“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

FELLOWSHIP IS
LOVING GOD’S FAMILY.

Our gathering on Sunday mornings should be seen as a family reunion at our Father’s house. The church is the family of God. It is not a building. It is not an organization. It is not a club.  It is a family that loves God and each other.

Like Amy and Sara who had absolutely no choice in which family they would be born into. Once you choose to believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior you have no choice in the matter about belonging to the church, the body of Christ. 

“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:5

“You are members of God’s very family…
and you belong in God’s household
with every other Christian.”
Ephesians 2:19

Yet sadly many believers do choose not to belong. They choose to be orphans.

To say that you can be a Christian and not be part of any church is like saying I am a baseball player but I don’t want to be part of any team.  Choosing to belong to the fellowship of believers is the first and most important decision you can make.

LEVEL 2:FRIENDSHIP:
LEARNING TO SHARE

We often complain or hear complaints about how busy and disjointed life is today. Yet rather then take steps to reverse that trend we too often take steps to further the problem. We don’t share fellowship as the early believers do. Acts 2:44 described the New Testament church this way.

“All believers met together constantly
and shared everything with each other.”

You can’t develop friendship without sharing experiences, without sharing problems, without opening your home and heart to each other.

I was talking with someone the other day that Diane and I are going to go down to Long Beach Island this Friday afternoon to see our friends from Colorado whom we have known since we were in kindergarten. The person told me how luck I was. I did indeed feel lucky. As I began to think about it I realized luck has nothing to do with it. We have this life long relationship because we constantly choose to met together and share life together. We have shared time, grief, suffering, knowledge, love, joy, laughter, tears, etc.

“Share each other’s troubles and problems.”
Galatians 6:2

Why are we so reluctant to meet together?  My biggest prayer concern for this 40 Days of Purpose spiritual campaign was the small groups.  My concern was that they wouldn’t come off, that no one would sign up.  My reason for concern was based on past experience.  I rejoice that there are fourteen small groups formed. I rejoice that approximate 100 people signed up to be a part of the small group.

Hebrews 10:25 says,

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead let us encourage one another.”

LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP:
DOING MY PART.

God did not bring you to St. Paul’s to sit and soak in some spiritual spa every Sunday.  You were called to this church to make a difference.  I firmly believe that just as, God called me to this church you too were called to this church by God. We are partners in ministry.  He wants to make a difference through you.  If you don’t believe that then open God’s Word. fifty-eight times in the New Testament we are told to serve one another, teach one another, pray for and with one another, even put up with one another. As Paul states, 

“We are partners working together for God.”
1 Corinthians 3:9

I am sure you have heard the saying ‘A chain is only as strong as its’ weakest link.’

What is our weakness?  What is our fellowship's weakest link? What is stopping us from being the church God calls us to be?

LEVEL 4: KINSHIP
LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY

“They were family to each other.”
Acts 2:24

“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.”
Romans 12:10

Life is all about loving God and learning to love each other. If you miss this you have missed the purpose of life. Life is not about accomplishments. Life is about relationships. I have had the chance to be with a number of people as they were dying. In those final moments nobody asked for their possessions, their trophies, their bank account, their boss, their gold watch. No what they asked for was the people they loved.

Our second purpose is to KNOW and to LOVE HIS FAMILY.

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:35

Now is the time to start proving it.