poor and a snob.

You can be handsome and a snob, or ugly and a snob.

You can be conservative and a snob, or less conservative and a snob.

You can be deeply spiritual and a snob, or a spiritual midget and a snob.

You can be educated and a snob, or less educated and a snob.

SNOBERY IS A SIN! James two makes it quite plain that we are not to look up to the rich and down at the poor!

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers in this area.

Phil 2:1-3 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better that themselves."

This passage tells us how to keep snobbery out of our churches - don't think too highly of yourself!

One final thought: The psalmist David in 142:4 mentions a time when he was alone and in trouble. I'd like to LOOSELY relate his words to the individual believers in churches across America in our day.

"...there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."

I know many pastors and church members that would shout, "AMEN" to that phrase. We get together for "church" today, but seldom for "koinonia.” We get together for "fellowship" today, but seldom for "koinonia.”

We need to put some meaning back into our term fellowship so that it will one day mean the same as "koinonia.”

"...there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."

I would like to make some general application to this thought. Faith and I have visited many churches and have observed many things that have made us wonder if the church is really interested in visitors.

Most churches today have what I call the disease, but they call the greeting time, or the fellowship time, or the get to know one another time. It is the time in the worship service when everyone suddenly and magically becomes friendly for a short time, and then just as suddenly and magically go back to the way they were.

Let me illustrate this for you, and I might say that we have experienced similar situations over and over through the last few years.

We entered a church that had a rather large foyer. The Sunday school let out and the area filled with people. Faith and I looked around and walked around, wondering where the sanctuary was. Faith noticed the son of someone she worked with leaning against the wall. We went over and talked to him for a moment. He was as bewildered as we were. This was his first visit to this church as well. Finally I went in search of the sanctuary and found where it was. Faith returned to the young man to inform him of our find.

We sat down in the sanctuary and awaited the service. During the time between our entering the church and the beginning of the service, we were greeted only once or twice.

During the service the dread disease was unleashed. Everyone started being friendly and noisy. At least three couples shook our hands and said hello. Even in the "friendly time" they weren't even that friendly.

Now, let me be quick to say! that the greeting time can be and is used by many churches very effectively. Don't quit, but just be very careful about the progression of your greeting times.

People in our society are hurting. We have very high unemployment; we have families in a mess. They need help and often they turn to the church for help.

When they come into our building, they are crying for help. Just what response are they getting?

How do we react to these people?

If our vertical fellowship is correct, then we will be open to greeting that person with the thought of helping and sharing.

If our vertical fellowship is correct, when we meet a fellow believer, we will naturally desire to share with them in the area of spiritual things.

Let us recap what fellowship really means.

FELLOWSHIP MAY INCLUDE:

APOSTLE'S DOCTRINE: The study and teaching of His Word.

BREAKING OF BREAD (UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH): This may be in the area of preparing the table or in serving it.

PRAYER: This means at church, at home, and with other believers.

GIVING OF MATERIAL THINGS: It may be money if you have money to spare. It may be belongings. More than once we have had missionaries that came to our church or home with material needs. When I saw them, I realized we had extra in that area and was able to share with them.

Let me share one case in point. When we lived in Denver, we found a whole stack of Bibles for $5.00 each. We bought several for future use. Not many weeks later a missionary couple came to our church. When they walked in the woman was carrying a coverless, tattered old Bible that was held together with masking tape. Guess what she received when they came to our house for dinner.

BRINGING GOD INTO IT: Talk about spiritual things when you are with believers - with your family.

CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS: This will take time, commitment and honesty.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHURCH: This means regular attendance, work, and involvement.

CONFESSION: This means being open with others, as well as getting rid of sin in your life.

APPROVAL OF ONES MINISTRY: Supporting church officers ministers and missionaries, both verbally and physically.

SUFFERING TRIBULATIONS: Be assured that the devil will oppose this sort of fellowship.

FELLOWSHIP MAY REQUIRE:

GIVING OF YOUR MATERIAL THINGS:

GIVING OF YOUR TIME:

GIVING OF YOUR EMOTIONAL STRENGTH:

GETTING INVOLVED IN THE MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH:

BREAKING DOWN OF FACADES:

STUDY:

HONESTY:

HARD TIMES:

I trust that your minds have been challenged, and your consciences have been stirred in this area.

I trust that your concept of fellowship has been reconsidered, and modified as needed.

Personally, as I visit churches, I see very little Scriptural fellowship going on.

I trust that the Lord can change this in the coming years.