mere christianity: what is fellowship?. new testament christianity

Mere Christianity:

What Is Fellowship?

New Testament Christianity

New Testament Christianity

• Universal Church

• Local Churches

New Testament Christianity

• Universal Church

• Fellowship – Between Us & God

• Local Churches• Fellowship –

Between Us & Other People

New Testament Christianity

• Universal Church

• Fellowship – Between Us & God

• Fellowship Controlled By God

• Local Churches• Fellowship –

Between Us & Other People

• Fellowship Controlled By Man

What Is Fellowship?

• κοινωνια (2842, koinonia)

• κοινωηος (2844, koinonos)

• μετοχη (3352, metoche)

• συγκοινωνεω (4790, sugkoinoneo)

What Is Fellowship?

What Is Fellowship?

• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business partners in Lk. 5:10)

What Is Fellowship?

• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business partners in Lk. 5:10)

• Fellowship ≠ Friendship/Eating Together

What Is Fellowship?

• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business partners in Lk. 5:10)

• Fellowship ≠ Friendship/Eating Together

• Fellowship involves:– common action– common motives/goals

What Is Fellowship?

• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business partners in Lk. 5:10)

• Fellowship ≠ Friendship/Eating Together

• Fellowship involves:– common action– common motives/goals

• Fellowship – joint participation toward a common goal (2 Cor. 14-16)

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

• 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?…

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

• 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?…

What Is Fellowship?

• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business partners in Lk. 5:10)

• Fellowship ≠ Friendship/Eating Together

• Fellowship involves:– common action– common motives/goals

• Fellowship – joint participation toward a common goal (2 Cor. 14-16)

What Is Fellowship?• Non-religious (e.g., fishing/business

partners in Lk. 5:10)• Fellowship ≠ Friendship/Eating

Together• Fellowship involves:

– common action– common motives/goals

• Fellowship – joint participation toward a common goal (2 Cor. 14-16)

• “Withdrawing” Fellowship?

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)• Needs of saints (Rom. 12:13)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)• Needs of saints (Rom. 12:13)• Suffering and comfort (2 Cor. 1:7)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)• Needs of saints (Rom. 12:13)• Suffering and comfort (2 Cor. 1:7)• The gospel (Phil. 1:5)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)• Needs of saints (Rom. 12:13)• Suffering and comfort (2 Cor. 1:7)• The gospel (Phil. 1:5)• Grace, in imprisonment, defense and

confirmation of the gospel (Phil. 1:7)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)• All things, spec. property and

possessions (Acts 2:44)• Needs of saints (Rom. 12:13)• Suffering and comfort (2 Cor. 1:7)• The gospel (Phil. 1:5)• Grace, in imprisonment, defense and

confirmation of the gospel (Phil. 1:7)• Faith (Titus 1:4)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)• Sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)• Sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13)• Glory (1 Pet. 5:1)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)• Sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13)• Glory (1 Pet. 5:1)• Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)• Sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13)• Glory (1 Pet. 5:1)• Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4)• Salvation (Jude 1:3)

N.T. Examples of Fellowship

• Heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)• Others’ affliction, sympathy &

seizure of property (Heb. 10:33)• God’s discipline (Heb. 12:8)• Sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 4:13)• Glory (1 Pet. 5:1)• Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4)• Salvation (Jude 1:3)• Tribulation, kingdom, perseverance

(Rev. 1:9)

The Importance of Fellowship

The Importance of Fellowship

• Much more than being on good terms with each other, spending time with each other, or eating meals together

The Importance of Fellowship

• Much more than being on good terms with each other, spending time with each other, or eating meals together

• The basis of fellowship (1 Jn. 1:3-2:2)

The Importance of Fellowship

• Much more than being on good terms with each other, spending time with each other, or eating meals together

• The basis of fellowship (1 Jn. 1:3-2:2)– Perfect knowledge?

The Importance of Fellowship

• Much more than being on good terms with each other, spending time with each other, or eating meals together

• The basis of fellowship (1 Jn. 1:3-2:2)– Perfect knowledge?– Perfect obedience?

The Importance of Fellowship

• Much more than being on good terms with each other, spending time with each other, or eating meals together

• The basis of fellowship (1 Jn. 1:3-2:2)– Perfect knowledge?– Perfect obedience?– Perfected faith (Rom. 4:1-5, 9-12,

19-25)

The Importance of Fellowship

• Fellowship implies community

The Importance of Fellowship

• Fellowship implies community• How do you view this? Burden or Privilege?

The Importance of Fellowship

• Fellowship implies community• How do you view this? Burden or Privilege?

• Heb. 10:19-25, 32-39