“They were devoting themselves to the teaching of the emissaries and to fellowship, to breaking bread and to prayers.”
Acts 2:42 TLV
To fellowship?
Some things are easier caught then taught… fellowship is one of them for me.
For example?
Last week I came home from work earlier than anticipated yesterday. I still had to do some work from home, but while taking a break all of my children started piling on top of me. I felt so loved.
Last time my sister in law was here, we started playing games and cards consistently for the first time in a while. In our home there was so much peace and a sense of love. We have kept this up even though she went home.
One time, while leading a small group a ways back: I asked for prayer that God would provide the resources so I could go to my buddies wedding and pay for the tux. I found cash on my pillow anonymously given that evening.
These are all memories that come to mind… things that help me catch the bug of fellowship
About a decade ago I had a dream… in this dream me and my friends were about to launch out on a mission of international proportions. I was really excited about it.
One of my friends, a man named Tyler, stopped me. He said.,. Before we go on this mission we need to have a party….I wasn’t so sure.
I had another dream the same night… where I came upon a group of people playing games and cards… I was absolutely irate because I felt like they should be doing something important!
When I woke up I asked God about these dreams because I sensed that they were important.
God using Tyler in this dream was a bit odd for me…Tyler and I didn’t always see eye to eye. We had different perspectives on community and so on.
God showed me that by nature, I understood some aspects of his community…Fellowship wasn’t one of them (whereas Tyler did)….God then took me on a journey to learn more about fellowship and other aspects of community.
In a sense these posts are the natural fruit from what God taught me in the following season.
So what is fellowship?
The Greek word here is κοινωνία (koinōnia)
Strongs Dictionary highlights these meanings:
the share which one has in anything, participation
fellowship, intimacy: a collection, a contribution
I think the simplest definition of κοινωνία (koinōnia)/ fellowship is this:
Sharing our lives with one another.
We need each other… there is no way around this.
I’ve been feeling a little sad lately. There’s a lot going on.
My friend Tony took me out to lunch the other day…he shared his heart.. and gave me an opportunity to share mine…. I went back to work on FIRE for Jesus.
When followers of Jesus spend time together… and they actually bring Jesus into that time.. this is a common occurrence.
In the verses after Acts 2:42 it says this:
“And all who believed were together, having everything in common. They began selling their property and possessions and sharing them with all, as any had need. Day by day they continued with one mind, spending time at the Temple and breaking bread from house to house. They were sharing meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,”
Acts 2:44-46 TLV
It is my intent to spend more time on these verses in my epilogue for this series… but I think it is important to highlight these verses here to accent that fellowship is more than simply sharing a meal once and a while….and is more they even sharing our thoughts with one another….
It truly is sharing our lives…. Which in a Spirit filled community will also mean sharing of our supernatural gifts with one another.
A community of Christ should be marked by Christ and share the hope of heaven…. BUT it is fun… it is joy.,. It is cards and games and soccer and life…it is community.
The community of Christ DOES have something to offer that the world doesn’t…. Christ…and He wants to permeate every area of our lives.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Prayer of St. Patrick
Years later, after the night of odd dreams, I was at an event at a local church. Our little small group had grown to around 4 or 5 groups and we would get together 2-3 times a year to worship and at least once to do Friendsgiving. After the meal at Friendsgiving I was hanging outside the fellowship hall in the sanctuary. Tyler asked me if I wanted to worship together with him…. He was and is my brother in Christ. We LOVE worshipping together. When Tyler would lead worship and when I and others would participate by offering Bible verses and encouragements God would move powerfully… we both sensed this… and because we sensed Jesus in those times we took every chance we could get to participate in something we do share. Jesus.
Years later after years later… I got a hold of Tyler to make sure it was ok that I use his name in the blog. Obviously, he said yes. Our conversations reminded me of this truth. That when people walk with Jesus… they walk toward one another.
I have grown. Tyler has grown. The people in our lives have grown… because Jesus is in it all.
Admittedly… this is an area of weakness for me. I often have to trust others to experience the joys of fellowship. God has appointed people in my life who remind me to get out of my head. To live a little. To rest.
So if you are like me… may you be drawn into the gift of fellowship. It is Christs gift… if you have the gift of fellowship… keep poking your more heady friends like me. Keep praying for us. We need you…. But also remember to see Christ in everything you do… for In Christ. We will find each other.
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