Fellowship

 

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine

 and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, 

and in prayers. (Acts 2:42 KJV)

That graphic is a small group among a much larger group of women atttending our Ladies Meeting, and working together in a game. That's something we do for fellowship. There is food - each woman brings part of the buffet, and there is a Bible lesson. We do open and include prayers for others. That's an organized fellowship in a church.

Twice a month a group of ladies meet for coffee. There may be as few as four, but usually 16, not the 24 on the e-mail list. It's not a church meeting, it's just a small fellowship and breaking of bread (in a bakery, of course) and there is no leadership, no doctrine teaching/questions. That's an unorganized fellowship of church members, but not the same as the one above.

Both are thoroughly enjoyed by the participants, but one fits the biblical application of Christian fellowship. That's why we also adhere to:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

Our church has several weekly meetings for both doctrine and fellowship. One that meets weekly is organized by the church, but is a Bible college offering of a full four-year diploma of Bible study. It's not part of our program, but for several years has been a full classroom, not only with students from our church, but from other nearby cities.

Sundays offer us three separate sessions: Sunday School, Worship service, and evening Worship. A friend once asked why we went back Sunday evening, "Do you think you sinned enough to need a second service?"

While she was being facetious, such a comment gives an opportunity to say: Going to church services does not take care of sinfulness on anyone's part. Jesus' death on the cross covered all my sins, for the rest of my life. When I do sin, I believe it grieves our Lord and a commitment on my part to not repeat the error for which I deeply regret. 

There are multiple reasons for attending these three Sunday services, including learning more about the Bible and how to apply what God inspired writers to share with us. Reading the Bible gives us a familiarity with it, introduces a wide variety of characters in educational situations. Indepth studies gives us the opportunity to learn from people who have made this their lifelong study, helping us discern where there are misunderstandings, or outright erroneous interpretations.

These services, and the Bible study on Wednesday nights also offer fellowship. Every person in the sanctuary has a reason for being there - from "My parents made me come," to "I need to talk to someone." Interacting with them, finding a common prayer need, that's fellowshipping, too.

Jesus was fellowshipping when He sat down to the Passover that last week of His life as a human. The observed the memory of leaving Egypt, and shared the meaning of God's plan for Jesus. The bread representing His body, the wine representing His "blood shed or many for the remission of sins", the "new testament, which is shed for many," and the "new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." John, on the other hand, takes chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16, to tell us what Jesus said that evening, then He prayed as chapter 17 begins:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:1-4 KJV)

Every man in that room heard Him, but left off fellowshipping that very night. Peter followed the crowd, and denied Christ three times to three people who pointed him out as a follower of Jesus. The others aren't mentioned again, until Jesus places the care of His mother in the hands of John. Three days later, though they rejoiced and began fellowshipping again, because they were given physical evidence that Jesus was risen. Share their joy as they fellowshipped in John 21:1-12.

As we fellowship with like-minded believers, we can share what He has done in our lives. There is joy in hearing that a fellow Christian has had a prayer answered. There is shared sorrow when we hear there is a serious need for prayer with health issues, or other life problems. We share our time and our love for our fellow man.

Please. Come fellowship with us, or others closer to you - or long distance as the world wide web allows us.