United In Fellowship Becoming By Belonging

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Matthew 10:2-4, 7 (NIV)

Jesus calls His disciples INDIVIDUALLY but never INDEPENDENTLY.

A disciple’s relationship to God is PERSONAL but not PRIVATE.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV)

GOD CREATED US TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Ephesians 1:5 (TLB)

That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.  1 Timothy 3:15b (NCV)

• Fellowship is actively loving GOD by loving GOD’S

Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers. 1 John 4:21 (GW)

They devoted themselves to… fellowship… Acts 2:42 (NIV)

KOINONIA: fellowship, sharing in common, (literally) participation.

4 WAYS GOD CALLS ME TO “PARTICIPATE” IN FELLOWSHIP:

1. DISCIPLESHIP – We share the same LORD.

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  1 John 1:3 (NLT)

God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NABRE)

God is faithful, through whom y’all were called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (YALL)

2. FRIENDSHIP – WE SHARE OUR LIVES.

Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)

• Sharing our lives means sharing our TIME.

The believers shared a common purpose, and every day they spent much of their time together… Acts 2:46a (EASY)

And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Hebrews 10:25a (NIRV)

Open your homes to each other, without complaining. 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

• Sharing our lives means sharing our THINGS.

The group of followers all felt the same way…None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other.  Acts 2:44 (CEV)

• Sharing our lives means sharing our TROUBLES.

Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. Galatians 6:2 (TLB)

Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope… Hebrews 10:25b (NIRV)

• Sharing our lives means sharing the TRUTH.

An honest answer is a sign of true friendship. Proverbs 24:26 (GNT)

A person who offers constructive criticism will, in the end, be appreciated more than a person who engages in empty flattery. Proverbs 28:23 (VOICE)

NOTE: A COMMUNITY without CANDOR is no real fellowship.

3.PARTNERSHIP – We share OUR LOAD.

For we are partners working together for God… 1 Corinthians 3:9a (GNT)

I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair ¹⁴ for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you… 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 a (CEV)

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians4:16 (NLT)

 4. KINSHIP – WE SHARE OUR LOVE.

Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Romans 12:10a (GW)

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 (NLT)

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:26-29 (NLT)