Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Session 4 [Sunday Morning] All-Church Retreat 2012

“GROWING IN GRACE” 2 Peter 3:18 Session 1Growing in Christ: More than Brand-Name Recognition Session 2Growing in the Word: More than Wikipedia Information Session 3 Growing in Prayer: More than 911 Calls Session 4: Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships 1. The WHAT of Fellowship  What Fellowship Is NOT  What Fellowship IS “Koinonia” translated “fellowship” comes from “koinos”, meaning “common.” What members of the church share in common. Fellowship is “the sharing of life with God and His People.” Fellowship means that Christianity is NOT meant for lone rangers BUT for community.

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships 2.The WHY of Fellowship  Essential to second-main thing  Essential to Jesus’ Lifestyle  Essential to Church’s Lifestyle

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships 3. The HOW of Fellowship  Learning from the Word, Prayer, and the Fellowship  A Learning Exercise from the Word (1 Cor. 12:12-31)

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 1. There is unity in diversity (cf. vv 4-6, 20). 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 2. The one Spirit brings initiation, integration and participation. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 3. There is diversity in unity.

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body”, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 4.There is no room for inferiority complexes. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 5.Uniformity would lead to severe deficiencies/handicaps/challenges. 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each of them, as he chose. 6.God is the arranger. (cf. v 11)

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 19I If all were a single member, where would the body be? 7.Uniformity means no true body. 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 8.There is unity in diversity. (cf. v 12) (Point #1) 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 9.There is no room for superiority complexes.

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our un-presentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24a which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 10. The seemingly weaker members are given the VIP treatment. 24b ( But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,) 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for each other. 11. There ought to be mutual, non-preferential care for all members, weak and strong.

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 12. Both the bad and good of life are all shared. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 13. Every Christian belongs. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administering, and various kinds of tongues. 14. The body parts represent spiritual gifts.

Growing in Fellowship: More than Facebook Friendships In the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-31] 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 15. There must always be mature, undistorted perspective. 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 16. Everything is held together by divine love (v 31  13:1-13).

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Is your present participation in “the fellowship” of Crossway best described as over-involved, under-involved or rightly involved? Why and how? 2.Do you have a right perspective about yourself in the body of Christ, of do you have feelings of superiority or inferiority? 3.What is your action plan (and possibly the fellowship’s) for you to continue or correct your present participation and perspective?