Aids to Christian Fellowship

We cannot follow Christ without giving up the world.

This proves to be quite difficult for some.

Established patterns of behavior are hard to break, and some relationships cannot be ended with ease.

How would someone go about breaking free from the bondage of sin?

Part of the solution to breaking free from the bondage of sin is coming to depend on the support and encouragement of our fellow Christians.

Why?

Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Jesus promised to bless those who give up the world for Him.

Our congregation will thrive if we develop the atmosphere of a spiritual family.

Fellowship with like-minded individuals is a wonderful blessing.

1 John 1:7 (ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Our fellowship with Jesus will set the tone for our fellowship with others.

Gal 6:2 (ESV) Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

How can we strengthen our Christian brethren who are ready to give up?

Would our approach be different when dealing with our family and friends who are not Christians?

Heb 3:13 (ESV) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Should our intervention be limited only to times of crisis?

Why should we be so concerned with one another?

Gal 3:26-27 (ESV) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

How does someone become a child of God?

Gal 3:26-27 (ESV) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

How does someone become a child of God?

If we are children of God, are we also brothers and sisters in Christ?

Gal 3:26-27 (ESV) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

How does someone become a child of God?

If we are children of God, are we also brothers and sisters in Christ?

Are we a family?

Gal 3:26-27 (ESV) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

How does someone become a child of God?

If we are children of God, are we also brothers and sisters in Christ?

Are we a family?

Eph 3:14-15 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

2 Cor 1:3-4 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

According to this passage, how is the fellowship we share with God’s family vital to our spiritual well-being?

Prov 27:17 (ESV) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

According to this passage, how is the fellowship we share with God’s family vital to our spiritual well-being?

1 Cor 15:32-34 (ESV) What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

According to this passage, how is the fellowship we share with God’s family vital to our spiritual well-being?

“Man is more capable of doing God’s will when he is encouraged by others than when doing so alone. And if this is correct, then it underscores the importance of involving ourselves in the lives of friends and family members.”

- Chad Ramsey, In God’s Image

1 Pet 3:8-9 (ESV) Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Are we better suited to serve God faithfully when encouraged and helped by our brethren?

1 Pet 3:8-9 (ESV) Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Are we better suited to serve God faithfully when encouraged and helped by our brethren?

What can we do to promote fellowship?

Heb 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Is regular attendance of Bible study and worship part of God’s plan to build up His family?

John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Do we show our love and loyalty to Jesus by loving our fellow Christians?

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Do we have fellowship with God if we live in a worldly manner?

What benefit can we enjoy if we fellowship with both our Lord and His people?

With One Another

1 Cor 12:26 (ESV) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Rom 12:15 (ESV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

If we are connected to one another in Christ, should we ignore the condition of our fellow Christians?

Is it natural to think about extending compassion to those who are suffering?

Is it natural to celebrate with those who succeed?

1 Pet 4:1-4 (ESV) Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

If we are obedient to Christ, will we lose fellowship with the world of our past?

Will that be easy?

Mk 10:17-20 (ESV) And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

The Rich Young Man

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Mk 10:21-22 (ESV) And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

The Rich Young Man

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Is it easy to deny the appeal of the world?

Mk 10:24-25 (ESV) And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

The Rich Young Man

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Is it easy to deny the appeal of the world?

Mk 10:26-27 (ESV) And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

The Rich Young Man

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Is it easy to deny the appeal of the world?

Mk 10:28-30 (ESV) Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The Rich Young Man

What will fill the void left by the choices and companions that a Christian removes from their life?

John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How does loving our fellow Christians demonstrate our loyalty to Christ?

With Jesus

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

How does fellowship affect unity?

John 17:20-23 (ESV) “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Jesus prayed for our unity. Can it occur on any grounds other than those He proposed?

“It is not achieved by hunting enthusiastically for the lowest common theological denominator, but by the common adherence to the apostolic gospel, by love that is joyfully self-sacrificing, by undaunted commitment to the shared goals of the mission with which Jesus’ followers have been charged, by self-conscious dependence on God himself for life and fruitfulness.”- DA Carson, The Gospel According to John

Helping One Another

Gal 6:1-2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

What is the primary result of Christian fellowship?

Does it apply to physical or spiritual burdens?

Gal 6:1-2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

“Verse 2 inoculates against the spirit of isolationism which in effect says ‘I have problems of my own; I cannot burden myself with the concerns of others.’ The Christian must show concern and take time for the ‘burdens’ of his kinsmen in the Lord (whatever they may be)’”- Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary

Next Week Hindrances to Christian

FellowshipDivision, Divisive People, Divisive

Doctrines