Un-denominating Christianity Who Do We Fellowship?

Understanding Christian Fellowship To end denominationalism we must understand the parameters of Christian fellowship. Fellowship = KOINONIA Rather than dividing, are we doing all we can to be united?

Biblical Insights Into KOINONIA Definition: association, communion, fellowship, close relationship Idea of sharing all things in common with another. Example: KOINONIA with God 1 John 1:3 – “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Fellowship with God is only possible through Christ. Christian fellowship is according to the will of Christ.

Horizontal KOINONIA 1 John 1:6-7 – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Equal divisions between those who believe this to be either horizontal or vertical fellowship.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Basis for fellowship? “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

When Should We Divide? Will discuss more fully next week. But, briefly, we divide when the other party descends back into darkness. We do NOT divide over matters of opinion or observance of traditions.

How To Strengthen KOINONIA Acts 21:8-10 – “On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Sharing/ hospitality

Communal prayer Acts 12:5, 12 – “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God…. And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” Supporting one another

1 Corinthians 5:11 “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” By demanding righteous behavior from one another.

Jude 12 “These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted…” By feasting together while guarding our fellowship from pretenders.

Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Roadblocks To Greater KOINONIA DEFICIENT LOVE 1 Peter 2:17 – “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” We must love the brotherhood. Do we?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

Tolerating One Another Ephesians 4:1-3 – “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Colossians 2:2 “…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself….” Hearts KNIT together in love

SELFISHNESS Philippians 2:1-4 – “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

APATHY Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not neglect doing good and sharing (KOINONIA), for with such sacrifices God is please.” We are commanded to not neglect fellowship. The sharing of ourselves and our belongings with one another is our ambition.

GREED 2 Peter 2:1-3 – “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Pursuing Koinonia We are FELLOWSHIP MAKERS! It is our ambition to be united with all Christians everywhere. Division is from Satan. KOINONIA is from God in Christ Jesus.