28 Days: Day 18

SCRIPTURE

• Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) ²⁴  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

OBSERVATION

Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. Apparently, some of the wavering believers had been absenting themselves from the church fellowship. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. One of the strong motives for faithfulness is the soon coming of Jesus Christ. In fact, the only other place the word translated "assembling" (Heb. 10:25) is used in the New Testament is in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where it's translated "gathering" and deals with the coming of Christ.The three great Christian virtues are evidenced here: faith (Heb. 10:22), hope (Heb. 10:23), and love (Heb. 10:24). They are the fruit of our fellowship with God in His heavenly sanctuary.Bible Exposition Commentary - Bible Exposition Commentary – Be Confident (Hebrews).

UNDERSTANDING

So you have decided to be part of the fellowship of the believers?  You are now on a direct course to fulfill the Great Commission.  Let us look quickly at some ways to deepen that fellowship so that we can get the most out of what God designed. Here are five ways we can deepen our fellowship…

• Meet together regularly
• Worship together
• Spur each other on to love and good deeds
• Encourage each other each time you meet
• Eat in each other’s homes

LIFE APPLICATION

Did you notice how easily those aspects of fellowship are met when we are part of a GROW group?Why not make a commitment today to deepen our fellowship and in so doing strengthen the ability for us to fulfill the Great Commission.  Choose a couple of these to start on and let’s start deepening our koinonia.

28 Days: Day 17

Join us this evening @ 7 for a time of worship and prayer at the church.

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1:5 - “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family.”

OBSERVATION

Fellowship with other believers brings God pleasure because we’re formed for God’s family.  You know why God made you?Because he wanted a family, and that family is going to outlast your physical family because it extends into eternity. One of the most misunderstood ideas about the Christian life is that it’s just a matter of believing. But God says, “No, you’re not just 'believers;' you’re 'belongers.'” You belong in the family of God. Did you know that fifty-eight times in the New Testament the word “one another” is used?Love one another, care for one another, pray for one another, exhort one another, encourage one another, greet one another, and on and on and on.

UNDERSTANDING

As we read in Acts yesterday, the people who are serious about following Jesus devote themselves to the fellowship.  That word devote means to remain steadfast and faithful, to persevere and not be distracted.  Are you devoted to the fellowship?  There are so many things that fight to distract us from being devoted to the fellowship, things that are good but lead us away from God’s best.  We do a lot of rationalizing as to why we give those things higher priority but in the end the question remains…are you devoted to the fellowship?

LIFE APPLICATION

The challenge is that you will choose to be devoted to the fellowship here at DSC.  That means choosing to be present at our Sunday celebrations, being in a GROW group and choosing to be open and trusting with God’s people.  It also comes with the understanding of serving with God’s people.

 

So, will you devote yourself to the fellowship?  Why not join the family this evening as we worship God together.

28 Days: Day 16

SCRIPTURE

• Acts 2:42, Ephesians 4:2-3, Hebrews 10:24-25 & Romans 14:19

OBSERVATION

Fellowship is the spiritual duty of believers to stimulate each other to holiness and faithfulness. It is not just getting together and having a good time but it is encouraging one another and spurring one another towards loving God, loving His people and serving His mission. It is most specifically expressed through the "one anothers" of the New Testament.  The basic meaning of fellowship is "partnership," or "sharing." Those who receive Jesus Christ become partners with Him and with all other believers (1 John 1:3). It carries with it the issue of accountability – being accountable to whether or not we are fulfilling God’s purposes for us.

UNDERSTANDING

“For a Christian to fail to participate in the life of a local church is inexcusable. In fact, those who choose to isolate themselves are disobedient to the direct command of Scripture.  (Hebrews 10:24-25)    The Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived apart from other believers. All members of the universal church, the body of Christ, are to be actively and intimately involved in local assemblies.”MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts 1-12.

LIFE APPLICATION

So the question is, “Are you a part of the fellowship or are you just attending a Sunday meeting?” 

God’s desire is that when you believed and were baptized, you were to be part of the fellowship where you gave others the permission to encourage and spur you on to fulfill God’s assigned mission.  By the way, spurring is not always a pleasant experience is it?

 

Why don’t you renew your commitment to the fellowship and allow them to help you be all you can be for God?  Commit to being involved in a GROW group where you can experience deep fellowship.