The Dynamic Christian Life 2 Tim 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

The Dynamic Christian Life 2 Tim 3:5 “…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power….”

The Dynamic Christian Life Devoted to Fellowship Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”

What is Fellowship? “Sharing” koinonia, koinonos, koinos - Having in common, sharing, participating together, partnership.

What is Fellowship? Luke 5:10 “Sharing” In business: Luke 5:10 “and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon….”

What is Fellowship? “Sharing” Heb 2:14 In our humanity: Heb 2:14 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

What is Fellowship? 1 Tim 5:22 “Sharing” In the sins of others: 1 Tim 5:22 “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.”

What is Fellowship? Eph 5:11 “Sharing” In the sins of others: Eph 5:11 “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness…”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: An interdependent relationship Requires more than one person.

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: 1 Cor 1:9 A inner, spiritual unity: Fellowship of Jesus Christ -- 1 Cor 1.9 1 Cor 1:9 “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: A inner, spiritual unity: Fellowship of Jesus Christ -- 1 Cor 1.9 Fellowship of the Holy Spirit – 2 Cor 13.14 Fellowship with the Father – 1 Jn 1.3,7 Fellowship in the Gospel – Phil 1.5 Fellowship of salvation – Jude 3

What is Fellowship? Rom 12:13 Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: Outward actions: E.g. Contribution, distributing, participation: Rom 12:13 “contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: Outward actions: E.g. Contribution, distributing, participation: Rom 15:26-27 “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: Outward actions: E.g. Contribution, distributing, participation Christians helping each other in their needs – Acts 2.44-45; 4.32 (“all things in common”)

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: Outward actions: E.g. Bible classes, worship (1 Cor 10.16-20), benevolence (2 Cor 8.4), evangelism and outreach (Gal 2.9; Philm 6 – NIV), greeting one another; Showing sympathy and sharing in the suffering of others (Heb 10.33-34)

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: A spiritual focus and purpose: Even in physical, “earthly” activities Rom 15:26-27 “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: 2 Cor 8:4 A spiritual focus and purpose: Even in physical, “earthly” activities 2 Cor 8:4 “begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: A spiritual focus and purpose: Even in physical, “earthly” activities Eating together -- Act 2.46 Acts 2:46 “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart”

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: A spiritual focus and purpose: Even in physical, “earthly” activities Eating together -- Act 2.46 “taking their meals together” (metalambano) Meta = root word for metachos, a synonym koinos or koinonos (Lk 5.7,10) Same as “share” in Heb 12.10 –”share His holiness”.

What is Fellowship? Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: An interdependent relationship A inner, spiritual unity Outward actions A spiritual focus and purpose

Why is Fellowship so Important? Our Source of Strength and Encouragement Prov 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Our Source of Strength and Encouragement Eccl 4:9-11 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Our Source of Strength and Encouragement Heb 10:23-26 “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. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Means of Personal Growth Eph 4:11-16 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Means of Personal Growth Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Essential to the Functioning and Growth of the Church: Eph 4:15-16 “… the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Essential to the Functioning and Growth of the Church: 1 Cor 12:14f “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be”

Why is Fellowship so Important? Essential to the Functioning and Growth of the Church: 1 Cori 12:20-25 “But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”

Devoted to Fellowship Biblical Fellowship: An interdependent relationship A inner, spiritual unity Outward actions A spiritual focus and purpose

Devoted to Fellowship Importance of Fellowship: Our Source of Strength and Encouragement Means of Personal Growth Essential to the Functioning and Growth of the Church