The Meaning of Fellowship
Bible Text: Luke 8:1-4,19-21, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Luke’s Gospel | Introduction
It is good to be alone sometimes
It is essential for us to live in community
There is a danger to being alone too much
Prov 18:1
Examples
The danger of introspection and morbidity
Can think wrongly
Can become proud
Looking at communion and unity in love
Heb 10:25
The Bible encourages fellowship
1 Cor 12 – we are a body
We need one another
Some Christians can isolate themselves
Example of AW Pink
God values fellowship and so should we
Parable of the Sower
Didn’t look at 8:1-3
Verses about fellowship and women loved by Christ
8:19-21 speaks about fellowship
Those who love Jesus are His ‘relatives’
Those who love Jesus obey Him
Fellowship is about knowing Christ and doing His word
Overview:
Made for Fellowship
Meaning of Fellowship
Motivators for Fellowship
Made for Fellowship
Christ’s incarnation – essentially a solitary figure
Explanation … but,
He was a man of community
He was often about people
He chose to be with the 12 apostles
v1 – Christ was preaching the Kingdom of God
The apostles were with Him
The Creation Narrative
Book – When God is not enough
Adam had everything including God – but it was not good that he was alone
Before the fall – the centrality of communion, fellowship and unity
God saw that man needed one like him to care of and be cared for
The Trinity
Three distinct parts of the Godhead
Perfect community, fellowship, love and unity
We are made in God’s image
We are made to be in community
Isolation is selfish (though times of space is okay)
The fall:
Relationships were disturbed
Christ came into the world to restore our relationship with God
Then our relationships with one another can be restored
Fellowship
Paul – 2 Tim 4:6-13
v17-18
Paul knew what it was like to be abandoned, but the Lord always stuck with him
v21
How much do we value fellowship?
Do we see the need for fellowship?
First with God
Second with each other
Meaning of Fellowship (v19-21)
These verses initially look the opposite of fellowship
John 7:5 – His brothers did not believe
Mark 3:21 – His own people rejected Him
Jesus would not be controlled by His brothers or mother
His family had to be obedient to His agenda
Not a matter of Jesus not showing love to His family
Jesus was preaching to the people
Jesus’ true family are those who hear the gospel message, who repent of their sins, who cast themselves on Jesus and obey His word
Heart worship of Christ
Love for Him and His word
Fellowship with Christ leads to fellowship with one another
John 14:15
Explanation of true fellowship
The proof of fellowship is that you obey Jesus
v21,23
15:10
A Christian is someone who has been adopted into God’s family
A child of God
Luke 11:27-28
Such true fellowship with Joel – despite only spending a small amount of time with him
Unity – because Christ had entered their hearts
People ought to see God’s love in us
The Church is made up of individuals in fellowship
Family
Why do we come to Church?
Example of Lloyd Jones
Fellowship is those who love God’s word
Ecc 4:9-10 – Reading and Explanation
Example of house group
Costly
v2 – It was no small thing that the women did
Example of Dr Charles Woodrow
We can give a cup of cold water in Christ’s name
Motivators for Fellowship
The blessings of fellowship – to experience:
The power and presence of Christ
His sufferings
A deeper love for Christ and others
The favour and approval of Christ
v2-3 The women’s names are remembered
We don’t do things for a name or for people to remember us
Honour to Jesus Christ
Warnings to those who fail to love and care
Those who do not forgive and hate others – cannot know the love of God
A great proof of a Christian is that they love God’s people
Tangible love
Do we love being in Church?