1. Fellowship & the
Local Church

2. A collection of individuals joined together in ideology and geography
Introduction
THE LOCAL CHURCH
A Community
A collection of individuals joined together in ideology and geography

3. Introduction
THE LOCAL CHURCH
A Community
Requires conformity to the core principles around which the community has formed

4. Sets both expectations and boundaries
Introduction
THE LOCAL CHURCH
A Community
Sets both expectations and boundaries

5. NECESSARY AREAS OF AGREEMENT
Introduction
NECESSARY AREAS OF AGREEMENT
Doctrinal Agreement - Acts 2:43
Functional Agreement - Acts 6:3-5
Behavioral Agreement - Acts 5:1-11

6. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 (NASB95)

7. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
Used of individuals in both a carnal and a spiritual sense
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”
Luke 5:10 (NASB95)

8. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
Used of individuals in both a carnal and a spiritual sense
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:23 (NASB95)

9. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
Used of individuals in both a carnal and a spiritual sense
Regarding the Church “fellowship” always has a spiritual connotation
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 (NASB95)

10. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
Used of individuals in both a carnal and a spiritual sense
Regarding the Church “fellowship” always has a spiritual connotation
This fellowship is vertical first then horizontal
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 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.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (NASB95)
Horizontal in that we as individuals seek fellowship with God, then we come together as a community (horizontal) to do the work of God.

11. DEFINING FELLOWSHIP Fellowship
A family of words that communicate the idea of partnership, a common sharing
Used of individuals in both a carnal and a spiritual sense
Regarding the Church “fellowship” always has a spiritual connotation
This fellowship is vertical first then horizontal
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:9–10 (NASB95)
1Cor 1: Here Paul shows us how our fellowship with God is expressed; as we join together with our brethren, united in our fellowship with God, and thus united in our mind and judgment

12. THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP
1Cor 1 - “quarrels among them”
1Cor 4 - esteeming brethren above the word
1Cor 5 - Allowed sin to breed in the congregation
1Cor 6 - Brethren abused brethren
1Cor 7 - Marriage dishonored
1Cor 8 - ignored the needs of weak brethren
Without maintaining spiritual cooperation a local church cannot do its work

13. THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP
1Cor 10 - Tempted by and struggled with idolatry
1Cor 11 - Destroyed their ability to properly worship
1Cor 13 - Lost sight of love
1Cor 14 - Used spiritual gifts for boasting
1Cor 15 - fellowshipped those who denied the gospel
Without maintaining spiritual cooperation a local church cannot do its work

14. THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP
Eph Enjoy fellowship with the Father and thus enjoying the blessings in the church
Eph 4 - Develop horizontal fellowship by maintaining the unity of the Spirit
Eph 4:17-24, Eph 5:1 - This leads to morally upright lives
Without maintaining spiritual cooperation a local church cannot do its work
Seeing the result of such destruction allows us to appreciate the admonitions to develop fellowship

15. THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP
Eph 4:32 - This leads to proper attitudes among members
Eph 5:22-6:9 - Affects all our earthly relationships as we employ these principles in every walk of life
Eph 6 - Allows us to take up the armor of God and fight as a part of the army of God
Without maintaining spiritual cooperation a local church cannot do its work
Seeing the result of such destruction allows us to appreciate the admonitions to develop fellowship

16. MAINTAINING OUR FELLOWSHIP
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel... 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Galatians 1:6–8 (NASB95)
DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT
Fellowship is not a coerced relationship; rather it is the natural result of individuals coming to understand the truth

17. MAINTAINING OUR FELLOWSHIP
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:15 (NASB95)
DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT
PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD LIBERTIES
MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY

18. MAINTAINING OUR FELLOWSHIP
17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17 (NASB95)
DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT
PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD LIBERTIES
MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY