Fellowship
The church is meant to be a fellowship. Now, when most Christians hear that word they immediately associate it with a coffee corner on campus, the time before and after a service (in some cases an additional time allotted in the service), and any gathering involving food. Though none of these instances are wrong, they limit the complete meaning of fellowship. This was never meant to be superficial, but rather substantial and significant in the body of Christ - the church.
The World English Dictionary defines fellowship as, "the state of sharing mutual interests, experiences, activities, etc." Another definition states, "mutual trust and charitableness between Christians." Another is, "A community of interest, feeling, etc." According to studies, the Greek word for fellowship, koinōnia, occurs 19 times in the Greek concordance of the New Testament. It means, "association, community, communion, joint participation; a.) the share which one has in anything, participation." The first time it appears is in Acts 2: 42. It is the model Jesus envisioned for the church. This was the continuation of the example Jesus left the apostles in the gathering of the last supper. The apostles are credited with the first to bring this definition of fellowship and instructing the church to uphold it. However, I found that"some men" in Capernaum could have been considered as the example of koinōnia.
"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on."
Mark 2: 1-4 (NIV)
I would love to know how many men were in the group that day. The only number given was the four that carried the paralytic. The entire band of men was not numbered in this passage nor were their names given. They were certainly a standard for fellowship. These men were united in their purpose. They were a community of mutual interest and feeling. They gathered and did what it took to get one of their own to Jesus. They would not allow the obstacles that day to hinder them or deter their fellowship.
As the church, what form of fellowship, if any, do we offer; do we practice? As Christians, are we a community of the same interest, communion, participation? Would we be willing to carry our brother and sister in need and tear a roof off to get to Jesus? I do believe we are to sustain the methods of gathering together, breaking bread, praying, laughing, communicating, and devoting ourselves to the teaching of our Master. True fellowship will be less focused on the gathering and more on the purpose - others. Love them. Encourage them. Fight for them. Carry them. Jesus should always be the center of fellowship. The world needs to see the strength of true fellowship.
The World English Dictionary defines fellowship as, "the state of sharing mutual interests, experiences, activities, etc." Another definition states, "mutual trust and charitableness between Christians." Another is, "A community of interest, feeling, etc." According to studies, the Greek word for fellowship, koinōnia, occurs 19 times in the Greek concordance of the New Testament. It means, "association, community, communion, joint participation; a.) the share which one has in anything, participation." The first time it appears is in Acts 2: 42. It is the model Jesus envisioned for the church. This was the continuation of the example Jesus left the apostles in the gathering of the last supper. The apostles are credited with the first to bring this definition of fellowship and instructing the church to uphold it. However, I found that"some men" in Capernaum could have been considered as the example of koinōnia.
"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on."
Mark 2: 1-4 (NIV)
I would love to know how many men were in the group that day. The only number given was the four that carried the paralytic. The entire band of men was not numbered in this passage nor were their names given. They were certainly a standard for fellowship. These men were united in their purpose. They were a community of mutual interest and feeling. They gathered and did what it took to get one of their own to Jesus. They would not allow the obstacles that day to hinder them or deter their fellowship.
As the church, what form of fellowship, if any, do we offer; do we practice? As Christians, are we a community of the same interest, communion, participation? Would we be willing to carry our brother and sister in need and tear a roof off to get to Jesus? I do believe we are to sustain the methods of gathering together, breaking bread, praying, laughing, communicating, and devoting ourselves to the teaching of our Master. True fellowship will be less focused on the gathering and more on the purpose - others. Love them. Encourage them. Fight for them. Carry them. Jesus should always be the center of fellowship. The world needs to see the strength of true fellowship.
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