Fellowship

This morning as I was sitting, drinking my coffee and watching the sun rise, I contemplated many topics of what I could write my post on today. “What important message have you lived out in the past few days,” I kept asking myself. Just like you, I wish the world would slow down a bit because I have heard a lot of good messages and been many places, and watched many things and listened and played and worked, yes, just this past weekend. 🙂 Yet, one message has been ringing out, loud and clear, in this girl’s mind.

F E L L O W S H I P

Ken has been preaching and teaching on fellowship at my church. It’s been stirring my soul.

Our church launched a new small group program a couple weeks ago regarding fellowship. Cannot wait to know these folks at a more intimate level.

We took 5 grandkids to their church classes Sunday evening and stayed for the evening worship service. Guess what it was on? Fellowship. Umhummm

No, not just get together, hang out and talk about the weather, the highlights of the Iowa/Iowa State game or getting the recipe of the delicious dessert I just gobbled down…..not quite. Yes, the small talk is an intregal part of fellowship, but actually we can do that with anyone. Authentic Christian fellowship is oh, so much more. Yep, it is exclusively for Christ-followers. Fellowship–the meaning comes from the Greek root. Our English word, “fellowship” is the translation of the Greek word, “koinonia.” And this Greek word connotes several things all in one: our faith, family (meaning brothers and sisters who have accepted Jesus and have been born-again), caring for and loving each other within this “Christian family” ….loving and helping and witnessing and praying for and with and encouraging one another within the faith, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who called us to be His child, His follower, His witness.

And this, my brothers and sisters, is our charge from Jesus:

Hebrews 10:24-25 says: ” And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.

Are you a lone wolf? An isolationist? Well, brother/sister…… You are needed. You are needed to study the word of God and then get to work, encouraging one another, because guess what? Even though we haven’t received a call or text regarding the time and place, Jesus Christ is returning. And, yes, His return really could be today. No one knows.

Shane and Annie’s pastor and wife were “hangin’ out” in their small group the other night, just shooting the breeze when one “groupie” talked about meditating on a bible verse and praying. This man then bared his soul, saying he took action on something he should have done a long, long time ago. He wrote a letter to his estranged father of many, many years, told him he loved him and that he was sorry. Said it had been so long ago, he couldn’t even remember who started the quarrel , but the relationship had crumbled.

Another man spoke up and said he had been studying the word faith.. He proceeded by reciting this verse in Hebrews….”Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (1:1)

AND FROM THERE HE RECITED THE REST OF THE CHAPTER!!!! Pastor said there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. This, my friends, is authenticity at it’s finest. It takes time, it takes a sincere heart and meditating on the word of God gives us new insights to do the things we are called to do with clarity and bold direction, always in love.

The early church needed each other desperately as they were following Christ’s mandates to live out their faith in God in a whole new way. We, too, need each other desperately, don’t we?

Authenticity. Going below the surface. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am called to take my faith seriously, read the Word and not be only a hearer of it, but a doer. Authentic Christians live out their faith. ACTION

I’m taking the challenge to be more “authentic” in my small group this year. To be a good listener, encourager and prayer warrior. To study the Word of God, just not read what it says and peruse someone elses commentary, but to study and memorize scripture. Won’t you join me?

Together let us believers carrying out God’s truths in love.