STEP EIGHT – Exercise #5: Fellowship with Christians
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Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
What is biblical fellowship?
The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word “koinonia” and means to “share in common”. This word occurs 20 times in the Bible and is used when believers come together in love, faith and encouragement.
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Koinonia is being united in purpose and serving alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our koinonia with Jesus. What does the following scripture mean?
1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
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Scriptures command us to be devoted to one another. Read Romans 12:10 ,16; 15:7; 1 Peter 3:8; 4:9; Galatians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24. What words stand out?
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Koinonia depicts an interactive relationship between God and believers who are sharing new life through Christ. It involves active participation in a Christian community.
Fellowship is a word that we may use too lightly in the church. The word “koinonia” in the New Testament reveals a deeper level of fellowship than informal social gatherings. The essential element of koinonia is participation—Christ is what connects us.
Regardless of where we come from, our nationality or our culture, we value those things that we hold in common as disciples of Jesus. Koinonia always focusses on what we as believers have in common.
What are the things we can share according to the following scriptures? And how can we share it?
1 John 4:11 _________________________________________________________________
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Galatians 6:2 ________________________________________________________________
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Galatians 6:6 ________________________________________________________________
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James 5:16 _________________________________________________________________
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Why is fellowship important? Read Proverbs 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
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What is the purpose of meeting together as a church? Read Hebrews 10:24-25
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The Bible uses the analogy of a body to describe the relationship of believers with one another and with Christ. Christ is the head of the body and every believer is a different part of the spiritual body. Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27.
Who gave the members their various functions? ____________________________________
What is God’s desire for the body? _______________________________________________
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What questions do you have? Please write them down:
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