The Believer’s place in the Church.

 

Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:25.

^“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

 

What is the believer’s place in church? The world has several places of entertainment, where people pay to be entertained by those on the stage. Be it a singer, play or show etc. Does that carry into the Church of Christ? Is church from the front only and we sit back in our seats as spectators, or are we all to be partakers?

 

The believer’s place in the church.

 

One reason for the failure of modern churches is that they become a one-man affair. So many come to church to watch, and not partake in the service. They leave the work of evangelism, preaching, teaching and visiting the sick and needy to the pastor. This has never been God’s order.

God’s order has always been that every Christian should be a witness, Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” John Wesley said, “We are all at evangelism and at it always.” That was the open secret of the Wesleyan revivals.

There is a place for the ordinary member of the church, those who are not on the oversight (Pastor, elder, deacon, etc.) and is seated on a chair, we need to be a partaker, and we need to be moving out into evangelism. The answer to the problem of getting the ordinary church member to do personal evangelism is revival. What is revival? “To bring things back to life, some Christians need a spiritual kick start again.”

The reason that we find personal evangelism so hard is that we have become spiritual cold. On the day of Pentecost there were 120 believers praying, but only a few of these were the pastors, evangelists, and the 11 disciples, so over 100 were ordinary church members, with men and women present.

After Pentecost they, “were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the Word.” But we must note this, the 11 disciples of Christ stayed in Jerusalem, first to teach the early Church. It was the ordinary church members who were the ones out preaching. So, each Christian, needs to be active for Christ.

 

1.    How can a believer prepare to be effective for Christ?

 

a.     In the story of Mary of Bethany found in Mark 14:3-9, she did what she could. The Lord asks you to use the talents that He has given you, Matthew 25:15 “He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.” As we use the talents they and others will develop, the man with 5 talents gained 5 more.

b.    By being involved in the church, in prayer, giving, and missions.

c.     By encouraging the pastor, and other workers, this helps them to keep active in the fight to win souls for Christ.

d.    By helping yourself in some of the ministries of the church, e.g. the children’s work, which may reach the rest of family also, plus you will be reaching the next generation of Christians.

e.     By opening your home to reach those around you, many unbelievers will walk into your home before they will walk into a church first.

f.     By having an extra life group in your home for prayer, praying into your area, those around you into the Kingdom of God.

g.    By being ready in every church service. The person sitting near you may not be a Christian. So, when an appeal is given publicly, you have done in personally. It is the personal touch that helps so many to find Christ as Saviour.

h.    By being willing to walk up the aisle with the unbeliever and to stand with them at the front in support.

i.      By being a counsellor or helper at special services, or being ready in every gospel service, to be willing to share your testimony and to point the lost to Christ.

j.      By using good tracts, they can be very attractive and effective at times.

k.    By conversing about the Bible, the Lord and the Church. Turn a conversation to the things of the Lord. Unbelievers will talk about the films they see, and the books they read, so should we.

l.      By sharing your testimony, and the many answers to prayer. The unreached are often moved by real experiences of Christians.

m.  By being ready to help the sick, the poor or bereave in their needs. To help in a time of need, may bring someone later to Christ Matthew 25:34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

n.    By radiating the joy of the Lord. Many have borne a witness by their inner joy the world cannot help but notice.

o.    By preaching, witnessing, singing or testifying the grace and mercy of God.

 

2.    Have we fulfilled the two commands for every believer in the Church?

a.     Water Baptism. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:36-40; Acts 10:47-48.

b.    The Lord’s Supper. Acts 2:42-48; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34.

 

Conclusion:

 

Then some day we will hear words of Matthew 25;21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Church Fellowship.

 

Church Fellowship.

 

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22.            

          “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

 

Today I want to look at church fellowship, not a cup of tea and a chat after church. BUT a true biblical fellowship. So, what is fellowship?

 

1. With God, consisting in the knowledge of His will (Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with Hs designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection (Romans 8:38, 39); enjoyment of His presence (Psalm 4:6); agreement to His image (1 John 2:6; 1 John 1:6); and participation of His felicity (Ephesians 3:14-21;1 John 1:3-4).

 

2. With one another, in duties (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18); in ordinances (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:46).

In grace, love, joy, etc. (Malachi 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:4); mutual interest, spiritual and temporal (Romans 12:4, 13; Hebrews 13:16); in sufferings (Romans 12:15; Romans 15:1-2; Galatians 6:1-2); and in glory (Revelation 7:9).

 

1.    FellowSHIP.

 

We are all in the same boat together. The early Christians dedicated themselves to fellowship. They just did not HAVE fellowship; they dedicated themselves to it! This means that fellowship was THEIR priority and one of the objectives for gathering together. They made fellowship a priority. Fellowship in the body of Christ is certainly not to be just a side issue.

This word fellowship does not do justice to the depth of what the biblical concept was about. The word in Greek was - “Koinonia.” The Greek word for fellowship comes from a root meaning common or shared.

So real fellowship means a common participation in something deeper than just being “A Member of a church.”

Today, however, we often view fellowship as what we do after the service. Which is not just having a chat in the gardening/sawing club, for it falls far short of fellowship according to biblical Christian fellowship in TWO dimensions’:

1.    We must have a relationship to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ before we can know the reality of fellowship with each other. Jesus is the very glue that holds this unique family together.

2.    The church is to be a family. Its unity does not come from organization, or ritual, or tradition; it comes from Christ. Where Christ is, there is the Church. The Church is a home where the Spirit of Christ can dwell and where all who love Christ can meet in that Spirit.

          Fellowship is first about:

 

2.    RelationSHIP.

 

Beginning with a COMMON BOND, our common bond is Jesus Christ, His grace, and His mercy. Fellowship is first the sharing together in a common life with other believers through relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Fellowship is first and foremost a relationship, rather than an activity. The principle is that any activity that follows should come out of the relationship.

Fellowship means we belong to each other in a relationship because we share together the common life and empowering grace of Jesus Christ. This is fellowship in the vertical.

3.    PartnerSHIP.

 

Is about a PARTNERSHIP, TOGETHERNESS. In the book of Acts the church was fellowshipping not just at worship services but also day to day in their homes. Paul says that we are together God’s family and that we are being built together. To do that you have to spend time with each other.

In spending time together, you learn to CARE for each other in a giving and receiving, at various times we will be one or the other, sometimes both at the same time. You will need to minister to someone and be ministered to. This is fellowship in the horizontal.

4.    CompanionSHIP.

 

And it is finally about COMPANIONSHIP. Companionship involves communion and communication; interchange, intimacy, sharing and receiving. In our communion with the Lord, we need to listen to His voice and respond in obedience. And then communion with each other. God has created us to be dependent people, dependent on Him and on one another.

Someone has suggested that if you are one of those who gets their religion by watching religious broadcasts on the TV or listening to the gospel via radio/CD/mp3, you might want to step up to the television after a service and “Give it a great big hug.”

The electronic religion of multitudes of people creates emptiness; interpersonal relationships are so desperately needed to keep our faith glowing and growing, and not just in chat rooms. There is no substitute for “going to church and worshiping with others of like faith.”

What does it require of you as a family member, in order to foster that family relationship? The TRUTH of Koinonia is that God’s family has some responsibility to and with one another:

1. We are to be welcoming to one another.
1 Peter 4:9 being more than nice.

2. We are to have a care for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26 not lip service, but selfless service.

3. We are to pray for one another.
James 5:16 not failing to notice one another.

4. We are to restore one another.
James 5:19-20 not destroy each other.

5. We are to teach and warn one another.
1 Corinthians 3:16 teach where you can, correct where you must.

6. We are to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 giving of yourself to one another.

 

Here are some practical suggestions that will enhance our ability to provide the proper fellowship, that family relationship:

1. Learn the names of EVERY member or at least as many as you can. If you see a brother or sisters you do not know, take the advantage to meet them and to know them. (Make use of the church directory!)

2. Take notice of the cares and the joys of fellow Christians. Listen to them; listen in order to help them. Often you will not even need to say anything. You do not have to fix all their problems, but you do have to care.

3. Be an active part in the life of the family. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I can worship and be fed spiritually at home?”

The next time you hear that, tell them when that T.V. sermon is over to go up and hug the television.

4. Pray for those with special needs, mentioning them by name in your private prayers (read the prayer list and pray for the requests). But do not make prayer requests a matter of gossip either. Keep prayer requests simple where they can and confidential where they must.

 

Conclusion:

 

And finally, allow yourself to have:
a) An “approachable personality” (where people feel comfortable in your presence).
b) A “transparent lifestyle” (where you are not afraid to let others know the “real you”).

If Koinonia is about being a true family, then take your responsibility as a family member serious. Because “We are family.”

Christian Fellowship.

 

Christian Fellowship.

 

Bible Reading: 1 John 1:7.

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

 

The secular meaning of fellowship is association with friendly, common interest, and companionship. But Christian fellowship is much deeper, it is far sweeter than secular fellowship. Bible fellowship means spiritual communion, a partnership, a joint sharing, mutual partakers, for it encircles the whole of life.

What do believers have in common, that we share:

All are born of the same Father, John 1:13 “They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

All brought with the same price, 1 Corinthians 6:20 “For God bought you with a high price. So, you must honour God with your body.”

All members of the same Body, Colossians 1:18 “Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So, He is first in everything.”

All taught by the same Spirit, John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

We all walk on the same path, 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by believing and not by seeing.”

We all serve the same Lord, Matthew 23:8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.”

We are all heirs of the same inheritance, Romans 8:17 “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

 

1.    Basis of fellowship.

Christian fellowship is conditional upon walking in the light, 1 John 1:7 “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” But sin brakes fellowship; but again, broken fellowship can be restored by repentance and confession Isaiah 59:2. “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore”

1 John 1:7 “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” The Blood of Christ provides the method for restored fellowship, the cleansing in the Blood of Christ. But this Blood application is not automatic; it comes as we confess our sins.

1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Walking in the light means walking in obedience to the will of God; following His footsteps we do not sin, 1 Peter 2:21-22 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.”

Fellowship is based on an intimate family relationship to Christ and His family. Amos 3:3 “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”

 

Certainly not! They must be agreed:

a.     The place of meeting is at the CROSS.

b.    The direction to go, is heavenward.

c.     The goal is holiness with Christ.

d.    The pace, Christ sets the pace and we must follow.

 

2.    With whom do we have fellowship?

a.     With the Father and the Son, 1 John 1:3 “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

We are born into God's family and now as a real member of the family we the heart to heart fellowship, 1 Corinthians 1:9 “God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

b.    With fellow Christians 1 John 1:3, 7 ^“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us.

And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.  But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

Christians love to be together; to talk together; to pray together; to sing together; to laugh together; to weep together; just to be together. Christians love to come together to speak of the things of the Lord and to share experiences and testimonies.

We need this fellowship for mutual strengthening and encouragement; isolated Christians maybe spiritual starved and lose out spiritually. We need first to seek out the Lord in prayer and Bible reading, and then with other sons and daughters of the Lord.

 

3.    Why must we have fellowship with others?

 Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaken the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” Fellowship is God’s ordained order for mankind; God created man to labour six days and then to be free to rest, and on the seventh day to have fellowship and worship.

God recognise this principal in creation for He said in Genesis 2:18 “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make I will make him a help mate for him.” Here it refers to marriage, but it is equally true in Christian growth as well. Jesus recognise this principal when He sent out His disciples two by two. Mark 6:7 “And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.”

 

4.    How do we have fellowship?

          Fellowship is not a passive thing; it is not just attending the meeting; and saying hello, fellowship is when we contribute something to that meeting; it is a “give and take process.” There is fellowship in Church worship; and in the prayer meeting; in small groups; in Bible classes. Fellowship is often the sweetest when two or three meet together informally as Jesus in Matthew 18:20 ^“For where two or three gathers together as My followers, I am there among them.”

 

5. The purposes of fellowship.

a. To strengthen one another; even if we do not need fellowship, we owe it to others to give fellowship to them; in the process we too will be blessed.

b. To courage one another in the hard places of life; many was smiling faces are covering aching hearts and unburden souls; let us make their load a bit easier.

c. To share experiences for the mutual benefit of all; for our testimony may prevent someone else from making a similar error and suffering as we have done in our inexperience.

d. To manifest our joys that all may rejoice with us; Psalm 50:15 “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” The fellowship of the thrill of answered prayer; this will surely encourage others to keep praying.

e. To weep with fellowship of tears, of sorrow and suffering, Romans 12:15 “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”  

f. To enlighten the weaker brother/sister in the mysteries of the Word of God; as you learn, share it and it will be impressed on your mind and you will be ready to learn more.

g. To exhort the backslider to return to the Lord; our offer of fellowship may remind them of happier days and create a longing to return to the saviour and blessing.

 

6.    Results of Christian fellowship.

a.   We will learn to walk in the light in obedience to the Lord's will 1 John 1:7 “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

b.    We will learn to suffer together, Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death.” This fellowship can be very meaningful.

c.     We will learn to serve together, Colossians 4:7 “Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work.” Fellow servants of the Lord.

d.    We will learn to comfort one another, 1 Thessalonians 4:18 “So encourage each other with these words.” Fellowship in sharing the Word and experiences.

e.     We will learn to pray for one another, 1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.” Fellowship in sharing prayer requests.

f.     We will learn to rejoice with a joyful, Romans 12:15 “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” Joy is contagious.

g.    We will learn to bear one another's burdens, Galatians 6:2 “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Charing joys and sorrows together.

h.    We will learn to grow and glow in the Lord, 2 Peter 3:18 “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” We give and receive blessings.

 

Conclusion:

 

Begin the day with fellowship, God ward in the quiet time, of prayer and Bible study. Keeping company with believers of like faith, but constantly make contacts with the unsaved waiting for opportunities to witness to them and to invite them to be saved.