"Learning About Fellowship
The New Testament Greek word for 'fellowship' is in need of understanding. For some people, the idea of fellowship has been reduced to church socials, bowling leagues, once a month potlucks, and getting-together-with-the-gang cliquishness. I've asked the Lord to teach us with more clarity about the value and importance of true New Testament fellowship.
Wherever you see the suffix 'ship' in our language, it essentially means 'to note' or 'to ascribe.' A good example is that you ascribe or give attention to the worth of Almighty God (worship); you attend to or take note of the responsibility of duty (stewardship); you acknowledge and participate in the part or share you have in association (partnership); In the case of fellowship, we are noting or acknowledging the relationship we share in the Body of Jesus Christ... ascribing value to one another.
The scripture is so crowded with guidelines as to what New Testament fellowship is, it's almost impossible to express in a few short sentences, but let's try:
1. Talk about Him... discuss His goodness and glory, Malachi 3:16
2. Tell what the Lord is teaching you right now, Hebrews 10:24,25
3. Share together the way the Lord made you whole, Luke 8:39
4. Let your conversation center on good things, Phillipians 4:8
5. Discuss the Word... think together in truth, Joshua 1:8
The Holy Spirit has ceaselessly poured out His Spirit upon us and is spreading God's love in our midst (Romans 5:5). The unifying, purging love is allowing us to grow together in true New Testament fellowship.
Let's learn together,
Ron Mehl"