Fellowship An Overview
What It Is Not
What It Is
It Is Conditional
The Means Of Having It
It Is Limited By God
Fellowship And Sin
1. What It Is Not
• The Denominational Concept
– Chips and Dip
– Donuts and Coffee
– After worship we will have fellowship????
• The Concept Of Many Brethren
– Fellowship Halls Aren’t For Worship
– They are dedicate to food and entertainment
– If someone objects individuals can bring food
Does That Make It OK?
• Could individuals build a gym on church property?
• Could individuals build a ball field on church property?
• Could individuals build a day care center on church property?
• Could individuals build a grocery store on church property?
• Could individuals build a fellowship hall and serve food on church property?
Paul Places Food In The Home
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for
the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church,
I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must
be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest
among you. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat
the Lord’s supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper:
and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat
and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?
What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Making the church carnal
2706 kataphroneo { kat-af-ron-eh’-o} Has sever consequences
from 2596 and 5426; TDNT - 3:631,421; v
1) to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of
Enhanced StrongÆs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
1995.
The Church
• Character – 1 Peter 1:6 Be ye holy as I am holy
S
• Work – Ephesians (Evangelism, Edification, benevolence) Eph. 4; 1 Tim 5
C P
H • Design – 1 Peter 2:5 Ye are built up as a spiritual house
R
U • Make Up – Titus 2:11 The grace of God teaches us to live righteously I
R •Things - Romans 15:27 Gentiles partakers of Jews
T
C •Blessings –Ephesians 1:3 All spiritual blessings in the heavenly
U
H A
•Calling – 2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called us through the gospel
L
Most Often Missed Verse
• Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And fear
came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had
all things common; 45and they sold their possessions and goods,
and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46And day
by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and
singleness of heart, 47praising God, and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were
saved.
– 1901 American Standard Version, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc.) 1994.
Most Often Misunderstood Verse
Connected By
• Acts 2:42-44
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And fear
came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had
all things common; 45and they sold their possessions and goods,
and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46And day
by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and
singleness of heart, 47praising God, and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were
saved.
– 1901 American Standard Version, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc.) 1994.
Most Often Misunderstood Verse
• Acts 2:42-44
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And fear
came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had
all things common; 45and they sold their possessions and goods,
and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46And day
by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and
singleness of heart, 47praising God, and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were
saved.
– 1901 American Standard Version, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc.) 1994.
Most Often Misunderstood Verse
• Acts 2:42
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread and the prayers.
4342 proskartereo { pros-kar-ter-eh’-o}
from 4314 and 2594; TDNT - 3:618,417; v
AV - continue 4, continue instant 1, continue steadfastly 1, attend continually 1, give (one’s)
self continually 1, wait on 1, wait on continually 1; 10
1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
3) to continue all the time in a place
4) to persevere and not to faint
5) to show one’s self courageous for
6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly
Enhanced StrongÆs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
2. What It Is
• The Most Intimate Sharing Of Faith
– As they continued in the apostles doctrine
– And Fellowship or joint sharing of their faith
– After worship we will have fellowship??
• The Sharing Of Worship to God
– They shared in worship together
– As they broke the bread
– As they continued in prayer
What It Is – Clearly Shown By John
1 John 1:3-7
3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the
light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
•With the Apostles
•With The Father
•With Jesus
•With One another
3. It Is Conditional
1 John 1
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto
you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
3. It Is Conditional
1 John 1
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto
you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
We Must Not Be Connected To Sin
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
A Separation Required?
3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:
hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself
also so to walk, even as he walked.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
What Did Paul Command?
2 Thessalonians 3:6-7
6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the
tradition which he received of us. 7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow
us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
4724 stello { stel’-lo}
probably strengthened from the base of 2476; TDNT - 7:588,1074; v
AV - avoid 1, withdraw (one’s) self 1; 2
GK - 5097 { stevllw }
1) to set, place, set in order, arrange
2) to bring together, contract, shorten
2a) to diminish, check, cause to cease
2b) to cease to exist
2c) to remove one’s self, withdraw one’s self, to depart
2d) to abstain from familiar intercourse with one
Enhanced StrongÆs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
4. The Means Of Having It
2 John 9-11
9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Those Outside The Limits Do Not
Have It
2 John 9-11
9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Vincent’s Word Studies
3845 parabaino { par-ab-ah’-ee-no} texts read goeth onward. So
“The best
Rev., with Taketh the lead in margin. The
1) to go by the side ofmeaning is whosoever advances beyond
2) to go past or pass over without touching a thing
the limits of Christian doctrine.”
3) to overstep, neglect, violate, transgress
4) so to go past as to turn aside from
4a) to depart, leave, be turned from
5) one who abandons his trust
Enhanced StrongÆs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
1995.
Those Outside The Limits Do Not
Have It
2 John 9-11
9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.
3306 meno { men’-o}
v
AV - abide 61, remain 16, dwell 15, continue 11, tarry 9, endure 3, misc 5; 120
1) to remain, abide
1a) in reference to place
1a2)not to depart
1a2a) to continue to be present
1a2b) to be held, kept, continually
1b) in reference to time
1b1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure
1b1a) of persons, to survive, live
1c) in reference to state or condition
1c1) to remain as one, not to become another or different
5. Fellowship Is Limited By God
2 John 9-11
9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Sinful Fellowship Allowed
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 3 John 9-11
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication
among you, and such fornication as is not so much 9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes,
as named among the Gentiles, that one should have
his father’s wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have
who loveth to have the preeminence
not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed among them, receiveth us not.
might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, 10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember
as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged his deeds which he doeth, prating
already, as though I were present, concerning him
that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our us with malicious words:
against Fellowship Man Rejects and not
Fellowship God Rejects content therewith, neither doth he
Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, And God Accept
And power of our Lord
and my spirit, with the Man Accepts Jesus himself receive the brethren, and
Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved
forbiddeth them that would, and casteth
in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not them out of the church. 11Beloved,
good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the follow not that which is evil, but that
whole lump? which is good. He that doeth good is of
7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be
a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen
our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us God.
keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the The King James Version,
leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
(Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
6. Fellowship And Sin
•Can One Be Guilty And Not Directly Participate in Sin? 2 John 9-11
•It’s not enough to tolerate sin, we must separate from it.
•One May Not Join In Or Approve Of It And Still Be Guilty.
Revelation 2:14-16
14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the
doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou
also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16Repent; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my
mouth.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
6. Fellowship And Sin
•Can One Be Guilty And Not Directly Participate in Sin? 2 John 9-11
•It’s not enough to tolerate sin, we must separate from it.
•One May Not Join In Or Approve Of It And Still Be Guilty.
Revelation 2:20
20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that
woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my
servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Fellowship In Summary
What It Is Not
Carnal
What It Is Spiritual
It Is Conditional With God
With Man
The Means Of Having It Gospel
Sinful
It Is Limited By God Fellowship
Allowing
Fellowship And Sin =
Sharing