A few years ago I was standing in line at the grocery store with my son, Parker. Without me realizing what he was going to say he turned to an elderly woman behind us and said, “Have you stopped growing?”
I don’t think she really heard him. I was totally embarrassed! Earlier in the week we had discussed how we stop growing, physically, as we get older.
What about you? Are you still growing? Intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, relationally? We may stop growing physically, but we never really have to stop growing!
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!” (2 Peter 3:18)
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
In our weakness, foolishness, and lowest points in life God amazingly chooses us.
This Sunday’s message is about fellowship. (Or maybe next Sunday’s message, if we have too much snow!) Anyway, fellowship is essential for the life of every believer and every church. Why?
Here’s why…because you and I were created in God’s image which means we were created to live in community and fellowship with one another. Our relationship with God TOTALLY DEPENDS on our relationships with one another and our relationships with one another TOTALLY DEPEND on our relationship with God.
But our view of fellowship – true Christian fellowship or koinonia (Greek) – is often times limited to covered dish meals, being polite, and occasionally praying together.
True Christian fellowship is much deeper and much more meaningful than this. There are many characteristics of true Christian fellowship. Here are 6 that are key.
1. Forgiveness – It all begins with forgiveness! If we want to be forgiven by God so that we can be in fellowship with him and with each other WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER. I’m not kidding! Check it out Matthew 6:14-15.
2. Acceptance - God totally accepts each one of us for who we are and we should accept one another the same way. For way too long churches have made acceptance conditional – we accept you if you dress like us, act like us, or whatever. Read Galatians 3:28.
3. Encouragement – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) This passage is awesome! One of the main reasons we gather for worship and meet to pray together each week is to encourage one another as believers! When we encourage someone we build them up spiritually!
4. Service – Jesus was the model servant. He served us by giving his life for us. God has given each one of us different gifts and abilities to use to serve him. To be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth today we have to be willing to serve one another. Check out 1 Peter 4:10.
5. Unity – Let me be really clear about this one – not only does God want us to get along with each other, but he wants us to agree with each other and to live with a spirit of unity and cooperation. Paul writes, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”(1 Corinthians 1:10) Fellowship doesn’t mean agreeing to disagree. It means agreeing that Scripture commands us to agree.
6. Love – Jesus COMMANDS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER. Here’s the verse. It’s important here for us to realize that in the same way that Jesus’ love was not conditional – neither should ours be. Jesus commands us to love each other even when we don’t get along or don’t understand each other. Love is like a force-field that God places around those who seek authentic koinonia fellowship. When God’s love is present in us, God is present among us!
“Before God changes our circumstances, He wants to change our hearts.”
God has a purpose for every situation and circumstance that you and I face in life. Every circumstance, good or bad, presents an opportunity for us to grow.
God uses our circumstances to change our hearts.
Sometimes before God is willing to change our circumstances he gives us an opportunity to change our hearts.
“Have you stopped growing?”
