What do you understand by the word "fellowship"? Is it different from friendship? How does it differ from networking? How do we express fellowship in our churches and between churches?
Following the amazing experiences on the Day of Pentecost, thousands of new believers in, and followers of Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Luke's brief summary leaves us asking questions in the 21st Century. With over 3,000 new believers how did they undertake the teaching programme? Does "breaking of bread" refer to shared meals or what we call Communion or Eucharist?
From Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, it would have been more of a meal than a bit of bread and wine. Prayer is more easily understood. We know that there were gatherings for prayer both in the temple and in homes. How often they met and what they prayed is uncertain. But what did Luke mean by "devoting themselves to... fellowship"?
The Greek word Koinonia that is translated as "fellowship" in English Bibles, is best understood from the context in which it is found. It becomes clear that this is more than meeting up. The apostle Paul uses it to describe generous and sacrificial giving, and also as a willingness to suffer for Christ's sake rather than denying him. So, where we use it to describe meeting up or having refreshments after a service, we are dumbing down the real meaning. All too often we ask "How are you?" but the response we get may be hardly listened to.
If we do hear someone sharing with us that life is difficult at this time, are we ready to show real fellowship by exploring how we might help a person in need, or at the very least, take a few moments to pray with them? The sad consequences of a lack of real fellowship is that too often we give or get a dishonest answer to the enquiry, and pretend that there is nothing wrong.
The first believers, showed fellowship by selling surplus property and sharing with one another, calling nothing they possessed as exclusively their own. The first believers showed fellowship by ensuring that widows were properly cared for with adequate meals. The first believers collected money on Sundays, not to support a building or even to support a minister, but to give away their money to Christians in other places who were suffering in a famine. The believers in Philippi gave up their own comfort to provide resources to help Paul in his mission work.
All of these examples come from places in the New Testament where the work Koinonia is used, which we translate as "fellowship". Koinonia implies a generous level of commitment to one another within our churches and between churches.
So "fellowship" is more about what goes on seven days a week, and about how we truly express a love for one another that puts others before ourselves.
What then is going on when we come to church on Sundays? It is doubtful that it is fellowship in the biblical sense, or even the beginning of fellowship. It might be better described as "networking". We meet up, we chat, we catch up with the news, but to what does it lead? Sadly, sometimes it isn't even friendly. I have heard some people describe going to the local pub as more friendly than their experience of church. But what might people think if we could only get fellowship right, genuinely love and prefer one others before ourselves?
Here are some suggestions about putting fellowship back into the character of Christianity and church.
May the Lord abundantly bless you.
Barry - 2nd September 2019.
Following the amazing experiences on the Day of Pentecost, thousands of new believers in, and followers of Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Luke's brief summary leaves us asking questions in the 21st Century. With over 3,000 new believers how did they undertake the teaching programme? Does "breaking of bread" refer to shared meals or what we call Communion or Eucharist?
From Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, it would have been more of a meal than a bit of bread and wine. Prayer is more easily understood. We know that there were gatherings for prayer both in the temple and in homes. How often they met and what they prayed is uncertain. But what did Luke mean by "devoting themselves to... fellowship"?
The Greek word Koinonia that is translated as "fellowship" in English Bibles, is best understood from the context in which it is found. It becomes clear that this is more than meeting up. The apostle Paul uses it to describe generous and sacrificial giving, and also as a willingness to suffer for Christ's sake rather than denying him. So, where we use it to describe meeting up or having refreshments after a service, we are dumbing down the real meaning. All too often we ask "How are you?" but the response we get may be hardly listened to.
If we do hear someone sharing with us that life is difficult at this time, are we ready to show real fellowship by exploring how we might help a person in need, or at the very least, take a few moments to pray with them? The sad consequences of a lack of real fellowship is that too often we give or get a dishonest answer to the enquiry, and pretend that there is nothing wrong.
The first believers, showed fellowship by selling surplus property and sharing with one another, calling nothing they possessed as exclusively their own. The first believers showed fellowship by ensuring that widows were properly cared for with adequate meals. The first believers collected money on Sundays, not to support a building or even to support a minister, but to give away their money to Christians in other places who were suffering in a famine. The believers in Philippi gave up their own comfort to provide resources to help Paul in his mission work.
All of these examples come from places in the New Testament where the work Koinonia is used, which we translate as "fellowship". Koinonia implies a generous level of commitment to one another within our churches and between churches.
So "fellowship" is more about what goes on seven days a week, and about how we truly express a love for one another that puts others before ourselves.
What then is going on when we come to church on Sundays? It is doubtful that it is fellowship in the biblical sense, or even the beginning of fellowship. It might be better described as "networking". We meet up, we chat, we catch up with the news, but to what does it lead? Sadly, sometimes it isn't even friendly. I have heard some people describe going to the local pub as more friendly than their experience of church. But what might people think if we could only get fellowship right, genuinely love and prefer one others before ourselves?
Here are some suggestions about putting fellowship back into the character of Christianity and church.
- When you ask how someone is, please be sure that you are willing to listen to the answer and then, if there is a need, to do something about it.
- Ensure that people can give an honest answer if things are not so good, because they know they are talking to someone who cares.
- Don't allow someone to sit or stand around on their own when they come to church and while others are grouped in conversation.
- Re-think your financial giving. Could you go without to help someone in need or to advance the gospel mission?
- Re-think how you use your free time when you are not attending church meetings. Is there a lonely or isolated person who might appreciate your company, for a few hours, or the offer of a lift to do some shopping? Is there someone who might appreciate your cooking or baking?
- Try to be more empathetic.
May the Lord abundantly bless you.
Barry - 2nd September 2019.
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