"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 search 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 abscribe". 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 and acknowledging the relationship we share in the Body if 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 it in a few short sentences, but let's try:
1. Talk to 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 has made you whole, Luke 8:39.
4. Let your conversation center on good things, Philippians 4:8.
5. Discuss the Word... think together about truth, Joshua 1:8.
The Holy Spirit has ceaslessly poured out of His Spirit upon us and is spreading God's love in our midst (Romans 5:5). That unifying, purging love is allowing us to grow together in the true New Testament fellowship.
Let's learn together,
Pastor Ron"