I. What is
A. The bond of common purpose and devotion that binds Christians together and to Christ.
If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. —Philippians 2:1-5
B. Common purpose – To win others to Jesus.
C. Common Bond – Sealed with the Holy Spirit ( Eph 1:13).
D. Common Devotion – Devoted to and becoming more like Christ.
E. This fellowship creates a community.
- We are not in a community to have a successful church. We are in a community to have a successful life!
- We have a common purpose you have a individual purpose and destiny but it is tied to the community, to the assembly that Jesus has established.
II. Fellowship means to stand
others
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either fall, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. —Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
A. This is the story of the church. We stand together!
B. God made it clear that he didn’t make man to be alone.
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” —Genesis 2:18
C. God designed us to cooperate. Accomplishing more together then as one.
D. The success of our endeavors depends upon our interdependence.
E. During the trials of life it is critical that we are walking in fellowship with other Christians.
- V9 / You can accomplish more of his purpose/ more return for their work
- V10 / If you fall you have friends to help you up. The consistent testimony of fallen Christians is that they isolate themselves from other believers and had no one to hold them accountable.
- V11 / They keep warm - Their fire stays hotter longer when added to another.
- V12 / They are not distracted by what is behind because they know that someone is watching there back.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. —Philippians 3:13
III. Fellowship is to Stand
others.
Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. —Galatians 6:2
A. God does nothing by accident. People with needs do not just show up around you.
He has given you the resources to meet needs; Financial / loving home / ears to listen / advice that was hard won.
B. Other people’s burdens can quickly over whelm us.
- That’s why we lie when we greet each other. If we told each other the truth no one would speak to us.
- Go quickly to the Father, God I know you knew this was going to be brought before me. What is your will be concerning this?
C. You can pray off the burdens of others and put them on you.
Move some of their stress onto you. We have the same Spirit. We can shift burdens through that Spirit
D. Two things a successful church does. A successful community does.
- We need to recognize each others burdens.
- We need to be honest about our own.
Summary
If you are not a part of a caring community of believers then you are missing out on what God has designed you for. You are also in danger of falling into sin. There are others that need you to help with their burdens. Seek to be a person that willingly joins with others in carrying out God’s assignments. Strive to be the source of support and encouragement that those around you need in their lives. If you want to fulfill the purpose of God it will be with a community of believers. Community is what the Church gives to the world.