CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP   -   PART ONE  

 

Memory Verse: ”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.”  I John 1:7.

 

Bible Passage: I John 1:1-10.

 

INTRODUCTION

The Oxford English dictionary defines fellowship as “friendly association with others; companionship”, and it can be applied to a group of people who have nothing more in common than love for say a particular brand of beer, for instance. However Christian fellowship is something that is far deeper and sweeter than you can ever achieve in a public or private drinking place.  Christian fellowship involves spiritual communion, a joint partnership in a heavenly business, a joint sharing of Divine joy, peace and blessings

 

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER?

All who are truly born again have so much in common. They are:

1). Born of the same Father, God, John 1:13;

2). Bought with the same price, I  Cor. 6:19-20;

3). Members of the same body, the Body of Christ, their common and only Saviour,

Col. 1:18; I Cor. 6:15 (a); I Cor. 12:13;

4). Taught by the same Spirit, John 16:13;

5). Walking in the same path on the way to eternal glory, II Cor. 5:7;

6). Serving the same Master, Matt. 23:8; and they are

7). Heirs of the same inheritance, Rom. 8:17.

 

If people who have so much in common do not fellowship together, who else should?

 

WHAT IS THE BASIS OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP?

1). Fellowship with one another is conditional upon our walking in the light, I John 1:7. Sin breaks fellowship, Isa. 59: 1-2, and the only way to restore a broken fellowship is by repentance and confession on the part of the one who sinned. It is only then that the blood of Jesus cleanses the offender, I John 1:9.

2). Walking in obedience to the will of God, following in the Lord’s footsteps daily,         I Pet. 2:21-22. That will imply that we do not live in sin, I John 3: 4-6,9.

3). Fellowship is based on intimate relationship with the Lord and members of His family. Amos 3:3 implies that for two to have fellowship they must be agreed on

Ø       the place of meeting – the Cross;

Ø       their destination – heaven;

Ø       how to get there – holiness of life;

Ø       the speed of their journey – the Lord sets the pace and we must follow.

 

WITH WHOM DO WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP?

1). We have fellowship with the Father and the Son, I John 1:3 (b), as well as with the Holy Spirit, 2Cor. 13:14.  Now that we are born into God’s family and are therefore real members of His family, we have heart-to-heart fellowship, I Cor. 1:9.

2). We also have fellowship with fellow Christians, I John 1:3(a). We fellowship with innumerable saints of God.

 

What do Christians do when they come together to fellowship?

They should pray, sing, laugh, weep or just be together.

When Christians come together they normally would talk about their Lord and share experiences and testimonies.

We need this fellowship for mutual strengthening and encouragement. The isolated Christian may be starved and faint spiritually. That is why God gave us the command to fellowship, Hebr. 10:25.

 

CONCLUSION

The first thing a Christian should do is to seek fellowship with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading, and then with the Lord’s other sons and daughters, I John 1:3.