CALLED TO FELLOWSHIP

We are called to fellowship with one another. The Greek word koinonia means “having in common” or “sharing” [--  sharing possessions, sharing experiences, sharing life, sharing one’s self with another.] It is the word used for the marital relationship, the most intimate between human beings. Our fellowship is with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – 1 John 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14) and with one another (1 John 1:7). Christian fellowship cuts across race, color, education, background, and every other cultural barrier. There is a level of friendship in the church that I have certainly never experienced outside the church.

John Wesley said, “The New Testament knows nothing of solitary religion.” We are called to fellowship with one another. It is not an optional extra. There are two things we simply cannot do alone. We cannot marry alone and we cannot be a Christian alone. Professor C.E.B. Cranfield put it like this: “The freelance Christian… is simply a contradiction in terms.”

The writer of Hebrews urges his readers, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25a NIV). Often Christians lose their love for the Lord and their enthusiasm for their faith because they neglect [biblical] fellowship. 

– Adapted from Nicky Gumbel in Alpha’s “Questions of Life: A Practical Introduction to the Christian Faith”

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LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER

There are communal and public dimensions of the spiritual life that must be experienced and without which the soul is impoverished. David knew this, and accordingly he exhorted his friends, “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness, let us exalt His name together.”  (Psalm 34:3)

There is a delightful naturalness about this exuberant invitation. When we are excited about something, we spontaneously want to share it. “Did you see that?” we ask those sitting around us at the ball game as an athlete shows extraordinary skills. Of course they saw it. We know they did, we just want to share the excitement. “Have you seen the latest movie?” we inquire. Why? Because we enjoyed it and our enjoyment is not complete until it is shared. So it was with David’s experience of the Lord. He was so excited that his excitement needed to be shared and thus multiplied. In effect David was saying, “Let’s do this together, and in so doing let us intensify the joy and multiply the blessing!” 

-- Adapted from Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men”

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THE PARABLE OF THREE BREADS

During a beautiful spring day, a young woman decided to eat her lunch in the park. On the nearest bench sat an old beggar who clutched an empty paper bag. His clothes were unkempt and he looked as if he had not eaten in days. So, the young woman sat next to him and offered him half of her sandwich.

With this act of kindness the beggar was transformed into a clean-shaven, well-dressed man. The empty bag he once held was now filled with three loaves of bread. “I am no beggar, but an angel, here to reward your act of kindness with a gift,” he said. “I have three loaves of bread and you may have one. But choose wisely. A bite from one will give you unlimited success, to eat from another is key to never-ending wealth, and a taste from the third will ensure undying love.”

The young woman thought for a moment. With success, she would always have a good job, but with wealth she would never have to worry about money or a career. Then she thought about her parents, grandparents, and friends, and how much they meant to her. “I will take the bread of love,” the young woman answered.

The angel handed the young woman the bread. After she took a bite of it, he handed her the remaining loaves and said, “You have chosen wisely. The bread of love bestows endless wealth and countless success upon those who possess it. Go in the peace of Christ and share your gifts with the world.” 

-- Author Unknown 

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PASS IT ON

The grace of our loving heavenly Father has filled our lives, giving us a solid hope.  Now we have the privilege of sharing that grace to those around us.  As grace-filled men and women relate to each other, they communicate in tangible ways the value placed on each other's lives. We share in the abundance we have been given. And we bear witness that our lives are significant to another person.

We live in a throwaway culture. Sadly many people move through numerous throwaway relationships.  The beauty of someone who prizes and protects relationships is obvious.  Our challenge is to be daily renewed and refreshed in our Lord's grace and His provision, and then pass it on to others.

-- Adapted from Dr. Norm Wakefield & Jody Brolsma in “Men Are from Israel, Women Are from Moab”

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SHARING THE STORY

“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”  (Romans 10:13-15 NRSV)

You may not be called to be a pastor but may simply want to share with others what God has done in your life. God is calling all of us to this kind of ministry. Whether you are a pastor or layperson, God calls you to share your faith with family, friends, neighbors, and any with whom you have influence. Peter speaks of doing this with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). Our most profound witness is how we live and how we love, but at some point it also includes our words, sharing the story of what God has done in and for us. 

-- Adam Hamilton in “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It”

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SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’"  (Isaiah 52:7 NIV)

When we are in the trenches of day to day work we can subtly share the good news of Jesus Christ. We share Him by the way we live, the dirty jokes we don't listen to or tell, and by the profanity that is absent from our speech. We practice the principles of Christianity and people begin to see we are a little different from the rest. No, we are not perfect and yes, we do make mistakes. But as we strive toward following Jesus we become Christians at work and in our families -- not just on Sunday morning when the preacher is looking!

Look around your world and you will discovery countless ways to tell of your friend Jesus Christ. Of course, He first has to be your friend and then you will eagerly share Him with others… Let your willingness to testify be evident and God will open the doors.

-- Pastor Gary Stone


#4623

VULNERABILITY IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

“Jesus said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  (Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

It takes a great deal of work for a group of strangers to achieve the safety of true community. Once they succeed, however, it is as if the floodgates were opened. As soon as it is safe to speak one’s heart, as soon as most people in the group know they will be listened to and accepted for themselves, years and years of pent-up frustration and hurt and guilt and grief come pouring out. And pouring out ever faster. Vulnerability in community snowballs. Once its members become vulnerable and find themselves being valued and appreciated, they become more and more vulnerable. The walls come tumbling down. And as they tumble, as the love and acceptance escalate, as the mutual intimacy multiplies, true healing and converting begins. Old wounds are healed, old resentments forgiven, old resistances overcome. Fear is replaced by hope. 

-- M. Scott Peck in “The Different Drum”


#4463

HELPING ONE ANOTHER

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV)

Picture two travelers in the desert. One is dying of thirst. The other has a huge jug of water, but he’s exhausted from carrying it. Eventually, one dies of thirst, then the other of fatigue.

All right, it’s a gloomy ending. Let’s try it another way. The thirsty man says, “”Hey, why not give me a drink and I’ll help you carry your jug?” That’s all it would take for both to survive.

Many in our society are like the first two travelers. We guard our independence. We strive to be self-sufficient. We don’t want to need each other. But if we’re going to survive in these changing times, we must leave rugged individualism behind. We’re not meant to go it alone. We can help one another. Each of us has resources to offer.

-- David Mains, Marian Oliver, Randy Peterson in “Survival Skills for Changing Times”

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