Reclaiming Fellowship

Potluck, barbecue, light refreshment–these are generally words that are lumped in together with the word Fellowship. When I was younger I took it with a grain of salt, and I decided that fellowship=food, fun and friends.

Looking back I realize a lot of things I misunderstood, but O how I wish I had come to grips with what fellowship truly is. Let’s look into this wonderful gift God has given Christians.

Acts 2:42 is the main verse I would like to drive from: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

There were 4 things that the early believers at this point were devoted to. First came the teaching, which one of the two focuses that the apostles wanted to have in Acts 6. Then we see the word fellowship (κοινωνίᾳ used mostly). This word is found only 9 times (in several different Greek words translated fellowship) in the New Testament. Then of course we see breaking of bread (which I see as referring to the Lord’s supper and not a church picnic!). Then following breaking of bread we see that praying is also something they devoted themselves to.

Fellowship was something they were devoted to. What does that mean? How was it acted out? How can we have a devotion to fellowship in our churches? I’m not saying that fellowship can’t happen if it’s a potluck meal after church. But I feel there is a deeper fellowship that the Bible is expressing.

I would love some discussion on this whether it’s email, facebook or comments. Comments are most helpful so others can see and discuss as well.

Psalm 100

Read and savor these great words of thanksgiving:

Psa 100:1  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Psa 100:3  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psa 100:5  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

There are awesome things in this tiny passage. I just want to point out three of them.

1) Commands- Make a joyful noise (whatever noise you make to God is a result of your joy abounding in him!), Serve the Lord with gladness (enjoy serving Him! It’s not suppose to be a drag), Come into his presence with singing (he loves to hear you sing, he himself sings!), Know that the Lord is God, Enter His gates with thanksgiving and courts with praise, Give thanks to him, Bless his name

2) Promises- The LORD is good, His steadfast love endures forever, His faithfulness is to all generations

3) Who we are- It is he who made us, We are his, We are his people, We are the sheep of his pasture

I really need words like these to encourage me on a Sunday afternoon. Morning service is over (and at my church it’s the only Sunday service) and all of my excitement and readiness for todays service is past. I must rest in verses like these for the continuing comfort that I know only God can provide.