TTUF TOPIC # 4: What About Church Life? PART 1 of 3

Fellowship, the body of Christ and ministry of the members.

For a four part series, see the following “A STUDY ON ACTS 2:42” on doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread (Communion – Lord’s Table) and prayer (links to parts 2-4 are included in part 1.)

Fellowship in secular terms means “an association, a league, a club, a union with common interests”. This is true as well in Christian terms, but it’s also an action word. You could think of it as ‘sanctified socializing’ or ‘a holy hanging out together’.

Christians interact with each other with the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon them; this is fellowshipping. It can also be called ‘body ministry’: the way that the body of Christ serves and loves each other. Check this out: even your own body is composed of members that all serve each other (not themselves)!

The pastor ministers to the body by the teaching of the Word; Sunday School teachers do the same for our children. Ushers minister to those coming into the church building. Elders in general minister to the spiritual needs of the body while deacons minister to their practical needs. All members of the body minister to one another through encouragement, prayers, and practical means.

Even more, our fellowship is with GOD our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ! Note the Greek word for fellowship in all of the verses below is koinonia What does that mean?

ROM 15:26; 1 COR 1:9; 10:16; 2 COR 6:14; 8:4; 9:13; 13:14; GAL 2:9; EPH 3:9; PHIL 1:5; 2:1; 3:10; PHM 1:6; HEB 13:16; 1 JOHN 1:3,6-7.

Koinonia means, “fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse; fellowship, intimacy.

This sort of fellowship by the Holy Spirit can only happen with truly born again believers – those who are not just churchgoers or those who only claim faith in Christ but aren’t really born again (“false brethren” 2 COR 11:26; “have no fellowship with darkness” EPH 5:11; 1 JOHN 1:6).

The LORD Jesus Christ said plainly that if one is not born again, that they can neither see, nor enter into the Kingdom of GOD (JOHN 3:3-5)! Needless to say, it’s extremely important that we make sure we are born again in Christ.

This is where “In-reach” comes in. Most of us are aware of outreach that involves sharing the Gospel with the lost souls of this world, as well as proclaiming the Coming Judgment. But it’s important that we inspect the fruit in each other’s lives and be sure that the folks sitting with us in service are truly children of GOD, (born of His Spirit; JOHN 1:12-14). If they are not, we have the opportunity to show them the Way of Life Eternal (JOHN 14:6).
Jesus alone is the only begotten of the Father, Who was (always) with GOD and (always) is GOD (JOHN 1:1-3,14). The rest of us are adopted by being born again.

Got questions? Email me! KNYHTF1RE@gmail.com
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