LIVING IN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Key Verse: “Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:12-13
Supporting Texts: Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:4-5, 10; Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 2:1-4; 1 John 1:7; Psalm 133:1
Description: Christian fellowship is the shared life of believers in Christ, expressed through love, unity, encouragement, worship, service, mutual care, and spiritual partnership.
INTRODUCTION
The closing words of Paul's second letter to the Corinthians emphasise the importance of relationships within the body of Christ. After calling believers to spiritual maturity, encouragement, unity, and peace, Paul instructed them to greet one another in love and reminded them that all the saints were sending their greetings. Christianity was never designed to be lived in isolation.
Christian fellowship is more than attending the same church service or knowing people's names. It is sharing life together as members of the family of God. Believers encourage one another, pray for one another, bear one another's burdens, correct one another in love, and work together for the advancement of God's kingdom.
When Christian fellowship is healthy, believers become stronger, the weak are encouraged, the lonely are embraced, and the church becomes a powerful witness to the world. Therefore, every believer should value fellowship and make a deliberate commitment to build relationships that honour Christ.
1. UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
God has designed believers to grow and serve together.
a. Fellowship Is A Biblical Pattern (Acts 2:42) — The early believers continued steadfastly in fellowship, teaching, prayer, and the breaking of bread.
b. We Are Members Of One Body (Romans 12:4-5) — Every believer belongs to the body of Christ and has a meaningful place within it.
c. Fellowship Produces Spiritual Strength (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) — People are stronger together because they can help one another when one falls.
d. Fellowship Reflects Christ To The World (John 13:34-35) — The love believers demonstrate toward one another becomes evidence that they belong to Christ.
Biblical Example: The believers in Jerusalem shared their lives, possessions, meals, prayers, and worship, and their fellowship contributed to the growth of the church (Acts 2:42-47).
2. WALK IN LOVE TOWARD OTHER BELIEVERS
Love is the foundation of genuine Christian fellowship.
a. Love One Another (John 13:34) — Jesus gave His followers a new commandment to love one another as He loved them.
b. Love Without Hypocrisy (Romans 12:9) — Genuine Christian fellowship requires sincere love rather than pretence or hidden motives.
c. Love Covers Offences (1 Peter 4:8) — Love prevents believers from magnifying every offence and continually exposing the weaknesses of others.
d. Let Love Govern Everything (1 Corinthians 16:14) — Every action, word, and relationship should be governed by love.
Biblical Example: Barnabas demonstrated genuine love and encouragement toward the believers and helped Saul become accepted by the disciples after his conversion (Acts 9:26-28).
3. MAKE FELLOWSHIP A PRIORITY
Christian fellowship requires deliberate participation and commitment.
a. Do Not Forsake Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25) — Believers should not withdraw from assembling together because fellowship provides encouragement and spiritual strengthening.
b. Encourage One Another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) — Every believer has a responsibility to build others up.
c. Share Life Together (Acts 4:32) — The early church demonstrated unity by caring for one another and sharing what they had.
d. Remain Connected To The Body (1 Corinthians 12:21) — No believer should consider himself or herself independent of the rest of the body.
Biblical Example: The disciples gathered continually for prayer, fellowship, teaching, and worship even during seasons of pressure and persecution (Acts 4:23-31).
4. ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN ONE ANOTHER
Fellowship should make people stronger, not weaker.
a. Speak Words That Build (Ephesians 4:29) — Our words should minister grace and encouragement to those who hear us.
b. Strengthen The Weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14) — Believers are called to support the weak and be patient with everyone.
c. Bear One Another's Burdens (Galatians 6:2) — Fellowship includes helping others carry difficult burdens.
d. Comfort Those Who Are Discouraged (2 Corinthians 1:4) — Those who have received God's comfort should become channels of comfort to others.
Biblical Example: Jonathan strengthened David in God when David was under pressure from Saul, showing the value of a godly friend (1 Samuel 23:16-18).
5. FORGIVE AND RESTORE ONE ANOTHER
Healthy fellowship requires grace because people will sometimes offend one another.
a. Forgive As Christ Forgave You (Colossians 3:13) — Believers should extend the same forgiveness they have received from Christ.
b. Restore Those Who Fall (Galatians 6:1) — Those who fall should be restored gently rather than permanently rejected when repentance is evident.
c. Pursue Reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24) — Jesus teaches believers to take deliberate steps toward restoring broken relationships.
d. Remove Bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32) — Bitterness, anger, and malice destroy fellowship and must be replaced with kindness and forgiveness.
Biblical Example: Paul instructed the Corinthian church to forgive and comfort a disciplined offender after his repentance so that he would not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).
6. SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE
Christian fellowship becomes stronger when believers use their gifts to serve others.
a. Serve One Another (Galatians 5:13) — Christian freedom should be expressed through loving service.
b. Use Your Spiritual Gifts (1 Peter 4:10) — Every believer has received gifts that should be used to serve others as a faithful steward.
c. Carry One Another's Needs (Romans 12:13) — Fellowship includes practical generosity and care for people in need.
d. Do Good To All Believers (Galatians 6:10) — Christians should actively seek opportunities to bless other members of God's household.
Biblical Example: Dorcas used her practical skills and resources to serve widows and needy believers, leaving a powerful testimony of Christian love (Acts 9:36-39).
7. PROTECT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
Christian fellowship must be protected from attitudes and behaviours that create division.
a. Maintain The Unity Of The Spirit (Ephesians 4:3) — Believers should make every effort to preserve unity through peace.
b. Reject Selfish Ambition (Philippians 2:3) — Pride and selfish competition can destroy relationships within the church.
c. Avoid Gossip And Slander (Proverbs 16:28) — Destructive speech can separate close friends and damage the fellowship of believers.
d. Pursue Peace (Romans 14:19) — Christians should pursue things that contribute to peace and mutual spiritual growth.
Biblical Example: The apostles and elders gathered in Jerusalem to address a serious doctrinal disagreement and sought a solution that would preserve the unity of the growing church (Acts 15:1-29).
8. GROW TOGETHER IN CHRIST
The ultimate purpose of Christian fellowship is not merely social interaction but collective spiritual growth.
a. Grow In Grace And Knowledge (2 Peter 3:18) — Believers are called to continue growing in their relationship with Christ.
b. Teach And Admonish One Another (Colossians 3:16) — Fellowship creates opportunities for believers to share God's Word and encourage obedience.
c. Build One Another Up In Faith (Jude 1:20) — Believers should strengthen themselves and others spiritually.
d. Become More Like Christ Together (Ephesians 4:15-16) — As every part of the body functions properly, the church grows in love and maturity.
Biblical Example: Apollos grew in his understanding of the gospel through the ministry of Aquila and Priscilla, who taught him more accurately and helped him become more effective in ministry (Acts 18:24-28).
CONCLUSION
Christian fellowship is God's gift to His people. We were not created to walk alone. We need one another for encouragement, prayer, correction, support, service, accountability, and spiritual growth. The church becomes stronger when every believer contributes to a healthy atmosphere of love and fellowship.
Therefore, value your relationships with God's people. Do not isolate yourself unnecessarily, and do not allow offence, pride, gossip, or competition to separate you from the body of Christ. Greet one another in love, encourage the weak, forgive those who offend you, serve others with your gifts, and pursue unity. As we live together in Christian fellowship, the love of Christ will become visible through our lives.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, give me grace to value and participate faithfully in Christian fellowship, in Jesus name.
2. Lord, fill my heart with genuine love for Your people, in Jesus name.
3. Father, deliver me from isolation, pride, selfishness, and attitudes that destroy fellowship, in Jesus name.
4. Lord, make me a source of encouragement and strength to other believers, in Jesus name.
5. Father, give me grace to forgive offences and restore broken relationships, in Jesus name.
6. Lord, help me to use my gifts and resources to serve Your people faithfully, in Jesus name.
7. Father, protect my church from division, gossip, strife, and every work of the enemy, in Jesus name.
8. Lord, strengthen the unity, love, and fellowship among Your people, in Jesus name.
9. Father, surround me with godly relationships that will strengthen my faith and help me grow spiritually, in Jesus name.
10. Lord, help me to grow together with Your people into the maturity and likeness of Christ, in Jesus name.
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
1. You shall not walk alone; God shall surround you with godly and supportive relationships.
2. Your love for God's people shall increase continually.
3. Every spirit of isolation, division, bitterness, and strife shall be broken over your relationships.
4. You shall become a source of encouragement, strength, and comfort to many people.
5. Every relationship ordained by God for your spiritual growth shall be strengthened.
6. You shall receive grace to forgive, reconcile, and restore broken relationships according to God's will.
7. Your gifts and abilities shall become instruments of blessing to the body of Christ.
8. Your church and family shall experience greater unity, love, peace, and fellowship.
9. You shall grow stronger in faith through godly fellowship and spiritual relationships.
10. Your life shall demonstrate the love of Christ, and through your fellowship with others, many shall be drawn closer to God.
